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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Coffee Bean by Dao


85
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Coffee Bean by Dao
@ Grande Centre Point Hotel and Residence

This family restaurant and cake shop first appeared in the Ekamai Thonglo neighborhood 11 years ago. At the beginning I was not quite aware of this wonderful eatery even I am one in the neighborhood, because Coffee Bean by Dao is hiding itself in a sub-soi (small lane). Even the location is not convenience to all, but its business is busy. People go there for the white chocolate cake and scrumptious western and Thai dishes.

I met the owner, Dao (Susri Pangputhipong), first time I visited her first branch on Ekamai Soi 12 wondering if she can run a restaurant and do the cakes, since Dao is an elegant lady dressed a bit fashionable, one of those who never-go-to-the-kitchen-before type high-so(ciety) figures. I can find ‘noble’ on her. So I had enough ground on the doubt if she can survive from the restaurant game or she just wants a toy to kill time. And as time goes by, she proofs to us that she does it well. Now she owns 5 branches and some cakes corners.

Last week I visited to Coffee Bean by Dao’s new branch at Grande Centre Point Hotel off Rajdamri Road with friends from the hotel. We began with the restaurant’s all time favorites Nachos and Vol-au-vents in Tuna Mousse. The soup I ordered was the Asparagus and Carrot Soup in tai-chi look, aroi (delicious). My friends preferred the Seafood Salad, Pork Satay, and Baked Baby Clam. For main courses we took the Fish and Chips, Spare Ribs, Wok-fried Flat Noodles, and my favorite Inked Spaghetti in Crème Sauce with Tiger Prawn. Our lunch rounded up with some cakes, including the restaurant renowned White Chocolate Cake. To me those cakes were too sweet but it is not her problem as Thais like sweet to very sweet, and my palate is tended to be on the mild side. When I visit Coffee Bean by Dao I adjust my sweet gauge upward, therefore I enjoy the desserts so much alongside with my Thai friends.

Coffee Bean by Dao is now a symbol of quality cakes, esp. white chocolate cakes and cheese cakes, and east meets west cuisine among Bangkokians.




Coffee Bean by Dao ***1/2
@ Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri
153/2 Soi Mahatlek Luang 1
Ratchadamri Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.670.5000
Coffee Bean by Dao

Open daily : 6:30 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,000

* Coffee Bean by Dao also has branches at Central World Plaza, Siam Paragon, and the Ruamrudee Village; while its main branch is on Ekamai Soi 12

* (update on 2011-05-10: its Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri branch had been closed)
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110 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to seeing this new hotel. My client told me their spa is quite impressive(but expensive).

Thailand Club said...

The spa, is the first one to offer Tibet treatment in Bangkok. Indulgence never cheap, but good to indulge yourself once in a while.

Make sure you stay in the Grande Centre Point Hotel and Residence's 2 Bedroom Suite (but you need a partner or a small family to travel with), it is the best in Bangkok when location, room standard, and money worth taken into account.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I agreed with Thailand Club. I go to Thailand once a year(or twice a year). Center Point has like 6 branches in Bangkok. But I am single so it is not worth to stay there. You need a family type to stay at serviced apartment.

in the sea said...

Yes, I have the same feeling. Like many times, those serviced apartments told me to upgrade me to a one bedroom suite. I often turned them down. It's because if I sleep in the bed room, it's even smaller than a studio room. I don't need a living room when I am on travel in BKK. I prefer the studio room to the 1 bed room suite actually.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Sea. I don't like hotel room being too big so that I get lost in it. I just need to sleep there so a facny big suite is not necessary(but my girl friends like it though so I keep quiet in front of her). I'd rather they have other amenities such as many good restaurants, a good fitness center or a heated pool instead.

in the sea said...

