tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145364622024-03-14T00:55:37.236-07:00Hungry in BangkokHungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.comBlogger512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-17937158618293653062013-04-05T10:24:00.000-07:002013-04-11T10:25:42.300-07:00Hong BaoWe have been regular customers of the Water Library Lounge Bar on Thonglor...we like the atmosphere and the cocktails. We seldom eat at the Water Library on Thonglor because the price is out of our league. <br />
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However; when we heard that the owner of Water Library opened a Dim-Sum restaurant; we decided to try it with a few friends. The name of the Chinese restaurant is <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hong Bao</span></i></b>. <br />
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Hong Bao is alllll the wayyyyy out in Srinakarin Road. If you live on Sukhumvit like me; Srinakarin Road is very farrrrrrrr. There is a new community mall called Thanya Shopping Mall and in there, Hong Bao is located in it. Its crazy how far we will travel to try something new.<br />
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Our friends were very wise to reserve a table. When we arrived; Hong Bao was packed with families and there was a queue of hungry people. <br />
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The restaurant looks like any other Chinese restaurant in town...lots of Red colour, lots of large round tables with white table clothes and lots of bamboo baskets on the tables. What was nice were the large ceiling to floor windows allowing natural light to shine in. <br />
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The chef is a famous Chinese chef that Water Library brought in from Macau and they also brought in his highly experienced team from Canton. So we were very eager to try the food.<br />
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Since my friends and I normally over do it when it comes to ordering for dim-sum; I will not go into detail of each dish. I will summarize at the end. <br />
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The amuse bouch were <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">pickled daikon and cucumbers</span></i></b>.<br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Rice flour roll stuffed with crispy shrimp</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Sxxx dumplings</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Steamed Chinese broccoli</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pork dumplings</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Rice flour roll stuffed with red pork</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Shrimp dumplings</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Sauteed tripe</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spicy eggplant</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Deep fried roll stuffed with duck</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chive dumplings</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Shrimp open dumplings</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pan fried turnip cakes with ham</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Rice flour roll stuffed with sauteed shrimps</span></i></b>.<br />
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The final dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Thick chinese rice noodles with seafood & gravy</span></i></b>.<br />
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The first dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Steamed buns stuffed with sweet carrot</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Steamed buns stuffed with sweet taro</span></i></b>.<br />
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Overall; the food was really good but not great. The dim-sums were prepared well and had good ingredients. Some were really 'good' and some were just 'ok'...nothing special. There were some interesting things that stand out in my mind; for example, the dessert buns. I have never seen such decorative and actually pretty dessert buns. The swirling colour of each bun hinting what you will be tasting is actually lovely. What also stood out from these dessert buns were that the inside content were like liquid chocolate that oozed out when you split the bun into half. But it was not chocolate. Instead; the orange coloured swirl contained liquid sweet carrot and the purple coloured swirl contained liquid sweet taro. Both were very yummy.<br />
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The service was good but because the place was packed; the service persons were lost sometimes. We asked for water...several times. We asked for the menu...several times. We even asked for the bill...several times. <br />
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Now; the big question is...would we drive all the way to Srinakarin Road again to eat at Hong Bao? I do not think so. There are much better dim-sum restaurants in town. <br />
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However; saying all this; I think the area deserves a good place for dim-sum and finally Hong Bao is giving the area what it deserves...a decent place for dim-sum. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: Thanya Shopping Park, 735/1, A Building, G floor, Srinakarin Rd, Suanluang, Bangkok</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-108-6055</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-3706654047445067462013-03-26T18:53:00.000-07:002013-04-01T18:58:07.068-07:00Zuma<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Zuma </span></i></b>opened about two years ago in the St. Regis hotel. There was big hype and buzz about Zuma coming to Bangkok. If you are foodie; you would have heard about Zuma because it was the 'IN' place for trendy Japanese food and atmosphere from London, Miami to Hong Kong. <br />
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However; there was scepticism of a place like Zuma working in Bangkok for the simple fact that there are already tons of amazing Japanese restaurants in town. The other rumour buzzing in town was..."who was going to pay those kind of prices" (everyone was assuming that the prices would be out of this world) to eat trendy Japanese food and sit in a trendy Japanese inspired atmosphere?<br />
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To be honest; those were the reasons that have kept us away from Zuma since they have opened. However; we finally decided to stop listening to rumours and try Zuma ourselves to make our own decision if the place deserves or not deserve the bad rumors. <br />
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We decided to go for lunch since we were in the area. We read that they had a special Sunday lunch menu at 780 baht ++ per person. Zuma was offering Hotei...Zuma signature lunch; where you chose one item from a three course menu (the dishes are meant to be shared).<br />
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The concept of Zuma comes from chef Rainer Becker who opened the original Zuma in London. He was inspired from the easy-going Japanese izakaya way of eating. So, Zuma combines the Japanese way of cooking and Japanese aesthetics in design and modernises it. <br />
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The space of Zuma is huge...high ceilings, the volume of the space is impressive for a Japanese restaurant, there is outdoor and indoor dinning, there are different sections for dinning. Key focus of the design of Zuma are the open show kitchens including sushi and robata counters. Of course since Zuma is also a trendy hang-out; there is a bar where the trendy cocktails are made.<br />
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There is extensive use of natural materials; which is so Japanese, such as huge granite stones and dark wood. The key colours are olive and lime greens for the chairs which blended well with their surroundings. The flow and feel of the place is very natural.<br />
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My friend's starter dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Maguro no taru taru</span></i></b> (yellowfin tuna tartare with barley miso and wasabi dressing). OH my; what a shocker of a dish. The yellow tuna was so fresh, the texture was incredibly velvety and the flavours of miso & wasabi was a perfect combination.<br />
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My starter dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ika no kari kari age</span></i></b> (crispy fried baby squid with green chili, lime and sea salt). The baby squid was so fresh that it was tender and not chewy. The squid was lightly coated and was deep fried perfectly. The combination of chili, lime & sea salt is one of the most basic ingredients for seafood and it was absolutely lovely for this dish. <br />
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This dish was offered to us by the restaurant manager. The manager realised that this was our first visit to Zuma so he wanted us to try another special dish from the menu. This was one of the dishes under the 'Zuma new dishes' list. The dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Buta bara no shabu shabu salada</span></i></b> (pork belly salad with cabbage and sesame ponzu dressing). What can I say about this dish? Devine...it first looked like a mess on a dish; but at closer inspection, it was a piece of art. The combination of textures, colours and flavours made this dish stand out. <br />
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My friend's second dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tokusen nigiri</span></i></b> (5 nigiri selection). I was not impressed with the sushi selection. The fish was fresh and the fish tasted good; but this is where I have to say 'penny wise pound foolish'. I am not an expert on sushi; but I am sure there must to be a proper ratio where the fish on the sushi must be higher percentage of the rice. Or am I wrong here???<br />
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I felt that they were too stingy on the fish on the sushi; so it was a let down somehow. If Zuma would have thought differently....for example; by thinking that by giving the customer a little bit more, the impressions the customer will have about Zuma would be so much better & long lasting than trying to save a little bit of money in the short term. <br />
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My second dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Sashimi moriawase</span></i></b> (3 sashimi selection). The same goes for the selection of sashimi; this was not a lunch portion of a menu course but more like an amuse bouche portion...I am not joking.<br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hamachi kama no shioyaki</span></i></b> (salt grilled yellowtail cheek with pickled daikon). The hamachi was so so so fresh and so so so good. The fish was cooked perfectly where the skin slightly crispy and the inside was tender. The salt and a squeeze of lemon added the right touch for such a simple but beautiful dish.<br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Gyuhire sumibiyaki karami zuke</span></i></b> (Australian beef tenderloin with sweet soy, sesame and red chili). The beef tenderloin was cooked as ordered, the beef was so so tender and juicy and the beef tasted out of this world. Amazing!<br />
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Overall; Zuma surprised us in term of the quality of food, the beauty of the dishes served, the very good & attentive service and beautiful atmosphere. All were a great combination. The price for lunch was actually not that bad for the quality of food and service. <br />
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I know I can be meanie when it comes to portion size...yes, I do eat like a pig. But, I believe that people should get what they pay for. Small servings does not help anyone...it gives a bad impression to the customer and it does not build loyalty for the restaurant. I do hope Zuma rethinks about this aspect.<br />
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We are now very curious what dinner will be like at Zuma; I am sure the atmosphere will be very different but the food just as wonderful...so for sure we are going to experience that as well one of these evenings.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: St. Regis Hotel....159 Rajadamri Rd. Bangkok </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone: 02-252-4707</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">BTS: Ratchadamri BTS (there is a bridge connecting the BTS to St. Regis...how convenient is that?)</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-77387576769744369682013-03-06T22:26:00.000-08:002013-03-26T21:44:25.005-07:00Masala ArtWe have heard that a very good Indian restaurant existed on the second floor of the '8' building on Thonglor. I am no expert at Indian food and I rarely eat it. So it was time to try something different. The name of the restaurant was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Masala Art</span></i></b>.<br />
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The restaurant is long with many tables. What decor is refreshing for an Indian restaurant...it really breaks from the typical overly decorated Indian restaurant. Masala Art still stays true to the Indian splash of bold colours but has toned it down a bit with such colours as burnt orange, dark green and pale beige. The walls have a touch of gold and the dark wooden floors to round out the warm mood & tone of the place.<br />
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Amuse bouche of tomato & spices broth. Such a small cup of broth but had a strong punch of flavour. It was very tasty and refreshing.<br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Peshawari Seekh Kebab (375 baht)</span></i></b>. The minced mutton with tons of spices then cooked in the tandoori oven was so so yummy. The mutton was of good quality and had good texture, the dish had loads of colour from the ingredients and was a good portion to share. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tandoori Aloo (250 baht)</span></i></b>. Who would not like potatoes marinated in tandoori powder, garlic paste and yoghurt then cooked in the tandoori oven...we for sure enjoyed this dish. The potatoes were soft and tender and each one bursting with flavour. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Saag Paneer (275 baht)</span></i></b>. The spinach and Indian farmer's cheese was a lovely combination. The dish had creamy, velvety and smooth texture. A cool and soothing dish that counter balanced the curry dishes. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Fish Goan Curry (395 baht)</span></i></b>. This curry dish was fire red in colour but thank goodness it did not match in terms of spiciness (the spiciness was just right). Well balanced in flavour and tons of flavour might I add...however; with a curry like this, the fish only plays a minor character. The fish was pretty much used just for texture. A really tasty dish. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Korma Chicken Curry (320 baht)</span></i></b>. Talk about a curry that explodes with flavour. No wonder....a curry that has so many spices but with yoghurt to smoothen & thicken the curry; its a recipe for success. The chicken was of good quality and was tender. A lovely dish. <br />
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The <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Plain</span></i></b> <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Nan basket (150 baht)</span></i></b> that accompanied the food. One way to test an Indian restaurant is by their Nan...you can always tell if they use good quality flour. Thank goodness; the nan at Marsala Art was very good. Slightly crusty and crunchy on the outside but tender and soft on the inside. Just lovely with all the curries.<br />
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Overall; we were pleasantly surprised at the quality and how good the food was at Masala Art. They used very good raw ingredients and spices. The dishes were good portions to share. The prices were not cheap but yet it was not too expensive either. Its about the same everywhere in town for Indian food. <br />
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The service was a very friendly and helpful...however; they were too pushy in trying to up-sale on dishes (which I really really hate). Its like treating customer like idiots. But; were were nice and told the wait person we needed time to decide from the extensive list of choices on the menu and if we had questions, we would ask. The wait person understood and left us alone for a few minutes to look at the menu. <br />
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I seldom think of eating Indian food but if I ever have a craving for it...Marsala Art would definately be a choice.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: The 8 Building; Thonglor soi 8, 2nd floor, soi 55 (Thonglor) Sukhumvit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone: 02-713-8357 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Web-site: masala-artbkk.com</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-87572694767870357282013-02-20T05:23:00.000-08:002013-03-02T05:46:07.478-08:00Ruen Urai @ The Rose Boutique HotelWe were invited to dinner to meet friends of a friend. Our friend chose one of her favourite Thai restaurants...<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ruen Thai</span></i></b> at The Rose Hotel. We have heard of the Rose Hotel and always wanted to see what it was like. So, this was the perfect opportunity. <br />
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The Rose Hotel has been operating on Surawongse Rd. for over 40 years...a long history. I will not go into details about the hotel. But what makes Rose famous is their Thai restaurant.<br />
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Ruen Urai is situated in a beautiful old Thai house on stilts. Once you climb the stairs, there is a choice between an in-door and out-door dinning area. We decided to eat outside because it was not too hot.<br />
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The in-door dinning room (photo above) is covered with teak wood floor to ceiling. Nice volume and height for such a small room. Not many tables due to the size of the room; yet it looked comfortable and the noise levels were decent.<br />
