A friend's birthday. Did lunch near Bon Marche (Market). Far far from C.B.D. Bangkok! At a place like home-sweet-home more than a restaurant.
Did I enjoy the lunch? Yes. Very much. Lunch at Prapak is like eating at a friend's home that the food were prepared by his/her mom, noncommercial kind.
deep-fried chicken wings with garlic THB 115; stir-fried kale with sun-dried salty fish flake in oyster sauce THB 95 stir-fried green curry with home-made pla-krai fish ball THB 125 tomyum pla-salid fish soup THB 115; gaeng som soup THB 115 Prapak does not only serve cuisine that tastes like our aunties cook, but also serves tempting desserts for the sweet tooth; and the hut for movie stars to spend an afternoon with their off-screen buddies.
These days, many cover versions of so-called Japanese champion ramen joints raided Bangkok. Most of the owners are not Japanese restaurateurs and are not "champions" in ramen open contests in Japan; and their local ramen chefs (most of them) have not been properly trained by Japanese ramen chefs prior to their commercial practice, are lack of knowledge about ramen (or maybe even lack of knowledge about Japan). So can these people cook us a bowl of authentic J-ramen with hearty soup?
That doesn't hurt to wait for miracle if you don't mind to waste time and money.
Pray. We always have faith! Chabuton, many of the ramen dishes were created by renowned TV Champion (2002) chef Yasuji Morizumi, has quietly extended his franchise license to Thailand after the success of his ramen joints in Japan and the US (both rated in Michelin Guide and Zagat), with the debut in Siam Square Soi 3 last year and recently an addition to the Central World - the dining paradise in Bangkok.
tonkotsu ramen (small) THB 130 net gyoza THB 80 net, shoyu zaru (dipping) ramen THB 170 net shio tonkotsu chashumen THB 245 net Chabuton Ramen **** 6/F Atrium Zone Central World Plaza Ratchadamri Road Prathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel.: 02.613.1038
Open daily : 11 am - 10 pm Pay (food only for two): around THB 500
Charoenkung belt, where foodies found their fond delis.
At two ends of Charoenkrung Road (a.k.a. New Road) there found the country most delicious khao-tom pla (rice soup with fish) - Sieng Kee in China Town area of Charoenkrung Road, while Ha-Dao (5-Star) in Yannawa district (near C.B.D. Bangkok) of Charoenkrung Road.
What made Ha-Dao's fish rice soup shine? It is about her freshness of fish fillet (and seafood) and the multi-hour simmered broth served. No MSG. A bowl of Ha-Dao's fish rice soup is truly a treat.
mixed seafood khao-tom THB 100 dipping sauce for fish - fermented soy bean sauce, sinfully aromatic pomfret khao-tom THB 200 Khao Tom Pla Ha-Dao **** Charoenkrung Road, at Chan intersection Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 Tel.: 02.675.2598
Open daily : 4 pm - 3 am Pay (food only for two): around THB 300
No matter how long the line that ultra-sweet ultra-fat Krispy Kreme tricks us to queue in, Dunkin' Donuts is still the most popular donuts brand in Thailand. Back to the days Starbucks was short to arrive (to the Kingdom), Dunkin' Siam Square shop was where I met friends and gigs.
Although I have cut off the consumption on donuts for years, but once in a while I couldn't resist to have the "sweet" memory rerun for minutes. Heard that Dunkin' Donuts is the first US donuts chain that promotes the use of new oil and cuts its fat and sweet level with zero trans fat. It is - healthy donuts! Don't believe me. This is just an excuse for myself to eat some donuts at Dunkin'.
my favorite comfort hole Dunkin' Donuts *** at major shopping centers Bangkok and upcountry, Thailand
OMG I could never imagine that I will eat at an Italian restaurant that doesn't have its attached kitchen (but separately built miles away in another building), or the chef from the kitchen greets his customers with his jeans and cowboy shirts (but not proper chef attire) on, or plays middle-eastern music (but not jazz nor Italian easy listening) in the dining room , or serves local lettuce (but not Roman lettuce) in my Caesar salad.
The friendly and no-frills chef happened to cook our (every) orders right and has his good hand on sauce; and I am happened to loving this place, with hearty fare and casual ambiance to spend an easy evening with good friends. Sooooooo good!
If Calderazzo Bistro is too "mini" for you, or you expect a bit more sophisticated dining experience; her elder sister Calderazzo Ristorante Italiano is just 50 meters away (towards Chidlom).
seafood salad THB 260++ (fresh salad, real prawn, not frozen one, good dressing) Caesar salad THB 250++ (funny, chef had local lettuce to replace Roman lettuce) parma ham pizza THB 350++ (Roman style, medium-grade parma ham, good value) ministrone THB 180++ (lots of veggie, mild seasoning, it is real soup, not msg water) lobster bisque THB 250++ (forget to sample, i think it is good as my friend enjoys it) seafood pizza THB 290++ (nice crust, fresh seafood, cutter fish not chewy) ravioli spinach THB 340++ (nice ravioli, tasty sauce, good one, very filling) risotto mushroom THB 350++ (taste good, risotto overcooked, chef likes Jap rice?) panacotta THB 190++ (texture rich, sweet mild, pretty good) Jamaica rum chocolate ice cream THB 90++ (although not home-made, but good one) chocolate foundant THB 230++ (better than frozen one from supermarket!) Calderazzo Bistro ***1/4 Mayfair Bangkok Marriott Executive Apartments 60 Soi Langsuan off Ploenchit Road Lumpini, Bangkok 10330 Tel.: 02. 672.1230
Open daily : 11 am - midnight Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,400
Cuisine is part of a culture, and cooking is a form of art.
Mae Yui (mother Yui) doesn't have to collect ancient recipes, non spend money on antique cookbooks to cook her dish shines. Simply she has been brought up with the culture where she is belonged to, as she is Thai; so does her chef. Thus they understand the balance of five basic taste in Thai cuisine, having them stay in harmony in a dish without one overwhelming.Dine at Baan Mae Yui is like eating at any Thai auntie's house. garlic chicken with rice THB 95 (nice fried chicken with aromatic garlic) garlic river prawn with rice THB 140 (seasoned rice ultra good, must try) pork satay THB 95 tomyumgoong THB 145 (spicy soup with fresh river prawns at this price, a steal) phad cha talay stir-fried seafood (squid, river prawn and sea bass fillet) THB 140 apple crumble THB 95, blueberry pie THB 95 (very sweet) Baan Mae Yui Restaurant ***3/4 53/1 Soi Ari Sampan 1 Phahonyothin Road Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Tel.: 02.619.9952
Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm, 5 - 10 pm Pay (food only for two): around THB 400