To me a clean room with good air conditioning system and good sound proof is better than those unnecessary whisky, coke, sprite in the mini-bar...etc. Center Point - their price is now unlike 10 years ago. I paid B1,200 for the Petchburi soi 15, and B1,700 for the Langsuan one. I now stay at Adelphi Suite on Sukhumvit 15. Their room has a very nice sound proof, even better than some 5 star hotel.

in the sea said...

By the way, no need to try I-Residence on soi 3 Narathiwat (Chongnonsi BTS). I could hear someone snoar just like next to me, and I could hear someone whispering next door. Of course, i could hear the cars and BTS running by. Well, for someone who can't stay in a quiet place, then I-Residence is a good choice for them. Too bad the room of I-Residence is very nice. If it's not the noise, it's a very good choice, location-wise.

Anonymous said...

my dear, Adelphi Suites is on Sukhumvit Soi 8 (don't u forgot the 'factory' and chicken rice!) .. hehe

Anonymous said...

Hi Sea,
In this case this noisy hotel is good for me(as I am a 200-pound guy who snores loud). Who fears who?

in the sea said...

Mmh... something spooky here. I was so sure Adelphic is on soi 8 but how come I typed soi 15? You know what - I stayed at S15 Hotel on soi 15. Remember I told some of you I had a supernatural incident with the room I stayed. The bath room was suddenly so bright that it looked like a mini sun was inside. As I was about to open the door, the light was gone. Well, was I under some hynotizing for writing "soi 15" in that regard?

Anonymous said...

i think many people joint ur experience, looking at the hotel booking i can tell many people avoiding this hotel (while other boutique hotels in the area are always full house but S15 always has many many room for last minute reservations)

in the sea said...

Not sure if that's the case. A long time ago (maybe 10 years ago), my CX friend told me Pathumwan Princess that the crew stayed in the lobby area until dawn. However, this hotel has been such a popular hotel. Adelphi did give me a nice sleep, but if I pick up some flaws, the air conditioning is a bit strong. Then the door men are a bit too commercial. But I don't care about those as I take the my rest as the important part. Actually, Center Point Petchburi 15 and Oakwood Residence on Narathiwat are still in my good impression but Oakwood was a bit disappointing for increasing their price so sharply.

Fillet-O Fish said...

Oakwood has a new apartment on Suk Soi 24, just 5-min walking distance from the Emporium

Anonymous said...

Is S 15 Hotel on Soi 15 a ghost hotel? Any story behind? I would like to stay there then.

Stella said...

I cannot believe this section has no picture of food yet and yet there are so many comments already. Do you guys know each other here? This is like a chat room. I like to join.
From,
Piggy

Anonymous said...

Yes, agreed with Stella. No photo but lots to comment? About the hotels, my friends told me something about Trinity Hotel at Silom. Yes, someone said Pathumwan has something.

in the sea said...

Mr. Anonymous, please go take a look at my blog http://whispalms.blogspot.com . I just posted some photos and comments about S15 Hotel.

Yes, I passed by the construction site of Oakwood on Sukhumvit. Will see how their rate is and go in and check their room if I will drop by it again. For sure I will as it's just next to Emporium.

Thailand Club said...

why need to check rates on the spot

go www.asiatravel.com or www.laststay.com you will get the rate

Thailand Club said...

welcome to the blog comment room PIGGY, you probably need your own gmail id (apply for a free gmail email account) la as i c u r using Stella's

would like to meet u more in my blog

hv a nice day

Mike said...

now we have some pictures

Stella said...

Hurray. Finally we eat the pictures here. Is this Coffee Bean in the new Grande Center Point? If yes, I think you can bring our uncle there.
By the way, Piggy is the fatty Sharka. He was peeping when I read your blog and made that comment.

Stella said...

I meant "see" the pictures instead of "eat". Your blog makes me hungry and think of "eat eat eat".:)

Stella said...

Yeah I agreed with Stella. This blog makes our mouth watering and hungry. You should set up a tour Mr. Blogger. I will be one of your customers although I have been here almost 10 times.
I did not even try 1/3 of the restaurants here. All I go is Fuji Fuji Fuji and the best is only Kabuki and Chinatown sharkfin.