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Since I did not order the food; I have to apologise that there will be no prices included for each dish but will give you the summation of the cost of each person for the dinner. <br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cuplets with seafood & herbs</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Seafood glass noodle salad</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Eggplant salad with prawns</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Fresh spring rolls</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was xxx<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Palm heart mixed vegetables</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Water mimosa with bean sauce</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Fried fish with peppers</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Crab mixed with vegetables</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chicken massaman curry</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was a <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chicken curry</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> Mushroom curry</span></i></b>.<br />
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For dessert...<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Mango and sticky rice</span></i></b>.<br />
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Overall; Ruen Urai was good but not terrific...I know my friend will kill me later for this review. However; the reason why I say the food was not terrific was because I thought some dishes lacked spiciness, a dish was not well balanced, a dish was too watery and a dish was too bland. <br />
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I will not blame this on the fact that Ruen Urai is catering mostly to tourists. I am sure tourists like spicy, well balanced, thick & rich and full of flavour Thai food as well. Maybe the chef had a bad night...anyway; no matter the reason, Ruen Urai did not live up to the hype and all the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor from my point-of-view in terms of the food.<br />
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The atmosphere is lovely; sitting outdoors on the terrace of an old style Thai house with trees surrounding us...can't beat that. The service was very nice and professional. The prices live up to a restaurant for tourists...it is on the expensive side. There were six of us so we ordered each dish twice (the servings were a bit small for us) and it came down to around 1,500 baht per person. <br />
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In the end; Ruen Urai is a very nice place to take out-of-town guest to. There will be no issues what-so-ever...your guests will love the food, atmosphere and service. But; I am not sure if it will be on my top of mind list when I am craving for Thai food.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 118 Surawongse Rd. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-266-8268-72</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Operating Hours: Daily 12:00 - 23:00 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">www.ruen-urai.com</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-37252795072889005222013-02-08T04:11:00.000-08:002013-02-15T04:12:47.304-08:00ShuffleOur friend at BK Magazine had a posting on his facebook that he liked <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Shuffle restaurant at the Rain Hill</span></i></b>. We had no idea what Shuffle was; so we asked him if it "was it good?" Our friend's reply was that; "it was not bad at all." The chef comes from Hamburger Factory on Ekamai soi 10...I think there was a disagreement between the chef and his partners, so he left and opened Shuffle. Good for us...another place to try out.<br />
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Shuffle is on the second floor of Rain Hill community mall on Sukhumvit. Actually; to my surprise when we arrived at Shuffle was that; Shuffle has replaced a Japanese restaurant, which I presume had not been doing well since it Rain Hill opened.<br />
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The design of Shuffle was following the restaurant design trend in town...the industrial look. Lots of steel, concrete and glass. A great kitchen view (but covered with glass). However; the design of Shuffle does stand out for its use of space. They did not try to cram in a lot of table but instead used a island sofa and put tables around the sofa...a touch touch. This gives the illusion of more ground space. The height of Shuffle also gives the illusion of it being larger than it is. <br />
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We sat outside on the large terrace with the view of Sukhumvit. The tables are nicely spread out so that you can have your private conversations. <br />
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We started with <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Witte Trappist draft beer</span></i></b> <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(7 for 1,260 baht)</span></i></b>. That's a pretty good deal for a very good draft beer. <br />
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Instead of bread...why not croissants? The croissants were fresh and came out warm. The croissants were flaky & crusty and at the same time; fluffy, light, buttery and soft. Not bad. <br />
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The starter was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Calamari Fritti</span></i></b> <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(185 baht)</span></i></b>. The calamari was very fresh so it was not too chewy. They were lightly coated and were deep fried to a light golden colour. The combination of crispness and tenderness was nice. The dish came with two dip sauces. Well done. <br />
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The next starter was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Parma Ham Quesadilla (195 baht)</span></i></b>. A simple dish but not too bad. The quesadilla was light and crispy. The parma ham was good but I thought they were a bit stingy on the ham. There was a slight parma ham taste to some bites but I was expecting an explosion of the flavour in every bite.<br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">One Good Burger (325 baht)</span></i></b>. A massive burger that looked amazingly good. And...it lived up to its looks. All the ingredients were very fresh from the meat to the bread. The meat was cooked as ordered (my friend does not like a well done hamburger) and the cheese added good flavour. A hearty and good tasting burger. The only one thing we can complain about this dish was that the bacon on the side was beyond room temperature cold. In the end the bacon was not eaten. <br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Grilled lamb & rice (425 baht)</span></i></b>. The lamb was incredibly tender and juicy...very yummy. The lamb was cooked as ordered. They were also very generous with the lamb portion...good value for money. The rice was nicely cooked and added flavour to the dish. The lamb was accompanied with horse radish and cranberry sauce. A nice contrasting offer in sauces. <br />
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My other friend's dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pork Chop (425 baht)</span></i></b>. The chop was huge and cooked as ordered. The sauce was a nice blend of tangy, acidity, sweet and sour. The pork was fresh, tender and juicy. Another hit because it tasted very nice. I just thought the dish was a bit boring...a side of plain lettuce, a scoop of mash potato and gravy. On the other hand; when it comes down to the basics; the food is still the star and this dish was hearty and filling. <br />
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The dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cherry Crumble Cheese Cake (155 baht)</span></i></b>. At first my stinginess came out and I was thinking no way in hell was I going to order a 155 baht cheese cake...but as usual; hell won, I am weak and ordered the dessert. <br />
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The portion was of good size to share. The cheese cake was creamy, dense and rich...not bad at all. The cherry sauce was 'ok'...as usual (and I should have known)...the cherry sauce was way too sweet. It over whelmed the cheese cake. The crumble....ummmm, there was a mess of it. I was not sure what to do with all of it; but it did add texture, not much flavour added. <br />
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Overall; the food was not bad at all. The prices are good since the quality was good and the portions were huge. We were nicely & humorously warned that Shuffle was only at their 'soft opening' stage. They were testing and trying their recipies and service. We were not expecting out of this galaxy tasting food but we were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the ingredients, the professionalism of the cooking, the portions and the tastes of the food...all very good. <br />
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Where you can see that Shuffle was at their soft opening stages was the service. Though they were very welcoming and nice...a few things the restaurant manager has to teach the service staff. We had plates for our starters. When we were finished; they were not cleared...which was ok with us. However; we assumed sooner or later they would do that. But; out of no where, the main dishes arrived and the waitress asked me to move the used starter plate so she can put down my main dish. Then she asked my friends to do the same. Who on earth taught her that??? Are you not suppose to clear off the table before placing other dishes on the table??? And asking the client to do that is not way to do either.<br />
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Because we sat outside; in the beginning the service staff was attentive. But as the night passed; all of a sudden they disappeared. When we needed more beer, I had to wave like a bird about to take flight to get their attention. When that did not work, I finally had to go inside and ask them to take my order. <br />
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The same happened when asking for the check. <br />
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Despite all this; we were relaxed and calm. We knew Shuffle just opened (that is why they are not open yet for lunch...they are making sure they are ready); so we could not be upset. We were just glad the food was good and that it just can keep getting better and better...same for the service.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: Rain Hill Community Mall; Sukhumvit soi 47 (second floor)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-206-7447</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-23226910498845947622013-02-04T05:46:00.000-08:002013-02-09T05:49:22.524-08:00Chon Thai Restaurant @ The Siam HotelWe were invited to dinner at the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chon Thai </span></i></b>restaurant of the newly opened Siam Hotel. Everyone in town has heard how beautiful the hotel is; however, it is so far away from the main areas of Bangkok that no has had a chance to see it. So; I was excited to be taken to the hotel by van from the office because for sure I would have gotten lost. <br />
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We arrived at the hotel; don't ask me if I remember how to get there...I passed out in the van. We walked through the stunning lobby, through the hallways, through the court yard...we finally reached our destination; the outdoor bar on the river. <br />
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The platform of the bar is actually on the water and has a walkway landing to reach the shuttle boats.<br />
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On the right side of the hotel is the long but narrow swimming pool with lounge chairs facing the river.<br />
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Me standing on the boat landing taking the photo of the outdoor bar with Chon Thai restaurant on the left and the hotel rooms on the right.<br />
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After having drinks at the outdoor bar; it became dark and it was time to eat. We were led to Chon Thai. We waled through the lounge area where people can eat or have drinks (which is underneath Chon Thai). <br />
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Before you get the Chon Thai; you pass a two story building where the Deco Bar & Restaurant is situated. Deco has...well of course a deco decor & atmosphere as well serving international comfort food. Because the place is so new; there was not one single person in the restaurant. Very sad. <br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Poo Nim Todd</span></i></b>. The deep-fried soft shell crab was accompanied with green mango salad mixed with chili, lime & palm sugar. The crab was fried to a deep dark brown, soft, tender and crispy all at the same time. The mango salad was fresh with a good balance of sweet, sour, tangy but for sure not enough spiciness...probably because we had a lot of foreigners at our table for dinner. I am sure the restaurant did not want to paralyze the foreigner's palate too much. <br />
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The second dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">See Klong Moo</span></i></b>. The twice cooked northern organic pork ribs glazed with longan honey & fresh lime. The the pork ribs were very tender and fall of the bone. The glaze of honey added sweetness and the lime added acidity to the ribs; but, I thought it lacked some kind of kick to it; it did not seem well rounded in flavour. <br />
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This was the second dish that I thought was lacking something like spiciness...so I am not sure if our office called in advance to ask the restaurant to tone down the spiciness to the dishes but I thought it was a shame. But still a very nice dish. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Gaeng Som Pla</span></i></b>. The sour orange curry with sea bass fillet & morning glory. The gaeng som was nicely balanced in flavours and it was full of fresh fish and morning glory which added the pleasant contrast of colours. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Phad Krapoaw Kai Yeoaw Ma</span></i></b>. The century egg, wok fried minced chicken, chili, garlic & holy basil. The dish had a good balance of flavours, colours and textures (especially with the century egg). One of my favourite dishes and this one did not disappoint.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Phad Pak Boong</span></i></b>. The wok fried morning glory with garlic, chili & soy bean sauce. A typical Thai veggie dish in most restaurants. Bright green, tender yet with still a crisp to each bite...nothing special but still hearty and good.<br />
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The dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Kai Neiw Mamoang</span></i></b>. Mango sticky brown rice with ice cream. No issues with this dish; the mango was ripe, soft and good flavour. The brown sticky rice was cooked well, not too sticky and dense. One of the best coupling of foods in the world.<br />
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The cost of each set menu <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">per person was 1250 baht + +</span></i></b>. <br />
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The eclectic decorated private dinning room. Yes; those are deer heads hanging on the wall; not photoed was the giant peacock on the other side of the room. The room was dark, claustrophobic but somehow had a good feeling about it. The room was way too hot...I think something was wrong with the air-conditioning which was not a good thing since the restaurant is new. <br />
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Overall; the hotel design and architecture was in my opinion...WOW! Uniquely beautiful...it evokes a return back in time yet still feels up-to-date. <br />
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Chon Thai restaurant was not bad at all. Just getting to the restaurant by climbing up stairs to an old style Thai house was already dramatic. The anticipation for sure was high. The private room was a good size for about ten people. <br />
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I felt the food was prepared too much for tourists (nothing wrong with that at all...Chon Thai does belong to a hotel). But; there were certain things I was looking for in Thai food and they seemed to missing...for one of course is the spiciness (not the kind that kills you; but enough to make you aware that you are eating Thai food). Nothing dramatic; however, if Chon Thai wants to attract more locals...I don't have the answer, but I would assume they will want to make the taste a bit more 'authentic'.<br />
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The service was very friendly and attentive. The price of our set dinner menu was not bad at all; especially for a 5 star hotel. I am sure Chon Thai will do well because it does have a lot of good things going for it. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 3/2 Thanon Khao</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-206-6999</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">www.thesiamhotel.com</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-5620442316825237552013-02-01T18:05:00.000-08:002013-02-05T21:40:55.103-08:00Vino Di ZanottiMy team was having a farewell party for one of our colleagues and I decided that we would go to the new <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Vino Di Zanotti</span></i></b> which was only ten minutes away from our office. Vino just recently opened. We drive pass Vino practically everyday and we kept telling ourselves that we should try it out. We finally had an occasion to do so. <br />
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Vino Di Zanotti is located in the old Italian embassy. So you can imagine that the structure of the house that Vino is in is quite nice.<br />
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The decor was actually nothing special that captured my eye. Perhaps, because the house is a showcase in itself, the decor just settles in the background. The house is divided into four areas for dinning. The main room when you enter (photo above), the adjacent room (where we were seated), upstairs room and outdoor terrace for dinning. <br />
