The best ham in the world

Noticing how much Thais were taking to Spanish food lately, Doroteo Velez figured this was a prime time to import jamon iberico – Spanish ham. He’s the country’s sole authorised distributor of Blazquez brand.
The Spanish businessman was bringing in the dry cured ham for friends two years ago, then set up a business to import it, Rico Rico Premium Food. His clients soon included leading hotels and international restaurants in Bangkok, and now there’s a shop, the Rico Rico Cafe off Lat Phrao Road.
“My intention was to set up a place where lovers of Spanish food could taste their favourite kinds of food and get to know more,” Velez says.
He offers top-quality products selected for unique characteristics that occasionally keep them outside the usual markets. Often that just comes down to the limited quantities in which they’re made.
Rico Rico carries several types of ham, including jamon iberico de Bellota, which is widely regarded as the world’s finest. We can thank the Black Iberian pig that roams freely around the park-like farms back home, munching on pasture grass and forest acorns.
Velez will not only explain on request the various kinds of hams and what the pigs eat, he’ll tell you why the leg meat really must be sliced by hand rather than a mechanical cutter. He’ll show you how to do the slicing, too.
Along with all those kinds of ham, you’ve got a wide array of tapas as well. These splendid appetiser-snacks that Bangkokians have come to know so well include Pan con tomate, the Spanish-style toast with fresh tomato sauce, which just begs for a slice of jamon. There are tortillas too, and Rico Rico will make you some of the classic Spanish omelette with potatoes, fried in olive oil.
And rounding out your order should be cheese, anchovies in olive oil from the Cantabrian Sea (the Bay of Biscay), Spanish chocolate and – why not? – Spanish wine!


Jamon harmony
Rico Rico is between Lat Phrao Sois 49 and 51.
Check out www.RicoRicoPremiumFood.com or call (02) 023 4561.