Anonymous said...

Is this Coffee Bean a dessert place as well as a seafood restaurant? I saw big prawns in the picture. Both the dessert and the prawns look good.

Anonymous said...

I think this is the first Center Point that has good restaurant. I was told the spa is great at this Grande Center Point.

in the sea said...

Nope, I didn't mean I wait to check it with the hotel directly. I just let it wait for a while and not in a hurry to check that. If possible, I may go to their room for taking a look. For sure, those websites should have Oakwood on their list. Asiatravel is a cool site and I use it quite a lot.

in the sea said...

Mr. blogger, do you have any idea why this Coffee Bean was named as this name is like a coffee place or dessert shop....etc.? Thank you.

Thailand Club said...

the full name shall be Coffee Bean by Dao, a Thai high-so(ciety) figure who has a talent hand in pastry and cakes, its white chocolate cake is a to-die-for (for Thais, not me) kind, but to my taste buds it is too sweet (Thais like sweet, super sweet, so do Americans)

the first shop was opened 10 years ago,in Bangkok's Ekamai area, on the ground floor of her own luxury condo building; branch out to Ploenchit area 2 years ago (very success among white-collar group); 3rd branch in at Grande Centre Point Hotel; now 4th branch in Central World Plaza; and many coffee and pastry only mini-shops

Coffee Bean serve Thai and Western (Thai style western) fare and great desserts; Ekamai main branch food taste best, Grande Centre Point branch decoration very grand, the Ploencit branch is huge, Central World branch is a waste

* notice - because of owner's rule of the Centre Point Group, Coffee Bean at Grande Centre Point does not sell any alcohol beverage

Anonymous said...

impressive! you really enjoy life in Bangkok.

Thailand Club said...

hi Stella, if your friend is using your gmail id (by sharing ur pc at home) to place a comment, please let her/him sign her name at the bottom at the bottom (just like PIGGY did) or simply write 'anonymous', otherwise we would understand that was you

Unknown said...

Stella, no, not in my list

Stella said...

Oh this must be from Dick. He must have done this when I went downstairs to get ice cream(as I was reading and commenting your blog). Will ask him when he comes back.

Stella said...

Yes, it is him who wrote the comment. I was behind him when he peeped at this blog. He is always peeping at this blog whenever it is opened. (But he will not oepn himself.)
From Piggy.

in the sea said...

OK, I recall that you told me about the alcohol issue of Center Point policy. To me it doesn't matter. However, in general, it seems to be not nice. Even I don't smoke, I don't mind some restaurants they have a section for smoking area. Same for alcohol serving, I don't mind the restaurants have it. Just like the dinner menu you recommend on Normandie with wine serving, I think it's good for most people who enjoy wine.

You wrote Western fare - does it mean the price is expensive or it's a typo mistake as "fair"? Ok, will try that for the next time. Actually if I come across such restaurant with such name, I wouldn't go in and try.

Anonymous said...

This blog is interesting. This is the first time I get to read a blog. This is gorgeous.
I am from SF.

Anonymous said...

You have all kinds of food here in this blog except for Indonesian and Phillipine food.(I am from Java.)

Anonymous said...

White chocolate is my favorite. My friend only likes dark chocolate so we are complementary.
So you mean their white chocolate cake is good here right Mr Blogger?

Stella said...

I think your photo skill makes these food more attractive.
I ate 2 pieces of Trader Joe cheese cakes because seeing this.

From Piggy

Thailand Club said...

to anonymous 10:26, the white chocolate cakes are good in Coffee Bean by Dao according to Thais palate, but not mine

if you always enjoy sweet in the US, then u may like the Coffee Bean (by Dao)'s white chocolate cakes

if your palate is on the European side, then you may think it is too sweet, as I do

to anonymous 9:57, Indonesia and Philippine food are not common in Bangkok, i will see if i can find a Indo friend and Philippine friend to do the sampling with me, for the cuisine i am not good at, i will bring native friends with me

to anonymous 9:55, welcome to my blog and pls revisit often :)

to in the sea, western fare refer to western food here

Anonymous said...