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Complimentary amuse bouche. This was very nice of Vino to give this to us. It was breaded deep fried mushrooms. I think there was a sauce missing because the fried mushrooms did not have any flavour to them and they were cold (but maybe they are suppose to be that way). However; it was still very nice of Vino to offer us the amuse bouche. <br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pizza Margherita (250 baht)</span></i></b>. The pizza was light in flavour, lightly covered with tomato and cheese. The crust was thin and crispy. A very nice pizza to start the meal with. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pizza Zanotti (600 baht)</span></i></b>. I did not order this pizza; but if I would have known that this pizza cost 600 baht, I would have not ordered it (yes, I am a cheapo). However that said...it was very yummy. The pizza was loaded with goodies...ham & mushrooms. The crust thin and crispy and it was cooked perfectly. <br />
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The next dish was <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pizza Prosciutto (320 baht)</span></b></i>. The pizza was loaded with prosciutto; here we got our money's worth. The pizza was loaded with flavour from the ham. The crust was thin and crispy. A lovely pizza. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Rocket Salad (320 baht)</span></i></b>. A nice portion of rocket salad. Good flavours, bright colours and great textures to round out this simple but nice salad.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Caprese Salad (290 baht)</span></i></b>. A nice portion of mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. The quality of the mozzarella was good...it was chewy, soft and dense. The tomato did not have much flavour but the olive oil and basil saved it. <br />
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The white wine was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Villa Martina Sauvignon Blanc (1,300 baht)</span></i></b>. I never had this wine so it was a good occasion to try. It was not bad at all...it went well with the pizzas and fish. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Grilled Seabass (380 baht)</span></i></b>. The seabass was cooked perfectly. The meat was tender, soft and flaky. The simplicity of the dish was its secret...it was really good. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Vegetarian Tortelloni (320 baht)</span></i></b>. Each tortelloni was enormous (which is a good thing) but I thought the skin was a tad too thick. Each tortelloni was nicely stuffed with loads of veggies. The sauce was thick, rich and added tons of flavour to the tortelloni...just lovely.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Lobster Pasta Spaghetti (490 baht)</span></i></b>. The spaghetti was cooked nicely. The lobster ragu was really tasty and the lobster was fresh, plump and tender. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Sausage Pasta (380 baht)</span></i></b>. The sausage for sure was the star of this dish and an amazing amount of it in one dish. Loads of flavour and a touch of spiciness...very nice.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tagliatelle Lobster (490 baht)</span></i></b>. Another lobster pasta...this one had tons of lobster, an amazing amount actually (a very good thing). The lobster was fresh, plump and tender. The tagliatelle was cooked well and was a good accompaniment to the lobster.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Italian Sausage (550 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish was a good portion; the sausage was dense, tender and cooked well. However; it was lacking flavour. I am not sure if this is the same sausage they use in the pasta dishes but for some reason this was bland...the drizzle of balsamic vinegar added some sweetness but it did not save the dish. <br />
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The red wine was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Caldora Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (1,500 baht)</span></i></b>. Another Italian wine I never tried before...it was very good and went well with the pastas.<br />
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The outdoor dinning area with the view of the two pizza ovens.<br />
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Our dinning area. We were not pleased at all that they put our table right in front of the jazz band. Please forgive me; but I need to complain. Who in their freaking mind would put a table right in front of a jazz band??? <br />
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I already hate and let me emphasize hate having live bands in an enclosed restaurant. You can never have a conversation because of the band. I have nothing against jazz bands; actually, I love them...but not when I am eating and especially not 'smack' right in front of my face. <br />
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Actually; it is my fault. We were the first people in the restaurant when we arrived. When we were led to our table, I did notice that they were setting up the jazz band. I should have asked immediately for another table. But, I did not think they would dare play because our table was right in front of them...oh how wrong I was. <br />
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Once they started playing; we then asked if we could be moved. The arrogant waitress (I will go more into detail later) told us that it was impossible and that she said that we can move outside. Oh 'thank you for your consideration'.<br />
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The jazz band was actually very good. The reason why I know? Because we stopped talking because we were tired from shouting at each other and so we just listened to the band play. But for sure...never ever ever again!!! <br />
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The first dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tiramisu (330 baht)</span></i></b>. A huge portion of tiramisu which was great because it was a good size for all of us to share. The tiramisu was rich, thick, creamy and not too sweet. A nice dessert.<br />
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The second dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pannacotta (210 baht)</span></i></b>. The pannacotta was bouncy, light & velvety soft. The added sauces added the much needed flavours to wake up the pannacotta. <br />
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The old Italian embassy turned into Vino Di Zanotti. It is amazing that they even got this house. The architectural structure is amazing. The land is huge which is used for parking and a coffee shop. At first I thought no one would go to Nanglinchee for Italian food...boy was I wrong. That evening every table was taken in the restaurant. Good for Vino...it is already popular.<br />
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Overall; the atmosphere is very nice due to the amazing house. The food is actually not bad at all...there is nothing new and exciting in terms of Italian cuisine but just basic and hearty Italian food that we are used to and at huge portions and I do not mean just overloading on the pasta but actually the ingredients that accompany the pasta (which is a great thing)...a great value for the money; maybe except for the Pizza Zanotti at 600 baht. <br />
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I highly do not recommend you eating in the room where the jazz band is not playing. They are actually very good players but its not comfortable to have a conversation in that room.<br />
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The Italian restaurant manager is very nice. He was welcoming, attentive and very helpful. However....NOW back to the arrogant waitress story. When we asked if we could be moved due to the jazz band playing while we were talking. A very tall and heavily make-uped waitress actually gave us attitude...like we were lucky to even have a table in the restaurant. We first asked if we can be moved upstairs; she said, no because the rooms were not ready. Then we asked if we can be moved to the other dinning section (there was no other customer at that time); she said no because they could not set up a table for us...I am not sure why...probably due to 'laziness'!!! Then she said; we can move outside. But the way she said it; like we were trash to be put outside. At that point; I just said forget it and we will suffer with the music playing in front of our table. <br />
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At the time; we were the only table in the restaurant; if they wanted to, they could have easily set up and moved us. But; that is a good learning for me. If there is a next time; I go there and this specific waitress dares give attitude again...well; what goes around comes around!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 399 Nanglinchee soi 9</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone#: 02-678-0577</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 17:00 - 24:00</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-91383837896589967152013-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:002013-02-03T05:11:10.188-08:00Ginzado Japanese BBQWe felt like having beef for dinner...there are no real steak houses near our area so we decided to go and have Japanese BBQ. However; there are tons of them near us...we did not know which one to try. So, we asked a foodie friend of ours what he recommended and he told us his favourite place to go was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ginzado</span></i></b> on Thonglor. <br />
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So Japanese BBQ; here we come....<br />
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Luckily we called in advance for a table; when we arrived, every single table was taken by Japanese (a very good sign already). Our table was being prepared for us and the staff were very friendly. <br />
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Before I go into details of the food; the most bizarre, unfortunate and should have not happened...happened. We got the menus; since we did not understand the menu we focused on the photos of the cuts of meats. We pointed to the waitress several of the beef cuts we wanted. No problem....so far.<br />
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One minute later the waitress came back and told us two of the three meats that we ordered were 'out'. Ummmm; ok, that's weird. So; we chose another two; off she went. She came back a minute later and told us those one of the two meats was also out. Now it was getting; unbelievable, annoying and down right pathetic. We finally told the waitress; "tell us what you have and then we will order that instead". <br />
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So far out of the 'five' meat dishes we ordered; only two were available. Our record was not very good. <br />
The waitress pointed to two meat dishes and we said "ok" we take that. You will not believe it; the waitress came back very embarrassed to say that one of the meat dishes was out. We could not even get mad any more because this must have been a joke. So; we just said "please choose a meat dish for us...any!"<br />
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The first order of beef was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Kaibisan - Nakaochi (250 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Jyo Tan (330 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Jyo Karubi (320 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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We started grilling the meats and <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Eringi Yaki (mushroom for 150 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Jyo Harami (300 baht)</span></i></b>. This was the worst cut of meat. This was not our choice but it the only thing left. It was squared chunks of meat but actually, there was no meat. It was just 'fat'...yucky!<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Saikoro (330 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Yukke (280 baht)</span></i></b>. The beef tartare had a rich & deep red colour, it was cut into big chunks and tasted very nice with the added raw egg and daikon. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Karubi Soup (180 baht)</span></i></b>. The soup had plenty of egg and beef. At first; the red colour fooled us into thinking that the soup would be very spicy. It turned out not to be so. The soup was thick, hearty and very tasty. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ishiyaki Bibinba (250 baht)</span></i></b>. This was a very nice rice dish; so full of ingredients that had many textures and flavours. Actually; this is a meal in itself, but as usual I eat too much.<br />
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The waitress mixing the Binbinba for us and separated the dish into individual bowls for us.<br />
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There was not much decor. The restaurant is separated into booths for the BBQ stations. The lighting was very white and bright; so no real ambiance either. But there was an energy to the place because all the Japanese people there were happily talking, cooking and eating...that was a nice feeling. <br />
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Overall; I am sure Ginzado would have had a better review from me if they had the food we wanted. I will give them the benefit of the doubt because our foodie friend told us that the 'running out of food' incident never happened to them and that maybe the restaurant was packed with people all day and they were not prepared for it. <br />
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The meats were of good quality and good tastes. It was too bad it was cuts that I did not prefer and enjoy...we had no choice. <br />
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The service very attentive and friendly. We never had to ask for anything; they were always carefully watching and catering to our needs but without being annoying. <br />
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The prices are somewhat ok...its the same to all the other Japanese or even Korean BBQ places. I guess; we will have to come back to Ginzado to see if this is truly the 'best' place for Japanese BBQ on Thonglor.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 117 Panjit Tower, soi Sukhimvit 55 (Thonglor)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-392-3248</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-89268456236664724932013-01-23T17:33:00.000-08:002013-01-30T17:59:34.959-08:00SuikinAs usual; the restaurant scene in Bangkok is difficult...when you ask a person where is their favourite Japanese restaurant; you will get a so many answers. For all their many reasons; they will tell you why they believe their favourite Japanese restaurant is the best...and as usual; the other party will disagree.<br />
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We have several friends who have raved about <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Suikin</span></i></b>. We have never been just because its a part of town we seldom think of going for dinner. So a friend said it was time that we try her favourite Japanese restaurant. One key reason is that Suikin specialises in tofu...the largest tofu selection in town. <br />
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When entering Suikin; we were pleasantly greeted with a dramatic dinning room. Dim lights gave the place a dramatic setting. The room was long with two main dinning sections. The design is very simple yet you can tell a lot of thought went into making simple look 'elegant'. The mix of concrete and wood gave the place a warm and earthy look. <br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Goma tofu (90 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Mineoka tofu (90 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Kinpira gobo (70 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hiya yakko tofu (70 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Daikon salad (160 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hokke (290 baht)</span></i></b>. The whole fish was fresh, grilled to a shiny golden brown and was cooked perfectly. The meat was tender and flaky. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Soba sushi (160 baht)</span></i></b>. This was a very unique dish; we never had it before. Instead of using sushi rice; the rice was replace with soba noodles...and it was not bad at all. The texture & colour was not what we are used to but that is part of the excitement of eating something different. The soba noodles did add another flavour dimension. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tsuzumi (880 baht)</span></i></b>. The dish had a good selection of fish that were fresh, each one had good texture & tasted good. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spicy tuna roll (250 baht)</span></i></b>. Japanese restaurants have to re-think of calling this dish 'spicy' tuna rolls; I did not have any sensation that it was spicy. However; the tuna was very fresh and the dish was nicely presented and it tasted very good.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Karasumi (270 baht)</span></i></b>. Another very unique dish we have never tasted. Japanese version of Bottarga sandwiched between daikon...a daikon sandwich. AND it was yummy. Bottarga and daikon together; you can already tell that the flavours will be bold...bitter, salty, sour, acidic and a some sweetness to round it up. Very nice!<br />
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The last dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Wakadori yaki (120 baht)</span></i></b>. Simple grilled chicken. Nothing special...it was just to fill up the tummy.<br />
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Overall; Suikin is not bad at all. The food is good but I would not say outstanding. In my opinion; there are better sushi restaurants in town. They do have very unique dishes that I have not seen in other Japanese restaurants which for sure makes Suikin an interesting place to go just cause of that. Another amazing aspect is the huge selection of tofu. Who would have guessed that tofu can come in so many textures, shapes and tastes...but they do at Suikin.<br />
