In the years we’ve lived in Bangkok, we haven’t shopped at Gourmet Market often. Usually crowded and, we thought, more expensive than just about every other Bangkok supermarket, we’ve tended to go elsewhere. But, after deciding ‘Big C Extra’ was getting worse by the week, we decided a trip down to Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon was in the cards as we had to find a new supermarket. Particularly if we wanted fresh vegetables, which just about every other Bangkok supermarket, except Foodland, seems to have a hard time providing.
Now, after only two weeks of regular shopping at Gourmet Market, it’s become just about the only supermarket we think about shopping at (with an occasional trip to Foodland). Gourmet Market really is that good.
The Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon is where we normally go and it’s massive. This week, we were thrilled to find not only the freshest vegetables we’ve ever seen at a Bangkok supermarket but, when we calculated the larger sized packages, they’re actually no more expensive than Big C and, at Gourmet Market, they’re always always fresh.
Add onto that a massive choice of imported Western food, a huge cheese and deli counter, a great selection of Thai and Japanese snacks, an enormous candy and chocolate aisle, one aisle devoted to only olive oil, Italian olives, pastas and pasta sauces and prices on many products, quite surprisingly, no more expensive than Big C Extra and we are completely sold on Gourmet Market.
There’s even a very good pet shop at the back of the store, perfect if you have dogs, cats, rabbits or birds.
Plus, if you shop at Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon, it’s in a wonderful location to grab a quick lunch at one of the mall’s many incredible restaurants.
Don’t forget too, there are several other Gourmet Markets around Bangkok, if you don’t feel like traveling to Siam Paragon. Try the one at K Village or at Emporium Mall instead. They’re both excellent too.
Photo copyright – Dennis Wong, Creative Commons