Hi,
My girl friend said this is the best blog she read(she only had one so far). She said tt would be nicer if you can put a heading on top to mention the topic(restaurant) of each picture.

Thailand Club said...

ok, let me try to think of some good topic

stay tune

Anonymous said...

Mr. Blogger,
No wonder I cannot get beer at Center Point few years ago.
Do you mean all Center Points has no alcohol? Is this because of the religion?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Club,
Yes, my friend suggested on top of your "Post a Comment On", you write the name of the restaurant introduced on each section. Rather than the general name "Thailand Unseen Gourmet".
As sometimes when we make comment we forget the name of the restaurant and we don't want to go back to check. It is more convenient if the Restaurant name can be revealed on top of each section after "Post a Comment on". You get more and more readers now.

Thailand Club said...

yes, all Centre Point apartments do not sell alcohol drinks, this is because of religious, owner of the Land and House (who owns Q House that owns Centre Point) Khun Ana believes drinking is a sin, he is a buddhist and believes in kwan-imm, he has very high mortal standard

this is why Centre Point cannot attract good restaurants to the apartments, who will afford doing restaurant business without selling of beer and wine? the Blue Spices in some Centre Points are 'helping' a good friend, not hoping for profits; lucky Centre Point now has another helping hand (a really good one this time), the Coffee Bean by Dao

without offering alcohol drinks to tenants, his apartments do not suffer from setback, instead Centre Points are so popular among expats from American and Japan

Thailand Club said...

anonymous 3:29, thanks for your suggestion, i will redo the hading in the new future

Anonymous said...

It is good we can eat Chinese seafood(the prawn) and Indonesian Satay plus Western dessert at one stop.
The guy from Java.

Anonymous said...

This white chocolate cake looks evil.
I only like those cakes from France as they are not sweet, especailly the dark chocolate cake with bitter taste is the best. Dark chocolate is good for your health but not milk chocolate.
No American cakes for me as I feel like eating pounds of white sugar. Sorry Americans.
From,
Chef from France

Mike said...

i feel the same to you - the chef from France

i also like (shall be love) dark chocolate say 85%, cakes in France are superb, you make me so envy of you, living in a city full of gourmet (real gourmet)

Stella said...

Dear Blogger,
Regarding to your 2 latest replies to your readers, I found 2 typos:
It is "moral standard" not "mortal".
And it is "heading" not "hading".
You must be tired when you made these replies.
:)

Anonymous said...

This white chocolate cake looks better than it tastes. I try white chocolate cake here and it is sweet(yes it is for US people).
I think each restaurant in this blog shall thank the Mr. Blogger for the free promotion/recommendation. At least treat him a free meal.

in the sea said...

Mr. Java, there are some nice Indonesian food. There is one nice Indonesian restaurant in Wanchai, Hong Kong - a branch from the flagship restaurant in Ubud of Bali Island, called Bebe Bengil (means dirty duck something like that). They use some very nice herb for steam rice - I took 2 plates! Then their grilled stuff is awesome. However, the food price is nice too - about HK$300 for one person but I don't mind paying for it as it's really good. Will try to take a chance to go there and take some photos. Also the Indonesian coffee is nice. Well, for Philippines food, I can just think of their Calamansi juice (kind of a local lime juice) and those deep fried stuff (can be called crispy but to me it's dried actually). There was one time I tried a very strange dish. I saw some eggplant, dried shrimp, tomato, bitter gourd, ba choy (Chinese white cabbage with green leaves) - a whole one (not cut) like a tree in the dish! Then what's more I saw 2 whole bananas (the Chinese Dai banana 大蕉). Well, it's with tomato sauce! So dried shrimp with tomato sauce. Ba Choy with tomato sauce. How come such a big Ba Choy and the banana wouldn't be cut. Isn't it like a knife and fork eating manner to take Ba Choy and banana?

in the sea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
in the sea said...