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The prices are reasonable & comparable to other Japanese restaurants in town. Suikin has a good setting and is comfortable. The service started ok but as the evening passed on, it just disappeared. It was closing time and we were the last guest in the restaurant. We were told there was last order which is normal....but after a few minutes; we wanted to ask for hot tea; there were no service staff. They just disappeared. I had to get up and look for staff; which I found. Then after a few minutes; we wanted the bill and again; no one around. <br />
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I find this rude and actually obnoxious. I have no idea what they were doing; but there should have been atleast one person taking care of our table. They are lucky that service charge was included in the bill...I should have asked for it back!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 548/7 Embassy Park Plaza; Ploenchit Rd. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Telephone #: 02-252-2002-3</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-18433161554108471082013-01-19T17:18:00.000-08:002013-01-28T21:29:28.073-08:00Quince<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Quince</span></i></b> has been open for several months now; I have been to Quince several times and its time to review the restaurant that everyone in town is talking about. Its the hip & happening place on Sukhumvit. Weekends are impossible to get a seat...well actually, it seem like practically every night its impossible to get a seat.<br />
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Quince's design is quite unique in town...its industrial; full of glass, steel and concrete. Yet its the decor that softens up the harshness and coldness of the industrial design. The dinning furniture is a mix bag of different styles that blend in well with the concept. Some tables are of wood & steel, some chairs are wood with canvass, etc. <br />
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There are four dinning areas; the front room with the view of the soi, the back room, second floor with private rooms and the loungey outdoor garden area.<br />
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The volume & space of the restaurant is intense and massive...I do like it very much; however, what I do not understand is that with all the amazing thinking going into the architecture & decor; there is one design flaw...no one thought of the acoustics, something so fundamental in a restaurant's design. <br />
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Its absolutely dreadful at Quince's front dinning room. Because of all the glass; the sound in the room echos back. People cannot hear their own conversations so they talk louder; the ripple affect is that other tables start talking louder...etc, etc. In the end it does become unbearable as the evening goes on. I highly recommend eating in the back room. <br />
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The starter dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Panisse Eggplant (150 baht)</span></i></b>. The melange of eggplant, feta cheese, and fava beans was a very nice combination. Tons of colours, textures and flavours. A very creative and refreshing way to start the meal.<br />
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The next starter dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Bone Marrow (250 baht)</span></i></b>. I truly think Quince is the only restaurant in town serving bone marrow...and what an amazing idea. When the buttery bone marrow was assembled on the freshly toasted bread, adding some parsley & capers...a unique explosion of textures and flavours come out.<br />
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The main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hanger Steak (450 baht)</span></i></b>. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly (as ordered), the meat was tender and juicy. The sauce was not too overwhelming and added the right flavours to accompany the meat. A good portion for two. <br />
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The side dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Roasted Carrots (150 baht)</span></i></b>. The roasted carrots with thyme, poppy seeds, shallots and glazed with honey is a lovely dish. The carrots were fresh, bright in colour, tender and flavourful. <br />
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Another main dish to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hand cut noodles with Rabbit (300 baht)</span></i></b>. When this dish arrived I at first thought they got our order wrong. On the menu; it sounded like a pasta dish; we were not expecting this dish to be in a broth. However; the dish turned out to be very tasty. The noodles were cooked nicely, the rabbit was very tender. The broth added the much needed flavours to the pasta and rabbit. <br />
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The back dinning room with the view of the wine cave.<br />
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Overall; the service (which I know there is a difficulty in finding good staff right now in town) is not consistent; though the service staff are always friendly and attentive at times...they are not fine on the details. For example; staff & kitchen not communicating. We asked for our carrots to be part of the main course; of course they arrived as appetizers, or not pouring wine when the wine glasses are empty, or clearing the table at the end of the meal but then not coming back with the dessert menu. I know; I am difficult and probably too attentive to details. However; these are my humble suggestions for improvement and its up to the restaurants to take notice and improve. <br />
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On the other hand; Quince lives up to it's hype. The food is very exciting, fresh and relevant (using fresh, local and organic if possible products). The menu is in my opinion limited; but I guess that allows the kitchen to perfect the dishes. <br />
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The food is very good...and most of the dishes are well executed & presented. The prices are really reasonable for the quality & type of restaurant. Quince has an amazing wine list from different countries but what makes Quince really unique in this area is that they have a great selection of Spanish wines at amazingly affordable prices...which no other restaurant in town can compare with. The staff is always friendly and attentive even when the place is bulging with customers; they still do their job well.<br />
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If you can get a table; Quince is the place to be right now for a very good food, wine and ambiance. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: Sukhumvit soi 45</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-662-4478</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Opening hours: daily 11:30 - 1:00 am</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-62071337394030409282013-01-15T22:13:00.000-08:002013-01-26T22:24:49.964-08:00Kanom - Fashion BakeryWe drive past <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Kanom</span></i></b> zillions of time and we had never thought about eating there. Actually; we did not even know that there was a restaurant. For years, we knew Kanom was famous for their 'patongkoh' (chinese doughnuts), egg tarts and other bakery goods...so we just assumed that Kanom was a tea or dessert room. However; a friend told us that actually they have some of the best food in town...ummmmm; how embarrassing that we did not know this. We decided to go for lunch!<br />
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From the street you can't tell how big Kanom really is; but when you enter the house, its a very large space, airy and full of light that shines in from all the glass windows. There is a lovely view from the dinning area to the garden. When we entered, we immediately saw all the wonderful egg tarts and savoury pies in the show cases...beckoning us to order them. <br />
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The design of Kanom is a 'T' shaped space; one area with a long sofa bench with tables with somewhat Philippe Starck coloured plastic chairs. The other areas consists of the same tables & chairs as well. The very black floor is a nice contrast to the white walls and natural sunlight. The tables are nicely spaced so that customers don't feel claustrophobic. <br />
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The first order was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Patongkoh 'Chinese doughnut' (50 baht)</span></i></b>. This is a strange thing to order for lunch since most people eat this for breakfast with soymilk; but, this is the house specialty and every table in the restaurant had an order of them...so; I needed to have these amazing looking things. <br />
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The patongkoh we normally get on the streets are small or bite sized. These are humongous monsters (I am in no way complaning). You order the creamy, rich and very flavourful dip to accompany the patongkoh...we ordered the green pandan cream. Oh my oh my were these patongkoh heavenly. They were deep-fried to golden brown, very crispy on the outside but so tender on the inside. <br />
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This has got to be the worst thing for our cholesterol level and waist line....but, who cares??? Oh wait; maybe my doctor!<br />
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My friend ordered the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spicy Beef stir fry (150 baht)</span></i></b>. The dish just looked so yummy when it arrived and it did not disappoint. A good portion of spaghetti noodles was used with loads of basil, chili, tender beef, and pepper corns. So much flavour in one dish...lovely.<br />
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I ordered the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Friday-Saturday-Sunday Special...southern spicy fish soup dish (150 baht)</span></i></b>. The order consisted of a bowl of very spicy bamboo soup accompanied with crispy fish skin, salty egg and pulled pork. When adding all the ingredients together over rice...so so so good! Oh; my scalp did tingle & itch from the spicy soup...be warned! <br />
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The menu of Kanom is very eclectic; many types of food available like...<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Vietnamese ravioli (120 baht)</span></i></b>. The raviolis came out hot and steaming; the rice flour was not to thick (which is a good thing); so we could easily see the stuffing of minced pork & chives. The raviolis were topped with Vietnamese pate and deep fried onions. After adding the sauce; these soft & tender raviolis were very tasty. <br />
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Time for coffee and dessert...of course, we had to order the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Egg tart egg yolk/egg white (40 baht)</span></i></b>. It truly is not hard to love these little round things. The tart shell was flaky, crusty & crispy and the filling of either the egg yolk or the egg white version was soft, tender & creamy. The combination of textures with the sweetness of the filling make these little beast one of my favourite desserts or snacks. <br />
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When you enter or exit Kanom; you witness the making of the unresistable patongkoh (the make-shift cooking station is next to the parking lot...I think they did this on purpose so that we cannot resist these monsters even thought they are so damn bad for us)...Kanom very smart...me like!<br />
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Overall; Kanom with its very easy-going and comfortable atmosphere, very simple but delicious food at amazingly affordable prices, the very attentive & friendly staff and of course the lovely desserts, patongkoh and egg tarts...this is really nice place to be for lunch...if you can get a table. Its always packed with people and families on weekends. <br />
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Oh by the way; they also have terrific looking savoury pies as well. I ordered a beef pie to take to the office for lunch...AND, it was very yummy. Luckily we have an oven at work...so out from the oven, the crust of the pie was light & flaky (not too think). The bubbling beef filling was rich, thick and loaded with goodies.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 122 Sukhumvit soi 49</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Telephone #: 02-391-2428 / 02-712-6618</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Opening hours: daily from 9:30 - 20:00 and Sundays 9:30 - 18:00</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-87976645458597692862013-01-11T02:57:00.000-08:002013-01-26T04:49:37.288-08:00Saigon RecipeEvery time we drove on Sukhumvit soi 49, we noticed that a new Vietnamese restaurant was going to open in new complex with large shop-houses where some of the shop-houses have already been transformed into other restaurants. We are always looking for a good Vietnamese restaurant in the area, so we were eager to try it out. The new restaurant is called <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Saigon Recipe</span></i></b>.<br />
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The restaurant has two dinning areas on two floors. We ate upstairs on the mezzanine because the ground floor was full. The decor is the stereo-typical 'Vietnamese' restaurant you find anywhere. Very colourful lamps from Hoi-an, photos of Vietnamese scenery, Vietnamese artifacts, etc. etc. Wooden tables & chairs with very colourful pillows. Its very easy going and comfortable. <br />
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The owner is a pretty & friendly Vietnamese woman who helped to explain the menu to us. So we already could tell that the food would be authentic. <br />
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The appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Bahn Nam (50 baht)</span></i></b> and <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Banh It (50 baht)</span></i></b>. Bahn nam is 'flat rice dumplings stuffed with minced pork & mushrooms and Banh It is 'stuffed glutine rice flour balls'. We actually wanted to order the 'mixed style dumpling platter' but they ran out of 'small steamed rice cakes'. <br />
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The flat rice dumplings and the rice flour balls are somewhat plain tasting until you add the nuoc-mam sauce. The dumplings and the rice flour balls soaked up the sauce and they do become so much better. As you can imaging; the texture of the dumplings and flour balls were sticky, gooey and chewy...sounds strange but they were not bad at all. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Goi Co Hu Dua (220 baht)</span></i></b>. The palm heart salad with shrimp & pork was made of very fresh ingredients, presented well and was a good portion. Lots of colour and textures and it had a good balance of flavours from all the ingredients...very nice. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cha Gio Chien (140 baht)</span></i></b>. The deep-fried spring rolls stuffed with pork was deep-fried to a golden brown and small enough so to be stuffed into a lettuce leaf with other condiments. Those little spring rolls were big in taste when it was rolled with rice noodles, mint, lettuce and dipped into the sauce...so much textures and flavours exploding in the mouth. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Goi Bo Tron Rau Muong (220 baht)</span></i></b>. The sauteed beef salad with morning glory was made of good quality beef. The beef was tender and the morning glory added more colour and texture. The balance of sweet, sour, tangy, acidic and spicy was all in one dish...nicely done.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chao Tom (220 baht)</span></i></b>. The charcoaled shrimp cake wrapped on sugarcane can be boring on its own; but when assembled with the rice paper, rice noodle, lettuce, mint, raw banana & cucumber...a world of freshness and flavours jump at you. A little work assembling the shrimp cake but so worth it.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Goi Cuon (100 baht)</span></i></b>. The fresh salad spring rolls with shrimp & pork was fresh, moist and nice bite portion. I actually can eat goi cuon everyday for its freshness and for sure healthiness. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Bo Cuon La Lot (160 baht)</span></i></b>. Charcoaled betel leaves stuffed with minced beef is a small bite sized thing; but when done well, so much taste comes from it. And when you assemble it with rice paper and other fresh condiments...just lovely. <br />
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The last dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Bun Gio Hue (160 baht)</span></i></b>. We ended our meal with a soup from central Vietnam. It was soothing, warming and hearty. The broth was flavourful and the loads of goodies in one bowl made it even more tasty. Such a nice way to end a meal.<br />
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For dessert; it was a <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Banh Flan (40 baht)</span></i></b>. A very French influenced dessert. I remember my aunts and grandmother always making this dessert. I have no idea why every Vietnamese makes this dessert but it one of my favourites. Smooth, soft, velvety and sweet rolled into one...so so nice.<br />
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Overall; a nice and comfortable Vietnamese restaurant. A very friendly and helpful owner and very attentive staff. The food is good and prices are somewhat reasonable. My only complaint is that the menu has a very limited selection (there are some Thai dishes as well); I have been to Saigon Recipe twice and I have had already practically everything on the menu. <br />
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Another complaint is that Vietnamese food has so much variety of dishes; so I was a bit disappointed that the menu at Saigon Recipe consist of the 'typical' and 'expected' dishes in Vietnamese restaurants in town...fresh & fried spring rolls, shrimp on sugarcane, Vietnamese crepe, etc. <br />
