Thai Ice Cream

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I-tim ice cream I love you. The Thai way!



Coconut ice cream in half coconut, the original Thai ice cream.

Available at Jatujak Weekend Market (JJ Market) near Bangkok Metro's Jatujak Exit.

All About Local Delis

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Name your favorite Local Delicacies in Thailand?

All about hot-pot

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Hot-pot carnival

Hot-pot is a popular dish around the world, especially well received in Asia.

In China, hot-pot is called huǒ-guō (a.k.a. steamboat, or you may call it Chinese fondue). Different provinces in China have its distinctive hot-pot. Southern provinces, such as Guangdong has its clear herbs soup hot-pot, Northern provinces are good at mutton hot-pot (shuān-yáng-ròu), and in Sichuan its Chengdu numb and spicy (má-là) hot-pot took the medal. In Taiwan, sha-cha hot-pot is on the heat, even Sichuan má-là hot-pot is also popular on the island.

Nabe (nabemono) is the Japanese answer to hot-pot. Common nabe are yosenabe, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu.

In Thailand, it is the combination of Chinese hot-pot and Japanese shabu-shabu, called Thai suki (a.k.a. suki). Also, Jim-joom Northeastern (Isan) hot-pot is popular in Isan and Bangkok among people from the northeast provinces.

Hot-pot is also well eaten by people in European countries with different names in their dialects. Switzerland maybe the country no one can afford to miss the Swiss fondue. Swiss fondue usually means a cheese fondue, but do not limited to hot-oil fondue. Chocolate fondue is also popular in Switzerland, France, and through out the European communities.

In Bangkok, you get them all!

For Chinese hot-pot, try:
Green Bamboo House
Silom Plaza, 491/42 Silom Road

Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.635.2724

For Yosenabe, try:
Kisso Japanese Restaurant

Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel
259 Sukhumvit Road (at Sukhumvit Soi 19)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.207.8000

For Shabu-shabu, try:
Mo-mo Paradise
7/F, Zone Atrium, Central World Plaza
4 Rajdamri Road, Bangkok 10330

Tel.: 02.290.9007

For Sukiyaki, try:

Nippon Tei

Basement, Nantawan Building,

161 Rajdarmri Road

Lumpini, Bangkok 10330

Tel.: 02.252.9438

For Thai Suki, try:
Coca Suki Restaurant
Sukhumvit 39 branch
Soi 39, Sukhumvit Road

Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.234.1957 (central number)

For Jim-joom Isan Hot-pot, try:

Joom Zap Hut

2/F, Silom Complex, 191 Silom Road

Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

* Jim-joom normally serves at roadside vendors with seats, it is uncommon with jim-joom serves in an air-conditioned restaurant in a shoppong mall; Joom Zap Hut (over 50 branches in shopping malls throughout Thailand) maybe the only choice if one would like to sample jim-joom in comfort!

For Cheese, Hot-oil and Chocolate Fondue, try:

Chesa Swiss Cuisine

5 Sukhimvit Soi 20
Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.261.6650

For Ice Cream Fondue, try:

Häagen-Dazs
Central World branch

3/F, Zone Atrium, Central World Plaza
4 Rajaramri Road, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.613.1460

Enjoy!

khao-Chae @ Baan Prachachuen

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Thai New Year SongKran Festival
Khao-Chae

April 13 - 15 is New Year for the Thais better known as Songkran, traditionally people eat khao-chae (rice soaked in icy jasmine-scented water, served with tidbits) during the festival of which falls into the hottest month of the year.

Last week, I went to Baan Prachachuen (run by grand daughter of ML Promsri Pibulsongkram) to sample the country probably best khao-chae set (Baht 250), and it was delightful.

1. ice cube; 2. jasmine-scented water with jasmine blossoms

3. tidbits (Luk Kapi (deep-fried fermented shrimp paste balls), Hom Daeng Yud Sai (deep-fried shallots stuffed with minced fish), Prik Yuak Sord Sai (banana chili pepper stuffed with minced pork wrapped in egg netting), Moo Foi (shredded sweet pork), Chai Pow Pad Wan (stir-fried sweet dry turnip with egg);
4. carved vegetables

5. put some ice cube; 6. pour some jasmine-scented water

7. my set of khao-chae Baht 250

BAAN PRACHACHUEN ****
37 Prachachuen Soi 33

Bangsu, Bangkok 10800

Tel.: 02.585.1323

Open daily 11:00 - 15:00
Pay (food only for two): around THB 500 (THB 250 per set)

* more posts on khao-chae

Sweet Sticky Rice with Ripe Mango

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Cho Sornkaew Rainbow Sweet Sticky Rice

At Cho Sornkaew, we sampled one of Bangkok best sweet glutinous rice (a.k.a. sweet sticky rice) desserts (served with ripe mango) in eight natural color from Thai herbal leaves and fruits. Our share, the texture of glutinous rice at Cho Sornkaew was tender yet chewy, best sweet glutinous rice dessert I sampled in Bangkok. The ripe mango, unlike most other sweet glutinous rice with ripe mango dessert vendors offer, was aromatic enough and not too sweet.

No wonder Cho Sornkaew has stand strong in Bangkok for three decades even though its location is quite remote from the city center.