Mr. French chef. You know what - many French restaurants in Cannes and Paris do make some awesome dark chocolate cake or mouse. I like it so so much. There was a time I dropped by a restaurant by the sea close to Sofitel Cannes. I took a fish soup (my most favourite soup in Southern France), followed with a nice steak in provencal style with nicely pan fried potato (in onion brown). So so good! Then I was about to leave. The chef came out giving me a nice slice of dark choco cake, with warm chocolate sauce. He told me "a meal can't be finished without a dessert". Wow that was impressive. However, that restaurant was gone somehow. This January I even went back to where it was and took a photo.

Anonymous said...

Hi Blogger and In-the-Sea,
A good complete meal with dessert is to our customers but not to us(the chefs). The chef's satisfaction is not from food, and rather, it is from the appreciation of our customers who enjoy our cooking.
My typical meal here is bread(or pasta), salad, soup and a glass of wine.
I only eat dessert when I am testing the dessert I make.
From,
French Chef

Anonymous said...

I think Mr Thailand and Mr Sea should meet each other and have some joint ventures together. Maybe some gourmet or tour related business.

Thailand Club said...

i like the fish soup (bouillabaisse) too

in the sea said...

Mr. Anonymous, I actually quite enjoy travel, from the study of airplane, to airport, travel vehicle, to hotel, food, local culture...etc. BTW, the new CX 777-300ER air craft is awesome! The engine is very smooth, especially on climbing and descending. This new ER version can fly non-stop to JFK (NYC) from Hong Kong, with the new seat configuration of CX.

So I hope I can be with some travel-related business, but not now. I am occupied and dedicated to my current business. I can't leave it as there have been quite a number of my business friends cooperating with me whole-heartedly.

Mr. French Chef, I don't take dessert at home too. Also, I would sample the dessert (even those I am not interested) which my friends take and I just tasted a tiny bite (maybe 3g or less than 1/4 table spoon). So I can learn more. My home cooking is also on the satisfaction on my guess on what's inside the food I tasted outside. Yes, I do some experimental cooking at home. Last time I tried some nice fusion food "Chinese black fungus in balsamic vinegar". It turned out pretty nice on my BBQ party to my friends and families.

Yai said...

in the sea, you are so knowledgeable, will wait for your post on Indonesian food

btw, I have found out there is a link to your blog from Thailand Unseen Gourmet's

Thailand Club said...

yes, our blogs had been linked

Anonymous said...

In the sea, were you joking you really took a dish of a big vegetable and banana on the plate? bitter gourd too? maybe they mixed all the leftovers into one dish. You didn't note from the menu - east leftovers meets west leftovers!

in the sea said...

Thank you Mr. Thailand Club for the link. I also link yours to my blog. Haha, Anonymous, east leftovers meets west leftovers. I will ask that shop again if I can pass by it.

Mike said...

from the bitter taste of bitter gourd this vegetable is delicious to me, it is vegetable and it is Chinese medicine as it helps balance our inner body having the cooling effect

bitter gourd leaves are crunchy in texture and yield a naturally sweet in taste

i like both of them

Stella said...

I think this setting of photos; it is one look view all.

Anonymous said...

Good to see "Thaisclub" and "Whispalms" link with each other in order to benefit us. This is one stone kills 2 birds.

Anonymous said...

I also like this setting as mentioned by Stella. It is so comprehensive. This is like a preview at the negative of the film before you decided which picture to develop.

in the sea said...

Yes, any of those ingredients in that "leftovers" dish is good only if they are cooked separately. Bitter Gourd in tomato sauce!

Thank you Mr. Thailand club for the linking. Seems like this blog is getting more hit. I agreed that some of the people just don't know how to comment. Again, I often told my friends - just press any button and try - it wouldn't explode.

