Lat Phrao Canal Local Cuisine: Elevating Indigenous Wisdom towards Creative Economy in the Community behind Chandrakasem Rajabhat University

Abstract

     This research aimed to investigate the general context and local food culture along the Ladprao Canal community, located behind Chandrakasem Rajabhat University in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand. It also sought to develop standardized local food recipes, assess consumer acceptance, and prepare community members for food production and commercialization, leading to the development of a creative economy. The study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach through interviews, focus group discussions, recipe development, sensory evaluation, and community training. The findings revealed that the community’s food culture is based on the use of local ingredients, simple cooking methods, and strong social cohesion in food sharing practices. A total of 87 savory dishes and 48 desserts were identified, from which 25 representative recipes (20 savory and 5 desserts) were selected and developed into a standardized recipe handbook for commercial production. The sensory evaluation results showed that the developed dishes received overall liking scores ranging from slightly like to very much like, indicating their potential for commercial development. In addition, training provided to 10 community members enhanced their knowledge and skills in food preparation, food hygiene, and online marketing. This enabled them to further develop prototype dishes into community products and generate supplementary income. The study highlights local food culture as cultural capital that can be effectively transformed into a creative economy through community participation.