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There is no more reason for me to keep going to Saigon Recipe if they do not try new & different things. For example how about Cahn-chu (tamarind sour soup), Boh kho (beef stew) or even Thit ko (caramalized pork)...so so many dishes to make and prove to everyone in Bangkok that Vietnamese food is more exciting, hearty & complex. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 46/5 Piman 49 #B3, Sukhumvit soi 49</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-662-6212</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-76886597374010630472013-01-08T20:52:00.000-08:002013-01-24T20:54:05.024-08:00Supanniga Eating Room by Khun YaiThe buzz from all our foodie freind's mouths was; "have you tried the new Thai restaurant on Thonglor?" Well...Ummm....No....What new Thai restaurant? That's it; no more not knowing; we went to try the new place out for lunch. The restaurant is called <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Supanniga Eating Room</span></i></b> by Khun Yai.<br />
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Another mundane shop house on Thonglor turned into something fabulous. The restaurant takes two floors (the photo above is the dinning area on the second floor). Not much decor with simple booths with slide in sofas and wooden tables. The atmosphere is warm and cozy...like being in someone's home.<br />
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The story behind Supanniga Eating Room is that...(I presume its Khun Yai) the young guy who opened this restaurant is the grandson of the owner of a hotel in Khon Kaen province and named the restaurant after his grandmother. The grandmother had a very popular restaurant in the hotel (I hope I got this story right). When she passed away; he decided to take some his grandmother's cooks to Bangkok to open Supanniga. What a great idea!<br />
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The amuse bouche was Ground pork, peanuts & cane sugar on pineapple. A lovely blend of sweet, sour, tangy, acidic and a touch of spiciness.<br />
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The appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Nam Prik Kahi Pu (190 baht)</span></i></b>. The spicy dip of sea water crab roe and crab meat with fresh veggies. I loooovvveeee nam prik pu; so when I saw this on the menu, we had to order it. Thank goodness we did. It was soooooo yummy. The nam prik was not too thick, chunks of crab floating mixed with chillies and it had a egg yolkie yellow colour to it. The fresh veggies tasted so much better with the dip. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pla Too Tod Nam Pla (160 baht)</span></i></b>. The wok-fried fresh Thai mackerels with fish sauce was out of this world. The fish was cooked perfectly with slight crispness on the outside yet soft & tender on the inside. The fish sauce added so much flavour to the fish. I could have eaten a ton of them.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ka Lum Tod Nam Pla (120 baht)</span></i></b>. The very famous house specialty...fried chinese cabbage in fish sauce from Trad province. Who would have thought that someone could turn the old and boring cabbage into something spectacular. Ummmm; wow, this dish was incredible. The cabbage was tender yet still had a slight crunch to it. The fish sauce from Trad province gave that punch of flavour to wake up the taste buds. Amazing cabbage. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Moo Cha Muang (170 baht)</span></i></b>. The pork stewed in Thai herbs and cha muang leaves was so tender. I have no idea how many ingredients were used to make this dish but it was very rich in flavour. The cha muang leaves added texture. Truly a great dish.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Yum Cha Plu Sardine (120 baht)</span></i></b>. The sardines mixed with cha pu leaves, tomato sauce, herbs with a chilli sauce was a very interesting dish; so we for sure had to have it. What an explosion of flavours & textures in the mouth. Sardines are not used as much as they should be; this dish proves that it can make a lovely tasting dish. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pad Nam Prik Sa-taw Goong Sod (180 baht)</span></i></b>. The southern wild beans stir-fried with prawns and shrimp paste from Koh Chang is not loved by everyone. The southern sato beans have a particular smell and bitter taste that is very unique. Either you hate it or love it. I do not mind it if it is cooked well. This dish makes the sato beans very likeable due to the flavour of the shrimp paste and chillies. <br />
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The last dish was <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Khai Jiew Pu (140 baht)</span></b></i>. Fried omelet with crab meat is not the most exciting dish but ohoyyy; it is one of those simple dishes that just warms up your heart and stomach. Adding crab to a khai jiew just makes this simple dish into a spectacular simple dish. <br />
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Overall; we are so happy that Supanniga opened on Thonglor. We are so lucky that it is very close to my home. The Thai food is unique and some of the dishes are not found in other Thai restaurants. The ingredients are the best around. The food is very flavourful and the service is very friendly & attentive. The prices are also reasonable. A nice addition to the Thonglor food scene. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 160/11 soi Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-714-7508</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Opening hours: daily from 11:30 - 14:30 and 17:30 - 23:30</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-59873680939964945582013-01-04T19:23:00.000-08:002013-01-24T20:09:56.384-08:00Little BeastWe have read and heard so much about <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>Little Beast</b></i></span> (I like the name) that we finally had to try it out. Little Beast is located on Thonglor (the most annoying soi due to traffic). Little Beast is in soi 13 and you have to drive very slowly or you will miss the place. Once we found it; there was a very small and narrow alley way that leads to the parking lot...which was a total disaster. The traffic coordinator had no coordination skills what-so-ever...he allows us to enter and at the same time allows another car to leave; be are both stuck in the one lane alley....good job Mr. Parking attendant. The parking lot was packed because the lot is shared with other restaurants. After maneuvering several times, we finally parked. <br />
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When we arrived; thought we reserved a table inside, we were seated outside on the terrace next to the one lane alley because the place was packed, packed, packed...did I mention the place was packed? At first we did not mind; but it became too hot and we asked if we can have the first available table inside. The hostess was charming and very friendly. She asked us to wait 10 minutes and she got us a table upstairs.<br />
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Little Beast is a very small restaurant; so it is very wise to call in advance for a table. While waiting for our table; we had a quick chat with the lovely hostess about the concept of Little Beast. In short: the partners opened Little Beast because they all studied in New York City. They missed the type of atmosphere and food they used to have in NYC. So they decided to create that in Bangkok...I think they did a great job with the atmosphere.<br />
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The decor of Little Beast is very cool (the photo above is the second floor dinning area). It is a good mixture of steel & wood. Very good lighting fixtures that added mood & ambiance. The dinning furniture is an eclectic mixture of pieces with different colours, textures and sizes...yet all the pieces blend well with the environment. It is vintage yet modern at the same time.<br />
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The first appetizer to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tuna Tartare (180 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish was made with good quality & fresh tuna. A basic dish where the main ingredient must stand out and be the star; which was the case here. Very good.<br />
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The next appetizer to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Char Plate 3 (320 baht)</span></i></b>. The charcuterie platter had three types of home-made meats. This dish was somewhat ok...one of the meats was too dry and seemed like it was sitting around for too long, one was not spiced enough and the slices were too thin (that is my opinion since I am such a pig when it comes to eating). <br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chicken Couscous (350 baht)</span></i></b>. The chicken was of good quality. The chicken was well cooked...very tender & juicy. The broth was light but very tasty. The broth was perfect to accompany the couscous and added much flavour to it. A lovely and hearty dish.<br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pork Belly (300 baht)</span></i></b>. The pork belly came in three nice sized portions. It was cooked nicely; where the meat had a lovely golden honey brown colour to it. The pork was tender and thank goodness was not dried out. It had lots of flavour to it. <br />
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Dessert to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ice Cream Sandwich (150 baht)</span></i></b>. I have never seen this type of dessert on a menu so I was curious to try it. There were several flavour of ice cream sandwiches to choose from; I chose the snickernoodle (I honestly had no clue what that was). The sandwich was very soft and chewy. The ice cream was flavourful, creamy and not too sweet. A very nice combination and nice way to end the mea. <br />
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The first floor of Little Beast has some tables and a long bar where tons of people mingle, chat and drink. Very lively.<br />
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The outdoor terrace where there are two tables...it does get hot but it is good for smokers and people who prefer less noise. A nice view of inside the restaurant. <br />
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Overall; Little Beast is a great addition to the food scene of Thonglor. It offers an unique atmosphere and food. The food is simple, nicely executed, cooked well and the prices are very reasonable. The hostess was very friendly and attentive. The service overall was good. We will return for sure. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 44/9-10 Thonglor soi 13</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Phone #: 02-185-2670</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday 17:30 - 1:00 am, Sunday 17:30 - 12:00 am</span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-75131070540294215592012-08-28T07:59:00.000-07:002012-09-07T09:18:52.133-07:00Le Garde Temps (Paris, France)Our first dinner back in Paris turned out to be very good. We decided to try new bistros on this trip. We read a lot good press about <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Le Garde Temps</span></i></b>. The restaurant is situated in the 9th arrondissement. This is the new place of chef Benoit Gauthier, who also is famous with Le Grand Pan in the 15th (where we had a great dinner that only consisted of very good meat). The co-owner of Le Garde Temps is Marc Rosenzweig who was running the room. The executieve chef is Pierre Siewe from chez Camdeborde...with the three guys like this opening a new place; no wonder there is a buzz about the place. <br />
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Le Garde Temps small but long restaurant. Very simply decorated but it still had so much charm to it. Brick wall on one side and stone wall on the other added texture and colour to the bistro. The chocolate brown wood tables and chairs blended well with surroundings. <br />
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My friend's starter was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Filet de maquereau (8.00 euros)</span></i></b>. The fillets of mackerel was fresh, firm and tasty. The mackerel was served in two ways; bite chunks and fillet. Nothing special but just good fish that was the star of the dish.<br />
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My starter was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Salade de salicorne (8.00 euros)</span></i></b>. The green beans, Paris mushrooms and salicorne (seaweed) were very fresh, cooked perfectly and the combination of the ingredients tasted so good. A very nice combination of textures, colors and flavours. <br />
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The were only two people running the room; Mr. Rosenzweig and a female wait staff. The place was packed but between the two of them; the service was friendly and efficient. Mr. Rosenzweig was not only helpful with the food but also had good advice on the wines. <br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Onglet de boeuf (15.00 euros)</span></i></b>. The beef was of good quality, very tender and juicy. It was cooked perfectly. The beef was sitting on a bed of spinach. The beef jus sauce was rich and flavourful. A simple dish done well.<br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cote de cochon (18.00 euros)</span></i></b>. A large piece of pork which was also tender and juicy. The sauce was light and foamy but added the necessary flavours. A lovely dish.<br />
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Overall; a very nice, a simple place for good food at amazingly affordable prices. Le Garde Temps is the kind of bistro I like. Nothing pretentious; but a very comfortable, easy-going and friendly place to go. The food is also not pretentious; just good seasonal cooking with good ingredients. This for sure is a good addition to the neighborhood.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 19 rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009 Paris</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 09 81 48 50 55</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-9595986437632851882012-08-24T01:37:00.000-07:002012-08-29T00:42:35.721-07:00Erawan Tea RoomWe were at the Erawan and we wanted a quick and easy lunch. We always remembered that the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Erawan Tea Room</span></i></b> had good service and good food. So; it was decided, Erawan Tea Room here we come for a quick and yummy lunch.<br />
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However; the experienced started badly once we arrived. We were greeted by an arrogant restaurant manager who treated the Erawan Tea Room like one of those VIP places in New York or London where the customers queue up along a red rope and he alone decides who deserves to enter his domain. OK...atleast he was not rude, he was just obnoxious. He showed us to our table, gave us the menus and disappeared.<br />
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The decor of the Erawan Tea Room is of old Thai charm mixed with a dash of Philippe Stark like red lipstick curved sofas. The room is full of natural light from large windows and is spacious. <br />
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My friend and I shared the starter; <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Grilled pork with Sticky Rice (180 baht)</span></i></b>. The pork was of good quality, was tender and juicy. The sticky rice was the perfect partner to the roasted pork. A simple dish that is always satisfying. <br />
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For our main dish; we both ordered <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pad Thai (250 baht)</span></i></b>. The pad thai arrived and it was beautifully presented. The pad thai was wrapped in a lovely thin egg omelette. Once we opened the omelette to our dismay; the pad thai was mostly made of rice noodles. We could barely find any shrimp or even tofu. So pretty much; the pad thai dish was of noodles and egg. The taste was too sweet and we had to add more fish sauce and chili to balance the tastes. <br />
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Overall; what a disappointment! It was not the Erawan Tea Room we remembered for good service and food. On top of the most useless and arrogant manager who seated us down; the service was the worst we have experienced in a very very very long time in Bangkok. It was obvious that they were understaffed and the place was 100% full. It took 15 minutes before someone came to take our order, then it took another 10 minutes to get our drinks, it took another 20 minutes to get our food, it took 10 minutes to get our bill, it took 10 minutes for someone to pick up the bill, it took 15 minutes to return the bill. It was an irritating experience to go through for just a mediocre pad thai. <br />
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This in no way is to say the staff that was working that day were not doing their best; they were working very hard and trying to be positive with the situation; but it was the manager's job see the situation and call for help from the Erawan Hotel. This was a sad and unexpected waste of an afternoon. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 494 Ploenchit Rd., Bangkok</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 02-254-1234</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-68501163592963951222012-08-22T01:12:00.000-07:002012-08-26T02:09:12.938-07:00Christina's KitchenWe have a Thai friend who studied in America, then lived in America and loves anything American...especially American food and American football (even though they never use their foot). <br />
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So; she told us that she just went to an American restaurant that serves the typical American food and that she looooves it! Though I am not a huge fan of American food; we had to try it out for lunch. Even though our friend is a junky for American food; she actually happens to be a foodie, so we do trust her opinion on food.<br />
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The new American restaurant is called <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Christina's Kitchen</span></i></b> on soi 20 Sukhumvit (almost at the end of the soi on the right side if you are coming from Sukhumvit). <br />
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The decor is nothing special; there is no concept behind the decor or atmosphere so it could be any type of restaurant. A very large flat screen tv hangs on the wall (I presume its to watch American sports while eating American food). Faux black alligator leather chairs with black and white table clothes dominate the colour scheme of the room. There is a small window in the back of the room allows the customers to view the cooks at work. <br />