Thailand Club said...

right, success by trying, by many attempt

i was a computer idiot, but living in Thailand, esp. 15 years ago when Thais were not good at English skill and far from the opportunity of practicing IT (at that time no Thai software and internet was almost English only), so i have to learn those softwares and functions by myself

so nothing is difficult if we try, if no good, then try harder

thanks to my best friend who encourage me to create this blog, he is Jonathan

:)

Stella said...

Yes Jonathan is a very good and true friend, also a good teacher in many ways(typing class, blog class, cooking class, photo class...)

Anonymous said...

I guess Mr. Sea is Jonathan you mentioned. Good that you have someone who can open up his mind to you. People sometimes are protecting themselves quite much. I had a look at Mr. Sea's blog. He wrote a lot of words to describe. He must like to write a lot, even just like here. That's why I now get a bit addicted to browsing this blog. Thank you all.

in the sea said...

Mr. Thailand Club, I think it is still your initiative to do it. I also told my other friends about this or that, but nothing happens. Can't blame them as it would be too annoying if someone keeps saying something which may be of no interest to some people.

Stella, thanks again for your kind word. I still think we just share our comments - it's no class here at all. Just like Mr. Thailand Club, he offers his comments and guide about those unseen meals. No one could ever think of there are some nice Vietnamese or Korean restaurants in Bangkok. I will definitely keep on being adventurous with all of you.

Thailand Club said...

oh my false, i haven't post Meyung's Vietnamese home cooking to the blog yet, ok, that one in SS's itinerary serves as appetizer for now

to anonymous 4:05, i used to be a guy protecting myself so much, and now i learn to open my mind and open my heart :)

it is almost impossible i do this blog, sharing my view of good food to friends known or unknown, i used to be a lazy person, from my old job (an investment broker in property) i had to entertain 'big spenders' visiting Bangkok, so i know pretty much high-so and best kept secret eateries as well as hole-in-a-wall to keep my customers happy, just in the past i was lazy to share them publicly, then comes to my travel business, i hv a restaurants list for my V.VIP customers, never thought that i will do the sharing so openly, now, i am happy if my blog can help visitors to Bangkok on finding gourmet (good food), so they can utilize their few days of holidays to the most incl. their taste buds, as some guidebooks esp. a series from HK (for whatever purpose) are quite misleading to people

Stella said...

Thank you Jonathan for inspiring Thaisclub to start this blog.
Thank you Thailand Club for carrying out the wonderful work inspired by Jonathan.
We all get benefits from the two of you.
P.S. On Thailand Club's latest comment, there is typo:I think you meant this is my "fault" instead of this is my "false".

Anonymous said...

Pretty soon we have more comments than photos here.

Yai said...

And also more thank you than photos!

Thailand Club said...

ok ok let me upload more photos dears

in the sea said...

I think Mr. Thailand Club is so busy with responding all of our comments here that he couldn't upload more photos. To my knowledge, he has tons of photos taken at various food in BKK.

There was a time one of my business friends told me "how come I can be that open to tell the others about my working experience". I simply told them "when sharing such an experience with the others, you would get enlightened of something. The person whom you told such experience may have asked you some questions. From those questions, you will learn more and get to know the others' behaviour.". Just like the recipe I wrote, any person may have cook something to different taste. Like how salt/sugar they put or what sauce they use. Like oyster sauce, I will use the "old brand" of Lee Kum Kee. If someone use the China's brand, the whole dish is another story. Also, the stove is an important factor. You need to see how the flame direction of the stove is and what kind of wok/pan you need. There are so many varying factors. So on the same recipe, different person will cook it to a different result. Same for study or work, it just depends on how you interpret that.

Thailand Club said...

maybe next year in Cannes ur speech is about food and cooking instead about ur industry, hahaha they will be stunned

Fillet-O Fish said...

