sweet sticky rice @ Kor Panich

439
.

Legacy sweet at Phranakhon

After eight decades in business, Kor Panich offers one of the best khao-niew moon (sweet glutinous rice with kati coconut cream) that grandmas love to eat so much, and usually ask their drivers or maids to pick up some for the post meal dessert.



Kor Panich Sticky Rice Shop ***1/2
431-433 Tanao Road
Phranakhon, Bangkok 10200
Tel.: 02. 221.3554

Open daily : 7 am - 7 pm
Pay (sticky rice with ripe mango for one): around THB 90

sweet sticky rice @ Maewaree

438
.

Sweet and no sweat

During (Thai) summers, ripe mango has its best flavor of the season. It can be either eaten alone, as an exotic fruit, or served as a dessert with other sweetened ingredients involved; for a perfect dessert with a Thai twist, ripe mango usually served with khao-niew moon (sweet glutinous rice with kati coconut cream dressing), becoming the globally renowned 'coconut sticky rice with mango' or khao-niew ma-muang.

In downtown Bangkok, I found that Maewaree is one of the vendors where we can get a fix of the best khao-niew ma-muang (sweet glutinous rice a.k.a. sticky rice, with kati coconut cream dressing, served with ripe mango), and it is tourist accessible.



sweet glutinous rice and ripe mango
at Maewaree Fruit Shop ****
1 Sukhumvit 55 Road (Soi Thonglo)
off Sukgumvit Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.392.4304

Open daily : 24 hours (sweet sticky rice available during 4 am - midnight)
Pay (sweet sticky rice with ripe mango only for one): around THB 60

Ban Khun Mae

437
.

Back to a mom's kitchen!

Bangkok city Thai food restaurant - Ban Khun Mae (literally House of Mother), is always the rescue when diners are lost in the transition of the fusion and confusion food scene at the Siam area (Siam Square, Siam Center, and Siam Paragon).

During the late 90's, this mammy's canteen was a popular after-work beer-and-dine shelter for local white-collars, and also a temple for foreign Thai food enthusiasts due to its very convenient access for tourists. As time goes by, the glory might be faded, but the foreign visitors, many of whom made the restaurant enjoy a nightly full-house, are still the pillar of support for the restaurant.


somtum Thai (shredded raw papaya spicy salad) THB 70;
yum wunsen (bean threads/glass noodles spicy salad with minced pork and prawns)

sakoo sai moo and khao kriap park mor (tapioca pearl balls with minced pork
stuffing, and traditional steamed rice flour wrapper with stuffing) THB 120

tord mun goong (deep-fried minced shrimp and pork patties) THB 170;
phad pak ruam mit (stir-fried mixed vegetables, oyster sauce) THB 90

steamed local sea bass on herbs and lime broth, with chili sauce served
separately for non-spicy eater) THB 280+

pla kapong neung manao (local sea bass on herbs and lime spicy broth) THB 280+;
tomyumgoong nam khon (hot and sour soup with prawns, w/ kati coconut milk)

Ban Khun Mae Thai Restaurant ***1/4
458/6 Siam Square Soi 8
Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.250.1953

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 700

khao-chae @ Little Home

436
.

Cheerful food in summer

The Songkran Festival of the year of 2555 (2012) is over, but my khao-chae eating mood is not. Taking an opportunity when I attended a dull meeting at Thonglo, during the break, I took a few minutes ('slipped out') to fill my singing tummy with a set of khao-chae (rice soaked in icy jasmine-scented water, served with tidbits) at the nearby Little Home; though its khao-chae is of so-so standard, it still lighted up my mood for the second session of the meeting.




khao-chae
at Little Home Bakery and Restaurant ***
434/10 Soi Thonglo
off Sukhumvit 55 Road
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.185.1485
and at leading shopping centers in Bangkok and upcountry

Open daily : 9 am - 9 pm
Pay (khao-chae for two): around THB 450

khao-chae @ Bussaracum

435
.

Soul food in summer

This year I have had my share of khao-chae in downtown only, and these places are more realistic for tourists to join the joy of eating this Thai festive delicacy - khao-chae (rice soaked in icy jasmine-scented water, served with tidbits).

Bussarasum is a pioneer restaurant serving royal Thai cuisine in Bangkok; and just like its name, a rare ancient Thai topaz, the food with a refined culinary touch is a jewel to Bangkok's gastronomy scene. Recently I sampled my third set of khao-chae of the year there; I found that its khao-chae set is truly at a soul food standard, and at THB 250++ a set, it is a steal for epicures.


welcome by a rabbit! amuse-bouche Thai style (mieng)

soul of khao-chae, its chilled jasmine-scented water, with jasmine blossom

a bowl of cooked rice with ice; carved vegetables
(green mango, cucumber, carrot, krachai, green onion, and red chili)

a complete set of khao-chae at Bussaracum, THB 250++

moo foi (shredded sweet pork); luk kapi (deep-fried fermented shrimp paste balls)

prik yuak sord sai, and hom daeng yud sai; chai pow phad wan
(banana chili pepper stuffed with minced pork wrapper in egg netting, &
deep-fried shallots in minced fish stuffing; stir-fried preserved sweet turnip)

pla waan (sweetened fish mouse); part of the set

khao-chae
at Bussaracum Royal Thai Restaurant ****
1 Si Wiang Road
off Soi Pramuan
Silom, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.620.2216
Bussaracum

Open daily : lunch 11 am - 2 pm, dinner 5:30 - 10 pm
Pay (khao-chae only for two): around THB 600 (THB 250++ per set)
* khao-chae is available from mid-March until end of April

khao-chae @ Hot Shoppe

434
.

Poor comfort

Hot Shoppe is a long running coffee shop with a capable and senior ('senior' in both culinary means and in age) chef to handle the kitchen, and has lots of traditional delicacies to offer, such as khao-soi and khao-chae (only available in April); due to their infamously poor service; recently it had become very quiet and is a restaurant of oblivion in the middle of Sukhumvit Road.

Yesterday I had my once-a-year visit to Hot Shoppe for her 'pretty okay' khao-chae (rice soaked in icy jasmine-scented water, served with tidbits) meal. Right after I stepped into the restaurant, my devastating dining experience began; it was like a train wreck from the beginning. My attendant, the feminine old waiter was not only sluggish and unfriendly but he looked lifeless. His facial expression was as if he had just been woken up from a coffin to serve customers. He certainly did not help me in celebrating an event that I was in such a festive mood to eat khao-chae. Needless to say, I failed miserably. But when I set my expectations for their service to none, the meal (khao-chae at Hot Shoppe) was still a treat!





khao-chae
at Hot Shoppe Coffee Shop ***1/4
Miracle Mall
Sukhumvit Soi 41
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.258.0653

Open daily : 10:30 am - 10 pm
Pay (chao-chae only for two): around THB 500 (THB 265+ per set)
* khao-chae is available from mid-March until end of April