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The first starter to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Buffalo Wings (229 baht)</span></i></b>. You always are reminded that you are in an American restaurant by the portions; oh my, Christina's Kitchen lives up to that reputation. I think there were 10 huge buffalo wings; however, it was not only wings but some leg sticks as well. <br />
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The chicken was accompanied with a ranch dressing dip and some old looking celery sticks which were black on the ends and carrot sticks. I am presuming that Christina makes her own sauce; which was thick, not sweet at all (a good thing), slightly smokey but in my opinion way too sour. I am not an expert on buffalo wings but maybe they are suppose to be sour.<br />
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The chicken was of good quality, they were cooked well...crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on inside. <br />
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The second starter to share was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Deviled Eggs (125 baht)</span></i></b>. The friend I had lunch with said he used to eat this dish when he lived in America and wanted to have them again. The deviled eggs were good; the yolks creamy with a nice balance of the mayonnaise and the mustard. The paprika and herbs added extra flavour.<br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cuban Sandwich (395 baht)</span></i></b>. Wow did this sandwich look appetizing. It was huge and oozing with so much goodies. Something new we learned that day by looking at the menu; the bread is called a 'hoagie'...a long sandwich bread split in the middle and stuffed with meat. <br />
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The sandwich was stuffed with roasted pork, glazed ham, cheese, dill-pickles and jalepeno peppers...all grilled till the cheese melted and the bread was crunchy. The sandwich was out of this world; all the flavours and the textures melted so well together. <br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Chicken Pot Pie (454 baht)</span></i></b>. I ordered this dish because it is rare to have a good chicken pot pie in Bangkok (or I have not found it yet). After we ordered our lunch; a few minutes later a blonde American woman arrived at the restaurant with grocery bags (we assumed it was Christina). <br />
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In a few minutes more; Christina came to our table and appologised that her staff did now warn me that the chicken pot pie would take longer because she makes the dough fresh for each chicken pie ordered; which was a very nice aspect of this dish. <br />
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My chicken pie finally arrived after my friend was finished with his sandwich. I did not mind because we were in no hurry but I was very hungry. I opened the chicken pie; the dough was baked well and was a golden brown. The dough was very thick, fluffy and moist; it had that American breakfast biscuit texture to it. As for the taste of the dough; I thought it was too sweet; it was like a dough for a dessert pie instead of a savoury pie. <br />
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The filling was very thick, rich and creamy. Tons of large chunky chicken pieces and so much corn, carrots, potato and green beans. The portion was very large (which is a very good thing for a person who eats a lot like myself). The chicken pie was very tasty, was a hearty dish and so it was worth the wait. <br />
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Overall; the food at Christina's Kitchen was not bad at all. I seldom eat American food; so I am no expert. However; when you are feeling for simple and hearty American food; this is a good place for sure. Christina uses the best ingredients for her dishes...for example; we over heard Christina tell one of her staff when they go shopping for jalepeno peppers, she prefers that they buy the US jalepenos vs. the Thai ones (I assuming they are more expensive and spicy). The portions are large. The service is friendly and efficient. The prices are some what reasonable since she is using more expensive ingredients. Oh; I almost forgot to mention, Christina was a very outgoing and nice person who takes her time to explain the food and was very attentive to our needs. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 64/1 Sukhumvit soi 20, Bankgok</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 090 408 0647</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">www.facebook.com/christinas-kitchen</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-90886868678674683032012-08-18T17:28:00.000-07:002012-08-26T02:08:50.445-07:00Taling Pling @ SukhumvitI think everyone in Bangkok knows Taling Pling...majority of us has eaten at their first restaurant on soi Silom. Over the years; Taling Pling has branched out to (I think) around 6 more restaurants around town. Everyone agrees that Taling Pling has had over the years consistently cooked good food, use good quality products, is reasonably priced and yummy for the tummy Thai food. <br />
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A new branch has just opened on Sukhumvit soi 34. The restaurant is situated in the childhood house of the owners of Taling Pling and their kids have turned the enormous house into an amazing looking restaurant. There is also a huge garden with outdoor sitting.<br />
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The design is eclectic...a mix between 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'old world colonial charm' all rolled in one...can you imagine it? The use of colourful furniture mixed with black & white floors, floor to ceiling glass everywhere and tons of space and volume makes the atmosphere quite unique. <br />
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The first starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Miang with Ground Chicken (120 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Noodle Roll (120 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Pork dumplings (85 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Grilled Pork (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Deep Fried Spring Rolls (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The last starter was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Crab and Pork Dip (145 baht)</span></i></b>. Boy, do I love nahm phrik with vegetables. My friend who is not a Thai and a vegetarian (but can eat seafood) asked (in her Thaiglish) if we could order this dish with only crab. The waitress said yes (which I heard). When the dish arrived; it looked really yummy. <br />
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But when we dove into the dish; there was minced pork in the nahm phrik. We told the waitress who took the order that the kitchen made a mistake. We can accept that there was a mistake made so we just asked if they can take this dish back and make the one we ordered. <br />
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A few minutes later; the waitress came back with a more senior wait person and immediately they both approached and talked to our Thai friend and told her that she should have made the order in Thai and that is why there is a mistake. That we should accept this dish because it was 'our fault'. <br />
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You can imagine the faces of all the people at our table. We were first quiet and took the dish because we were so stunned that they actually came back to us and accused us that it was our fault. But afterwards, we started discussing amongst ourselves the unbelievable situation. <br />
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The young waitress made the mistake; she did not want to pay for the mistake she made (it might be monetary) so she and her superiour came up with that kind of lie & absurdity to save her ass. Just shocking. <br />
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Oh by the way; the dip was actually very good for us non-vegetarian people. The dip was thick and rich. It was so flavourful with coconut cream and other spices. The crab and minced pork was plentiful and fresh. It went so well with the dipping vegetables. <br />
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The first main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Water Vegetables (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Crab Curry (185 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Pad Thai (185 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Kailan (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Mushroom Curry (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Vegetable Green Curry (145 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The final main dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Wing Bean Salad (145 baht)</span></i></b>. <br />
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Overall: the food is still the star at Taling Pling. Even with its new modern setting; I am so glad they have kept the food tasting like we have been used to and love (though some dishes can be on the sweet side). The food is well cooked, well presented, good quality ingredients and tasted very yummy. However; some dishes seemed to be too sweet. The prices are still so reasonable for the quality you receive.<br />
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The service started out very good; they were attentive in the beginning. But it went down hill from there. As mentioned earlier; they lied to us, then had the audacity to blame our Thai friend for their mistake. Which was incredible and unbeliveable already. <br />
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But; 'putting salt on our wounds'; what else could they have done to make us feel upset or unwelcome? <br />
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Well, how about...we were the last customers around 22:00. All of a sudden; the staff started turning off the lights and air-conditioning in the other parts of the restaurant. The only lights left were the ones in our area; of course we were under the 'spot light'. They were giving us very strong signals to leave. This was such bad manners and badly trained staff. This left a very bad taste in every person at our table. This was a shame because the night started well at Taling Pling.<br />
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In the end; will I return to Taling Pling? Yes (I like to be tortured...just kidding); simply because, I think the food at Taling Pling is not bad for an easy going Thai meal. It is close to my home, tons of parking and we never need a reservation. But if we are ever treated as poorly as we were treated like that particular evening, I do not think I will be as nice and silent as I was then.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 24 Sukhumvit soi 34, Bangkok </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 02-258-5308-9 </span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-63780749370164729982012-08-15T22:48:00.000-07:002012-08-26T02:08:06.501-07:00Bourbon StreetI still remember going to <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Bourbon Street</span></i></b> for the first time about 20 years ago with my father when it was at Washington Square. I will always remember those visits to Bourbon Street because the place was a dark, seedy, run down and loud (full of drunk Americans) place...it was absolutely fun and great. I also remember the food; I had never had cajun/ creole food...Bourbon Street was my first experience. <br />
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Now in 2012...Bourbon Street has moved to its new location on soi Ekamai. Washington Square where Bourbon Street used to be is going to be torn down to build another boring shopping mall. I wanted to try the new Bourbon Street just for memory sake.<br />
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The place is huge; the main dining room on the first floor and a mezzanine on the second floor. It still has the old style wooden chairs and tables that I remembered. A huge fish tank bar is the main focus in the middle of the room. <br />
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The new Bourbon Street in my opinion has lost its charm; it's too pristine... it has lost its darkness, seediness and scariness. It is now a 'proper' looking restaurant/ bar. When we arrived; the place was empty...no drunk Americans to add noise and atmosphere to the place. Either most of the old and regular customers agree with me that Bourbon Street has lost its charm or most people do not know yet that Bourbon Street is on soi Ekamai. I just hope for Bourbon Street that its the second reason.<br />
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However; I noticed that their menu has not changed over all these years. It still has all the wonderful Cajun/ Creole food, American food, Mexican food, Thai food and so much more. The menu is so extensive; I never know what to order. All the food looks really yummy. We decided to make it a mostly Cajun evening. </div>
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My friend's appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Shrimp & Crabmeat Gumbo (150 baht...small portion)</span></i></b>. The soup was rich, thick and hearty. It was accompanied with corn bread (which is pretty good). The gumbo had a very nice taste to it. The soup had so much shrimp and crab (which is a great thing), on top of that a good portion of rice was added...this was a meal in itself. </div>
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My appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Creole Bouillabaisse (200 baht...large portion)</span></i></b>. A variety of fresh fish and shrimp in a light sauce of tomatoes, garlic and herbs. The soup was full fresh fish and shrimp. The soup was light but yet had good flavour to it. Loads of good things to make this soup very satisfying. </div>
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pepper Steak (495 baht)</span></i></b>. A fillet mignon simmered in their pepper sauce. We were very surprised that the steak was of very good quality and that it was cooked perfectly. It was tender and juicy. For the price and the portion; this was a good bargain. The steak was accompanied with a baked potato and corn bread. </div>
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Shrimp, Crab & Eggplant Casserole (295 baht)</span></i></b>. Bourbon Street's version of a classic from New Orleans' Bon Ton restaurant with rice. This was an interesting dish full of goodies; the eggplant, shrimp and crab were abundant and fresh. It had a good roasted flavour, it had nice textures and was hearty. </div>
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Overall; even though I miss the old Bourbon Street for its dodgyness...I am still glad that they kept the food as it used to be. Big portions of hearty cajun/ creole dishes The service is always friendly and attentive. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions. Honestly; there are no major issues with Bourbon Street; its easy going and comfortable; but the atmosphere needs improving.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 9/39-40 soi Tana Arcade</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i>Sukhumvit 63 Ekamai, Bangkok</i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 02-381-6801-3</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">www.bourbonstbkk.com</span></i></div>
Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-965632840163032192012-08-13T01:37:00.000-07:002012-08-26T02:07:49.970-07:00Let Them Eat CakeWe read that there was a new pastry room on Sukhumvit soi 20, almost at the end of the soi. There is a new community mall with a Watson's and a 24 hours Max Value supermarket I had to try it because I am always looking for new places that serve amazing & interesting pastries in a very nice atmosphere. This new dessert heaven is called '<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Let Them Eat Cake'</span></i></b> (a very clever name).<br />
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The space is small. The decor is very minimal and simple; the interiour design is a mix between a bistro and a brasserie consisting of grey walls, grey leather benches and chairs and marble tables, there is a slight break in colour with the caramel coloured cushions. <br />
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The great thing about 'Let Them Eat Cake' is that they are open passed midnight on weekends. A very nice idea for all the people have late dinners and need a nice place for dessert. <br />
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The first cake was a <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Thai Tea Tart (135 baht)</span></i></b>. The size of the tart was good, not too much for one person, it was structurally well put together, was pleasing to the eye, looked fresh and appetizing. The tart's thai tea flavour was rich and the thai tea cream was soft & creamy. The<br />
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The second cake was a<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> Madame Pompadour (130 baht)</span></i></b>. This was a hazelnut creamy mousse pastry that tasted wonderful. The hazelnut mousse was soft and velvety. The taste of hazelnut was rich and the taste lingered on the taste buds for a long time. <br />
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The beautiful pastries on show. The nice thing about 'Let Them Eat Cake' is that they are not trying too hard by making too many cakes at the same time. They are focusing on about nine cakes...emphasizing on quality instead of quantity. I would have loved to try them all...next time.<br />
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Overall; Let Them Eat Cake is a very nice addition to the dessert scene of Bangkok. It is going to do very well (it is already impossible to get a table on weekends and it is full of Japanese house wives on weekdays) because it is offering something very unique and on top of it...it is very yummy. <br />
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Making (or copying) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Pierre Hermé</em></span> inspired pastries but with a Thai twist is a lovely idea. It could have turned out horribly wrong for example, too sweet or too creamy, but the pastry chef has kept the focus on French pastry techniques and using good quality ingredients. <br />