Coffee Bean has a branch in Central World Plaza also

Anonymous said...

If Mr. Tea holds a seminar about food in Cannes, I would like to attend.
From,
The Chef

in the sea said...

Haha, then I will be pulled away from the panel if I speak something about food - way too different from my business. I am just happy to chat with others about cooking and food, in addition to my other hobbies like airplanes, music, movies, photography...etc.

Thank you Mr. Fillet, but I still hope to visit the outlet at Grand CP on Rajdamri. Hope to make my trip in late june and like this blog subject "discovering more unseen food".

Thailand Club said...

oh the chef, in-the-sea holds the seminar in Cannes, not me!

in the sea said...

Well, I was just invited for some panel discussion and had some speech about my business, not hold a seminar.

Thailand Club said...

well, whatever, it is great to hv a speech in Cannes during some limelight events

Anonymous said...

What draws me to this one is the number of comments.....and perhaps the motif of ying and yang. As for the rest, nothing is attrative.... the food is as bland as the photos. I am just wondering why this one attracts so many commentators?! Am I missing something?

Anonymous said...

Yes, it's interesting to see how the people commented and then developed into various topics rather than the subject of this section. As the blogger said, the food is not to his taste but he just posted it because this shop is loved by the local Thai and certain group of people. So we shouldn't just see something good but we need to see other things which may not be of our interest.

Anonymous said...

Yes I totally agreed with Anonymous 8:26 pm.
The beauty of this blog is not only about food, but also the sharing of different opinions, the sharing of different experience, and the most importantly, the sharing of our heart and friendship through this open forum. "Food" is just a tool here for us to communicate.

in the sea said...

Whenever I have made myself a nice meal or eating something impressive from outside, I will be in a good mood for that day. Interesting - when I was a kid, I didn't care about eating. Cooking to me is to make my family feel good and feel filled with food. At that time, because of a tight budget, I needed to make all the food with as much sauce as possible so that each of the family member can eat more rice with the sauce. At that time, only 3 dishes for 6-7 people. Now almost 1 dish for 1 person. I would rather go back to the older time if we can. Money sometimes doesn't mean that important.

Thailand Club said...

by now Cindy already understood why my friends are leaving comments on some bland pictures, although the food may be bland, but our friendship aren't

btw, the food was not bland, the cake definitely taste ultra sweet, and the satay was tasty, the river prawn squid-ink spaghetti had rich creme sauce, only my photo skill was bland

ok ok, i will improve my photo skill :)

Fillet-O Fish said...

This Coffee Bean by Dao were quite interesting, I went to the spa in Grande Centre Point (8/F) and spotted this elegant restaurant at the entrance. Can try some time!

Anonymous said...

Well, it's not about your photo skill. Photography is quite subjective. Rememeber people left their comments here even before you posted the photos. So the photos is not an issue here.

Stella said...

The blogger's passion and heart towards introducing the "unseen gourmet in Thailand", his pictures, all the foods/restaurants, the comments and support from the readers and the friendship behind are all gorgeous to me.

in the sea said...

I believe Cindy might not be saying your photo is bland. It's the food to be bland, as I could tell she might not express exactly to the point from my experience of her writing on other posts. Actually just from the photo, it's hard to tell whether it's good or not. There was a time I was served with a chilled bitter gourd. That looked so bland to me. Nothing on the gourd and it's just bland green. However, after one bite, my brain got a 100 mark light up. The gourd was marinated with sweet salty dry plum (話梅)! It immediately triggered me to try this cool dish. Seemed so simple but it's difficult to do. The key is the water - icy chill water to make the gourd crunchy but cooked! Then it's the balance of sweet, sour and salty taste all together. Next time I will make it and post it in my blog.

Thailand Club said...

hey what a wonderful chilled bitter gourd, must be in hk right?

in the sea said...

Yes, I took that one in a Shanghai/Szechuan/Beijing Restaurant in Hong Kong, called "Flower filled the house". It was served as an appetizer.

