If it's fresher, it's sweeter

JIRAPAT “JOYN” Jianrungsang is a member of the family that runs King Cabbage, exporter of agricultural produce to Japan, but her focus right now is on Thailand. She recently opened a new location for Farm to Table, her modest cafe offering delectable gelato ice cream made from organic vegetables and fruit. 

“A few years ago our company organised training for Chiang Rai farmers on raising organic seasonal vegetables,” Joyn explains. “We ended up with lots of good produce in stock, so we created our own business channel to share it with local gastronomes.

“Gelato ice cream is so easy to eat because of its smooth texture and it also retains the vitamins of the vegetables and fruit. I learned the basics with specialists and developed recipes to keep the authentic flavours of the ingredients.” 

Joyn and her sister and cousin opened the first branch at City Viva mall in 2011, then moved to the current location on Atsadang Road in April this year. An old shophouse was turned into a country-style cafe that really feels like you’re sitting around at home. The relaxing atmosphere is enhanced by natural-shade wooden furniture with seating for 10. The cooking is done in one corner, in the open. 

The “Basic” ice cream includes chocolate, organic milk and vanilla, “Vegetable” is based on red beans, corn, sesame seeds, carrot and pumpkin mixed with ginger, and “Fruit” features strawberry sorbet, mango, passion fruit and pink guava. 

“The menu alternates almost every day,” Joyn says. “On any given day you could find tomato flavour, or pumpkin, potato with honey, carrot cream cheese and even spinach.”

She recommends Affogato with organic milk for Bt80 and mango sorbet topped with warm sticky rice for Bt65. A scoop of sweet-corn ice cream is served in lod chong – green rice noodles in coconut milk – for Bt65 and a warm waffle with scoops of sesame and sweet-potato ice cream costs Bt125. 

In the afternoon there’s also a scrumptious ham sandwich, organic salad with homemade sauce, pork-prawn fried with garlic and minced pork fried with organic tomato paste. 

The coffee and tea corner is operated by the Helplive Foundation, with Bt5 from every sale ensuring a free meal for hilltribe children.

 

 

FARM LIVING

>>Farm to Table is on Atsadang Road near Pak Klong Talat. 

>>It’s open Monday to Saturday from 8 to 8 and Sundays from 11 to 8. 

>>Call (02) 115 2625 or visit the FarmToTableOrganicCafe page on Facebook.