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The service is good and attentive, the prices are reasonable; especially for the quality of the pastries. <br />
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Let Them Eat Cake has recently opened and it is not the easiest soi to get to; and yet, it already has a huge following through word of mouth and simply because they are making good pastries in a nice setting.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: 66/4 G Floor, Mille-Malle</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sukhumvit soi 20, Bangkok</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 02-663-4667</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i>facebook.com/letthemeatcakebkk</i></span>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-52965443509044418492012-08-06T22:41:00.000-07:002012-08-11T23:32:06.671-07:00Ogu OguMy friends and I decided to try the new Japanese restaurant in the same building of the newly opened Japanese hotel...the Okura. The new Japanese restaurant is called <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i>Ogu Ogu</i></span></b>. We all heard about it and we have all passed by it and thought it looked interesting in terms of design. <br />
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The decor is modern with the use of wood as the main material. The wood is used in many fashions to give texture and colour to the place. There is strategic mood lighting; but a bit dark to see the menus. Modernised retro furniture adds more interesting design elements to the place. <br />
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We started with <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Lotus Chips (140 baht)</span></i></b>. With rosemary infused salt.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Spicy Tuna Roll (230 baht)</span></i></b>...thinly chopped tuna in spicy mayonaise dressing rolled with avocado and tobiko caviar. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Dragon Wings (280 baht)</span></i></b>...their version of buffalo wings served with whipped blue cheese dressing. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Tuna Ceviche (530 baht)</span></i></b>...tuna marinade with yuzu dressing served with green tea salt. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Sashimi Salad (390 baht)</span></i></b>.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Ogu Ogu Tofu (190 baht)</span></i></b>...fresh tofu served with different kinds of salts and ponzu.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Assorted Sashimi (950 baht)</span></i></b>...a combination of tuna, salmon and red snapper.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Grilled Beef Tongue (320 baht)</span></i></b>...thinly sliced grilled beef tongue served with green tea salt. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Ogu Ogu Salad (390 baht)</span></i></b>...their simple rocket and green salad with truffle oil and anchovy. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Grilled Pork Belly (280 baht)</span></i></b>...thinly sliced grilled pork served with yuzu kosho.<br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Truffle Carbonara Udon (380 baht)</span></i></b>...their modern take on traditional carbonara using their udon noodles with truffle infused cream sauce. <br />
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The next dish <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Mentaiko & Egg Udon (380 baht)</span></i></b>...udon noodles in egg broth with mentaiko fish roe served in hot stone bowl.<br />
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The first dessert was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Sake Affogato (280 baht)</span></i></b>...our sake sorbet floated in sake wooden box. <br />
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The next dessert was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Tofu Blanc Manager (280 baht)</span></i></b>...soy milk mousse served with ogura red bean and their special green tea gelato.<br />
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The next dessert was <b><i><span style="color: orange;">Baked Apple Spring Roll (280 baht)</span></i></b>...served with vanilla gelato and calvados liquor infused syrup. <br />
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Overall; I rarely say this but I thought the evening was disappointing. We went into Ogu Ogu with perhaps too big of an expectation. The place looked so different and cool that we wanted it to be really good. It was a let down. <br />
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The food was just ok...presentation wise; no issues. But when it came down to execution and preparation, this was their down fall. I am not sure if Ogu Ogu actually knows something about Japanese food or their chef was ever trained properly. Everything was eatable but there was nothing that 'wowed' us or even allowed us to say that this is interesting. I was actually hoping for something atleast to be 'this is really good'. But it never materialised. <br />
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Most of the sashimi and sushi rolls were of good quality and no issues. The more unique dishes turned out to be disappointing like the Truffle Carbonara Udon; the only thing different about the dish was they used cream and udon noodles. There is nothing creative what-so-ever in this dish; this was their chance to truly make this their signature dish if they actually just thought a bit deeper. On top of that, the dish was infused with too much truffle essence that the dish tasted fake. <br />
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There was a dish that we all did agree was not bad at all...the grilled pork belly. Very good quality pork, good texture, grilled nicely and had a good taste. <br />
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The most annoying elements of our evening came down to service and ambiance. Let me start with the service. There was no lack of staff in the establishment; but the problem was either they were not trained properly or they really did not care. Ogu Ogu is split into sections separated by a wall. For some strange reason the staff preferred to stay on the other side of the restaurant. So when we needed or wanted something, we could never attract the attention of one of the staff. We were so annoyed that we began to serve our own sake.<br />
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The next thing Ogu Ogu has to decide is if they want to be serious restaurant or a disco-teque. The freaking techno music was playing so loud that we had to ask twice for them to turn it down because we had to scream at each other to have a discussion. I do not want to kill their concept...if they want to attract a young crowd who knows nothing about food and just want to listen to techno music all night long; that is their prerogative. But if this is 'truly' going to be a restaurant; this is where they will kill their main source of business...in my humble opinion, people who want good food will not sit in Ogu Ogu, pay those kinds of prices and be driven crazy by techno music. <br />
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In the end; we were a table of 8 people we and we all agreed that we would not return; just for the simple fact that we had a lot of food but we were not full and we were not satisfied. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Address: Park Venture Ecoplex, G floor, 57 Wireless Rd. Bangkok</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">(BTS Ploenchit)</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Telephone: 02-108-2255</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">www.ogu-ogu.com</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-14233356412876594222012-08-01T23:38:00.000-07:002012-08-03T23:40:38.670-07:00Water Library ThonglorWe used to eat at the Water Library on Chamchuree Square. But, it became cumbersome to go there due to traffic. Then we heard that <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b>Water Library</b></span></i> opened a branch on Thonglor at the Grass Building (closer to home). That the concept was not going to be the same as the one on Chamchuree Square. WL decided to open a restaurant like no other in town. The gossip was spreading like wild fire. The discussions and debates were heating up. People thought WL was crazy to open such a restaurant with prices that matched eating in major food cities like London, Paris, Tokyo or NYC. <br />
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Here is the reason for the debate. The new WL restaurant was going to only have a 10 people maximum seating capacity. They would only offer a set menu; no a-la-carte. It was going to be counter sitting where the chefs prepare some of the dishes in front of you. The tasting menu only cost 6,500 baht for 12 courses (no wines). The tasting menu with a wine pairing would cost 8,400 baht. That is a lot of money. However; WL counter the nay sayers by professing to only be using the freshest and best ingredients possible...on top of that the wines that are served are the most prestigious labels in the wine industry. So there; that is why WL believes you get what you pay for. <br />
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We had friends who decided to try WL with us after a few long discussions. <br />
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WL at the Grass compound consist of a Wine Bar, an outdoor Lounge and an Indoor Lounge. The restaurant is on the second floor. Once we arrived upstairs; we are greeted by a host of staff warmly welcoming us. The long patented wood counter is strategically lit so that the food with be high lighted perfectly. The long and narrow room is dimly lit so to allow the counter to be the focal point. The black counter leather chairs are pretty much the rest of the decor. Simple and elegant comes to mind for the decor and ambiance. <br />
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Placed on our charcoal colored place mats were black envelopes with the tasting menu and wine pairings for the evening inside. An elegant touch.<br />
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We are welcomed with a glass of Louis Roederer Brut Premier champagne...a lovely gesture and touch. But of course one glass is never enough; thank goodness they were very generous with the pouring of the champagne.<br />
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The amuse bouche was Caviar...farmed Beluga Caviar, Iberico ham jelly and Ratte espuma.<br />
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The first dish was Heirloom Carrot...creme brule, roasted with cumin caramel, orange puree, Japanese horse hair crab. <br />
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A box arrived for the next dish...It had the question; 'Is it Donut?'. Very cute.<br />
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When we opened the box; there was a donut with a dipping sauce and a piece of candy on a stick. But the eye can be deceiving. The donut was actually a specially baked bread with ham shavings, the dipping sauce was an aioli and the candy on the stick was spicy sausage. <br />
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The chefs preparing the next dish with hydrogen. <br />
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The next dish was Cerises Jaunes' tomatoes...'Nitro' yellow tomatoes, tomato sponge, Tarbouriech oyster, seawater.<br />
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The wine that accompanied the dishes was Riesling Kabinett Trocken "Klosterberg" Weingut Robert Weil Riesling 2009.<br />
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The next dish was Fois gras...variation of Perigord Fois gras, beetroots, Sakura smoked Ayu, hibiscus vinaigrette.<br />
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The wine accompanying the dish was Chardonnay Marina Cvetic Masciarelli 2007.<br />
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The next dish was Asperges...white asparagus served warm, comte cheese, puffed wild rice, suckling pig.<br />
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The next dish was Maine lobster 'en croute'...poached maine lobster, pumpkin compression, veloute of sea urchin.<br />
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The wine to accompany the next dishes was Volnay Champans Premier Cru, Domaine Marquis d'Angerville 2006.<br />
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The next dish was Otor...bluefin tuna belly, Jerusalem artichoke ragout, merlot reduction.<br />
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The wine to accompany the next dishes was Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve, Domaine du Pegau 2006.<br />
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The next dish was Chalans duck...roasted with lavender, endives, sauce poivrade.<br />
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The next dish was Gorgonzola...tribute to Alain Passard's baked vine tomato; ham ice-cream, tomato baked 6 hours with glazed orange juice, buttermilk discs.<br />
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The dessert wine was Moscato Possito, La Spinetta 2005. <br />
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The chefs preparing the desserts.<br />
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The next dish was Peach Melba...sous vide of peach, Mara de Bois sorbet, tarragon foam.<br />
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The final dish was the mini-desserts to accompany tea or coffee.<br />
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Overall; with agreement of my three other dinner companions, we were really satisfied with the dinner. It was well executed, cooked and tasted delicious. The presentation of each dish was thought out well making sure it was pleasant on the eye. The dishes were well blended in terms of textures, smells and tastes. The cooking of each dish was spot on; there was no meat, fish or vegetable that was overcooked or undercooked. The ingredients on each dish were very fresh. <br />
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The service staff was incredibly well trained to welcome the guest and their sense of service was perfect. They were active and responsive but not intrusive. <br />
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The only slight problem I would have is the counter sitting...though it is great to see and converse with the chefs who are preparing the dishes; it is not conducive for conversation. If you come with a party of more that three; it already gets complicated to have a good discussion without getting a bit loud. <br />
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So...the big question from lots of people...is it worth it? 8,400 baht for the best quality food, most incredible wine labels & service possible; then yes would be my answer. If you have the funds to splurge once or have a big celebration. Then Water Library is the place to spend the money. Of course you cannot do this often; but to experience this place once is really worth it. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: Grass Thonglor, 264/1, Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor 12) </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Telephone: 089-205-0318 </span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-34099674725388374942012-07-02T20:04:00.000-07:002012-07-14T20:06:58.325-07:00Wine Me Up @ Seen SpaceWe went to a restaurant on Thonglor for dinner because we had a late drinking appointment afterwards on in the area. After parking the car, walking to this certain restaurant and then taking the elevator to this certain restaurant..to our shock when arrived at the restaurant; there was a sign posted on a locked gate that read, 'the restaurant was closed until further notice'. WTF?<br />
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So; we decided to leave the car where it was and walk to <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Wine Me Up</span></i></b> for dinner. We have never been there, so the opportunity to do so had arrived. <br />
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Its hard to describe the decor of Wine Me Up because it is trying too hard to be chic & stylish that in the end its an overload to the senses. The decor is a mix between a go-go night club, a discoteque, a jazz club and a hotel lobby. The main colour theme was red, black and white. <br />
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The thing I hate the most is a restaurant that has a band that plays while you are trying to eat & talk...and behold Wine Me Up had a band playing. I am no expert on music; but oh my, oh my was this band awful. The singer was so out of tune; but when he tried to do the high notes...I was scared that my wine glass was going to shatter (or my ear drum). It was loud, abrasive and simply unjoyful to sit there to be tormented like that. <br />
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We shared a platter of <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tapas set (380 baht)</span></i></b>. The tapas was a selection of Italian cold cut meats like Parma ham & salami and some cheese. It was a good portion for two, the meats were good but what was disappointing was that the cheeses were on the very dry side and that they served the platter with pita bread (was not even toasted), which was a waste of space because it was dry and tasteless. <br />
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We also shared a <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spinach Cheese Bake and Grilled Scallop (120 baht (I think)..I actually forgot but it was not expensive at all)</span></i></b>. The dish was a good portion for sharing. The combination of the melted cheese, the spinach and scallops were good very good. <br />
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I ordered the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spaghetti Smoked Salmon and Wasabi Cream Sauce (320 baht)</span></i></b>. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly...the wasabi cream sauce we rich & thick and the full flavour of the wasabi came through. However; I thought the sauce was too creamy to the point of sickening...which is no fault of the restaurant; because the description on the menu did say 'cream sauce'. The salmon was of good quality, was plentiful and added the saltiness to the dish. <br />