Yai said...

Good, when I go to HK I would like to try this dish. Actually I like bitter gourd, it taste a bit bitter but good and tasty.

Anonymous said...

Where in Hong Kong?

Thailand Club said...

so it is kind of CN provincial delis, very interesting

Fillet-O Fish said...

Hi in-the-sea, look forwarding to the chilled bitter gourd posted in your blog soon. It must be delicious to eat, and to view!

Anonymous said...

this should be something we should eat in Thailand when we go to Thailand. more Thailand food please.

in the sea said...

ok, that restaurant is one of my favourites in that area of Gatham Street to Stanley Street and Lynhurst Terrace (i.e. Putting Flower Street) - the fish congee, the Vietnamese food, the dumpling shop and this Flower filled the house (花滿樓) on Lynhurst Terrace - walking up further from Yung Kee BBQ Goose Restaurant and turn left after you hit the split into Lynhurst Terrace, then you will see this restaurant on your left after 50 meters. This restaurant also has some very very nice dessert "Osmanthus goji berry longan chilled cake" (桂花圓肉杞子榚). They serve it for free, but you need to ask the waiters to reserve some for you first as they run out very quickly. My favourite dishes in this restaurant are "drunken chicken", "stir fried egg white", "stir fried four season string bean", "hot and spicy soup", "chicken and won ton pot", "baby spinach with 3 mushrooms", "Tan Tan Noodle", "steam silver roll", "deep fried yellow fish in sweet sour sauce with pine nuts".... Lots to name!

About the bitter gourd, I just tried once since they rotate their free appetizers in turn. This is a good gimick as it will impress the customers in a nice way. I tried making that bitter gourd once, but the salty plum is not good enough; so I failed. I shall try to buy some nice salty plum (mmmh... maybe from that famous snack shop in Percival Street xx phoneix - selling one salty plum at HK$20).

in the sea said...

Haha, I just fount out I am the one who broke this no. 100 record.... Hurray...

Thailand Club said...

Anonymous 3:34, Thailand Hidden Gourmet has more than just one Thai cuisine. Be versatile.

btw, there r already 27 Thai food articles in the blog, u can try them first, until u finished those 27 restaurants, another 27 will be reviewed, so u may never run out of idea of where to eat Thai food in Thailand

enjoy :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, Thailand Club is right. This blog has already many Thai food. And if introduce more other food, it's ok and makes more interesting. Thank you! I also like to see other non-food comments.

in the sea said...

Anonymous 10:13pm, Mr. Thailand Club may have just posted only 1% of what he has known in Bangkok. Way for him to post his long list of restaurants. I'm not exaggerating.

Stella said...

Yes "Sea" was right. Cindy did mean the food is bland, not the photos.
Cindy has never been to Thailand. She cannot imagine food in Thialand can be that good.(She eats simple with 95% vegie.)
Sometimes you have to be there(at least once) to appreciate the food and everything else there.
I did not expect Thailand to be that good too. Thailand is totally beyond my imagination and exceed my expectation, way beyond.

Thailand Club said...

after my internet line or cookies fixed i will post the review of Coffee Bean by Dao

Stella said...

We will look forward to that Mr. Club.
What kind of cookies are you fixing? Do you mean those edible cookies or something else?

in the sea said...

Stella, cookies in the browser are some left images after you browse on the net. Not the cookies we eat. However, it turned out Mr. Club's computer has some other problems. Not sure what the problems are.

Anonymous said...

Thaisclub, your fans are waiting for the full review of this Coffee Bean by Dao. Hurry up please!

Anonymous said...

Thank you "in the sea" for bailing me out...you are right, I tend to be vague in my expressions...

Thank you "Stell" for covering up for me.....

Thank you "thailand club" for your graciousness. No need for you to polish your photo skill; rather, I need to improve my writing skill.

My favorite thing to do is EATING!!!! I am obsessed with food!