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My friend had the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Rib Eye with Red Wine Sauce and Potato Wedges (820 baht)</span></i></b>. The piece of meat was of good quality. It was cooked as asked, the meat was tender & juicy. Nothing extravagant to this dish but this is proof that if you use good quality products...the more simple the dish, the better. <br />
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The ceiling of Wine Me Up is depiction of some Godly intervention or a Mythological battle (I was not sure which one it was). But; it does show a lot of effort to add some kind of artistic element to the place. <br />
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The entrance to Wine Me Up which is on the third floor of the Seen Space Mall. There is also outdoor sitting for smokers. <br />
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The view from Wine Me Up of Fat-R Gutz beer garden below.<br />
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Overall; the food was good; nothing outstanding, but good. No issue on the quality of the produce, how the food was cooked and presented. The prices are very reasonable. The service is friendly and efficient. The decor is over-the-top and the ambiance is just waaayyy tooo noisy with the awful band.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 251/1 soi Thonglor 13 Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok 10110</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Telephone: 02-185-2455</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-52938403632178141662012-06-29T22:11:00.003-07:002012-07-01T17:29:38.514-07:00SmithWe heard that the famous chef Ian Kittichai opened a new restaurant on Sukhumvit soi 49. We have had friends who went and did not like the food and decor. We had friends who went and liked the food and decor. So; it was decided I needed to try it out so I could settle the argument. <br />
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The name of the new restaurant is <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Smith</span></i></b>. At first I was like you...Smith? Why on earth is the restaurant called Smith? Then we heard that Smith comes from the word key smith, shoe smith, metal smith, etc. so they wanted to be known as food smith. I thought it was clever. <br />
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The design is pure industrial feel and look; the combination of industrial steel, concrete and old wood, makes the place feel masculine and bold. Everything from the furniture to the stair case has an amazing style and design element to them. The room is dark with strategic spot lights here and there to give the place a moody glow.<br />
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The first appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Calf's Tongue (180 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish comprised of shredded calf's tongue with Mexican spice, pressed cabbage, millet & shallots. The ingredients were fresh, good combination of colour, textures and flavours. The only issue with the dish was that the Mexican spice overwhelmed the dish and it was too salty. If Mexican spice is this strong and salty; they need to figure out how to use less so that it adds to the dish and not distract from it.<br />
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The second appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tuna, Braised Pig's Tail & Fois Gras Torchon (250 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish was consisted of braised pig's tail and fois gras underneath the tuna and foraged vegetables, rosemary, citrus & peas. Beautifully presented, the ingredients were fresh and vibrant in colour. The taste and texture combination of cooked, raw and semi raw ingredients were lovely. <br />
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The third appetizer was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Steak Tartare (250 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish consisted of raw beef and a 65/65 slow cooked with egg, crispy capers & garden herbs. Nicely presented and well crafted. The raw beef was of good quality and the ingredients well blended into the beef. Good texture and flavours. The only issue with this dish was that the slow cooked egg was also supposed to be blended into the tartare for extra flavour....but it was overcooked. So, it was like trying to blend in a boiled egg into the tartare; you can imagine how difficult that was, so we just ate the egg separately. <br />
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Each table and chair is specially designed for the restaurant. This kind of attention to detail helps Smith stand out and have its very unique charm and personality. <br />
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My friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Verjus Glazed Pork belly (350 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish consisted of a large chunk of pork belly with pickled stone fruit, spicy lentil, mint & coriander. The pork belly was huge and well cooked...it was soft, tender and juicy. I am not a fan of 'fat' so pork belly is a difficult dish for me to eat, but the meat itself was so so yummy.<br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Lightly Smoked Salmon (395 baht)</span></i></b>. This dish consisted of slow cooked smoked salmon with lime-creme fraiche froth, foraged mountain mushrooms & summer corn. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the smokey flavour was evident. The froth added a lovely but light flavour and texture. The combination of the soft salmon with the more dense mushroom and corn was very nice. <br />
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We shared an order of <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Brussel sprouts & parmesan (120 baht)</span></i></b>. We love brussel sprouts. It was a second thought but I decided to order a side dish to accompany our meal. The brussel sprouts arrived at our table in less than 10 minutes and I was already suspicious...and I was right to be so. The brussel sprouts were cooked in advance and have been sitting in the frying pan all evening. They were wilted, over cooked, dry and in a very sad & sorry state. This was the most waste of money, time and space of a dish.<br />
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I forgot to mention that you need to call Smith if you want to get a table. I actually went to Smith on a friday afternoon to reserve a table for that evening. The very nice hostess told me that it was already 100% full. I was very surprised. She said that I should reserve a table for Saturday night but I should call before noon because the place will fill up very quickly. My first reaction was...'WOW', this is not Bangkok anymore but more like NYC. Reserving a table a day in advance for a table in Bangkok is very rare. <br />
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The shared dessert was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Eton Mess (180 baht)</span></i></b>. The dessert consisted of red berries, praline crust & fresh cream. It sounded really nice from the menu; but for some reason it did not live up to its description. The red berries were abundant and flavourful, but the praline crust was not effective in adding flavour dot he dish. The fresh cream was room temperature which for me does not cut it. The dessert is suppose to be composed of not not only colour, textures but also temperature.<br />
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Overall; the food was not 100% perfect, but non-the-less, it was still very good. There was a spice that overwhelmed a dish, or certain items that were over cooked, or an item that had more creativity put into it than rather than focusing on the execution. However; the attention to freshness, presentation and good quality ingredients were evident and made up for the faults.<br />
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The unique decor and atmosphere was a great addition to the Bangkok dinning scene. But Smith did not just do it because this kind of concept was missing; they really put a lot of thought into the concept and executed it with fine detail.<br />
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The prices for the food & drinks are very reasonable; especially for the quality of the ingredients. <br />
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The service was very nice and attentive; which was surprising since the place was 100% packed. I have to congratulate them on the attentiveness of staff . However; where they can improve is how they should not up-sale the menu...it really leaves a bad taste in the mouth because it felt like they were trying to cheat us. <br />
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Here is my short story made long...there was a Slow-Roasted lamb ribs for 2 on the menu. I did not really pay attention that there were actually 2 different weights of lamb for 2 people...one at 1 Kg. for 1750 baht and the other was 1.5 Kg. for 2350 baht. We decided we wanted to share the lamb ribs and I ordered it. The waitress wrote it down and repeated our order. Then my friend reminded the waitress that we wanted the 1 Kg. lamb. The waitress said the 1 Kg. lamb out of stock and they only had the 1.5 Kg. lamb. <br />
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We were very upset about this...she should have told this to us right away instead of assuming that we could eat that much and that we were willing to pay that much. So; we decided to order something else. If it was not for my friend paying more attention to the menu than me; we would have had to eat lamb for several days due to the left overs. This was not nice of the waitress and even dishonest. This truly left a bad taste in the mouth with this experience. <br />
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In the end; we for sure will return to Smith; they just recently opened so for sure there are faults; but I am sure they will be cleared away as they get more into their stride (I hope). The ideas and concept behind the place are unique and good; so for sure, Smith will be a popular place for a long time. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Address: 1/8 soi Sukhumvit 49, Bangkok 10110</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Telephone: 02-261-0515-6</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14536462.post-61595847801563131842012-05-23T00:14:00.000-07:002012-06-14T00:16:33.544-07:00Roast Coffee & EateryWe had friends in town and we all decided to meet up for lunch at <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Roast Coffee & Eatery</span></i></b>. We visited Roast about a year ago when they first opened and there was nobody and so we forgot about the place. But since then; Roast has built an enormous following. I was amazed at how packed the place was when we arrived.<br />
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The ambiance is bright and airy due to the ceiling to floor windows. The high ceiling add height & volume to the space. Bistro like wooden chairs and tables filled the center of the room while bistro like sofas filled the edge of the room. The structure is a mix of wood, concrete, glass and brick. All the elements work well together. <br />
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The first dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Prawn salad (260 baht)</span></i></b>. Roasted prawns, tomatoes, celery and red onion dressing. A simple looking salad but the prawns took the salad to the next level. The prawns were very fresh and large. Roasted well where the prawn was still moist & tender inside. The prawn added good flavour to what would have been a normal salad. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Baby calamari (160 baht)</span></i></b>. The calamari was deep fried with oriental seasoning and accompanied with aioli & lemon. The calamari were fresh so that they were not overly chewy (a very good thing), they were slightly crispy due to the light oriental seasoning coating. The oriental seasoning and lemon made the calamari tasty and actually the aioli was not needed at all. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Buffalo wings (180 baht)</span></i></b>. The buffalo wings were heavily coated with the rich house made bbq sauce and was accompanied with a cheese dip & celery. This was my least favourite dish of the day; not that it was not cooked well, but I thought the home made bbq sauce was too sweet. It could have been that way due to them thinking that is the Thai taste; but for me, bbq sauce should be more spicy and smoky. <br />
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The next dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Spinach dip with house made chips (140 baht)</span></i></b>. The dip consisted of spinach, mozzarella, bacon & garlic. This was not bad at all; very unique...the combination of all the ingredients tasted good together. I liked the idea of home made chips to accompany the dip. The chips were nicely done, very crispy but not oily (a very good thing).<br />
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My friends main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Crab cake benedict (330 baht)</span></i></b>. Roast is famous for their breakfast foods...so their eggs benedict are also very popular. The eggs benedict of the week was with crab. The crab was fresh and abundant (which is a good thing; I hate it when a restaurant is so stingy with crab meat). All the ingredients seemed to melt together and it turned out to taste very nice. A unique way of serving this traditional dish but it was a big hit with my friend. <br />
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My other friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Smoked salmon salad (300 baht)</span></i></b>. The salad consisted of rocket, feta cheese, toasted almonds and tangerine vinaigrette. Nicely presented...the burst of contrasting colours of the orange salmon, very green rocket and the sprinkle of white almonds & feta cheese. The combination of contrasting textures and flavours was another reason why this dish was a success.<br />
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My other friend's main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Roast club (260 baht)</span></i></b>. The club consisted of roasted chicken, bacon, avocado, tomato & cheddar. All the ingredients were abundant, fresh and had good flavour. The contrast of colours & textures was very evident. The accompanying french fries were also well done; crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside. A good choice from my friend.<br />
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My other friend's main dish was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>Ceasar salad (240 baht)</b></i></span>. The salad consisted of cos lettuce, grilled chicken, bacon & egg. The ingredients were fresh and had good contrast of flavours & textures. <br />
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My main dish was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Cubano sandwich (260 baht)</span></i></b>. The sandwich was made with roasted pork, emmental, dill pickles & jalapenos. The sandwich was grilled like a panini. I chose this sandwich because I have never seen this type of sandwich. I was very glad I did. The sandwich had very nice The sandwich was very tasty. I liked the extra kick of spiciness from the jalapenos. <br />
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Since we pigged out; we all shared the dessert…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><i><b>Strawberry waffle (190 baht)</b></i></span>. Since this was one of their signature desserts; we had to have one. The waffle was toasted to a light golden brown. It was slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The strawberries were abundant and had good flavour. The vanilla ice cream was was of good quality and also had strong vanilla flavour. <br />
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Another view of the dinning area.<br />
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The view of the counter where the food and coffee were coming from.<br />
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The entrance to Roast…it is on the second floor of SeenSpace. <br />
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Overall; the place is not bad at all. I did not have any expectations before we went to Roast and I am glad Roast left a good impression for me. Roast is really easy-going and relaxed. The food is a good mixture of unique & basic hearty foods at reasonable prices..the menu is extensive with choices. It takes it's coffee very seriously; I guess you can tell by their name 'Roast'. Apparently; one of their own roasted coffee creations was voted one of the best in Asia...that is quite amazing. <br />
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Though it looked like there were enough staff in the place; the staff really need more training about being attentive to their own service area. The staff are very nice; but since, Roast is a large place with many tables, it would make sense that each area have a team servicing it. However; it seemed like, the staff were just servicing aimlessly. I am not sure if they were not trained about serving their own area or because the place was so packed that they were helping their colleagues by serving in different areas. <br />
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In the end; we had to wave for the staff to notice us for menus, to take our orders, for water (several times), for napkins, for menus (we were really hungry), for coffee, for dessert, for the check. You can imagine that my arm was going up a lot of times (more than I actually wanted).<br />
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Anyways; the service did not ruin our lunch date. My gang were too busy chit-chatting that I was the only one getting annoyed by the service (the job of the blogger to notice such things is never done). Roast is a great addition to Thonglor's coffee & food scene. It is unique in its offering which makes it very popular with both foreigners and Thais. The parking situation is awful; so take a taxi if you can. Also reserve a table on the weekend; it is always packed! <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Address: 251/1 soi Thonglor 13 (@ SeenSpace complex) Bangkok 10110</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Telephone: 02-185-2865</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">www.roastbkk.com</span></i>Hungry in Bangkokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640128851198972402noreply@blogger.com0