If finding Cho Sornkaew is a bit difficult, you may alternatively try the dessert at a roadside sweet glutinous rice dessert vendor at Chok Chai 4 Market (at corner of Chok Chai 4 Road and Lat Proad Road) that also stands strong in Bangkok for a decade.

1. Cho Sornkaew shop at Chok Chai 4 Soi 54; 2. 8-color sweet sticky rice with ripe mango

3. Bangkok's renowned rainbow sweet sticky rice with ripe mango; 4. sticky rice counter

Khao-Niew-Moon Cho Sornkaew ****

33/500 Chok Chai 4 Soi 54

off Lat Proad Road

Bangkok 10230

Tel.: 02.931.0000

http://www.chosornkaew.com/

Open daily 11:00 - 18:00

* more posts on sweet glutinous rice with ripe mango:

http://thaisclub.blogspot.com/2008/04/our-11th-12th-and-13th-days-in-bangkok.html

All about Thai desserts

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Some popular wet desserts we consume after a meal.

Some popular dry sweets we consume anytime during a day.

New York Steakhouse

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New York Steakhouse @ JW Marriott Hotel

From media reviews and advertorials, New York Steakhouse had been rated Bangkok's best steakhouse for few years, so does the hotel's Japanese restaurant Tsu-Nami. (Good PR job!)

But, they aren't.

Food at New York Steakhouse was decent but not outstanding. Of course we paid a handsome price so the quality shall be with certain guarantee. However, quality of steak did not match with the restaurant's top status and chef culinary skill just didn't live up to expectations. Service was way too 'professional' lacking of those natural touch of Thais hospitality, pretentious instead.

Although I don't crown New York Steakhouse the best in Bangkok, but a visit doesn't hurt our appetite either. The menu is big and coverage is more aggressive than any other top-notch hotel's steakhouse. With Marriott Gold Card (if you have one!) your meal is always free when dining with a friend.

New York Steakhouse ***

2nd Floor, JW Marriott Hotel

4 Sukhumvit Road (at Sukhumvit Soi 2)

Ploenchit, Bangkok 10110

Tel.: 02.656.7700
New York Steakhouse

Open daily 18:00 - 23:00 dinner only
Pay (food only): expect THB 8,000 for two

Neil's Tavern

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Steaks for the astronauts

With 40 years in business, Neil's Tavern is Bangkok's oldest and best non-hotel owned steakhouse.

Neil's Tavern - Ruam Rudee branch ***1/2

58/4 Soi Ruam Rudee

off Wireless Road

Lumpini, Bangkok 10330

Tel.: 02.256.6874

Open daily - Lunch 11:30 - 13:45 (except Sunday); Dinner 17:30 - 22:30
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,500
Neil's Tavern

Neils's Tavern - Asoke branch ***1/2

G/F, Prime Building

24 Sukhumvit 21 (Asok Road)

Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Tel.: 02.260.4391
Neil's Tavern

Opem daily - Lunch 11:30 - 14:00; Dinner 17:30 - 22:00
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,500

Chokchai Premium Steakhouse

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Local premium steakhouse

Found in 1971, Thailand first family steakhouse with a family-friendly price tag.

Chokchai Steak House serves 3 grades of beef steak.

The first one is Chokchai Premium Steak, which is from a young “Charolais” cow that goes through a 30 day dry aging process.

The second one is Chokchai Dry Aging Steak, which is from an American Brahman cow that goes through the dry aging process for 15 days.

The third one is Regular Beef Steak that does not go through the dry aging process.

These three kinds of steak are prepared and served in a variety of cuts for people to choose from. My favorite cuts are New York cut and T-bone steak.



Chokchai Premium Steakhouse ***
Sukhumvit 23 branch:
First floor Prasanmit Plaza building
45 Sukumvit 23
Wattana, Bangkok
Tel. 02.259.9596

Open daily : 11 am - 9:30 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,000

Chokchai Steakhouse ***
Farm Chokchai branch:
170 Moo2 Friendship Highway
Nongnamdaeng, Pakchong
Nakhon Ratchasima
Tel. 044.313.098, 044.328.445
Chockchai Steakhouse

Open daily : 10 am - 8 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,000

Bourbon Street

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Street of Cajun cuisine

Bourbon Street is the original Creole/Cajun cuisine specialty restaurant in Bangkok, offers gourmet with Louisiana accent of which known to be heavily influenced by an admixture of French, Spanish and Western African since the 18th century.

Bourbon Street's Louisiana menu includes Creole/Cajun favorites as, Gumbo Chicken and Andouille Pork Sausage or Gumbo Shrimp and Crabmeat, Blackened Redfish or Blackened Shrimp, Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Pork Sausage, Jambalaya (choices of chicken and andouille pork sausage, seafood or crawfish), Boiled Crawfish, and Bar-B-Q Baby Back Pork Ribs just to name a few.

Bourbon Street Restaurant and Oyster Bar ***1/4

29/4 Sukhumvit Soi 22

Wasington Square, Sukhumvit Road

Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110

Tel.: 02.259.0328

http://www.bourbonstbkk.com/

Open daily 7:00am to 1:00am
Pay (food only for two): around THB 1,5000

* (update 2012-03-10: Bourbon had been moved to Soi Ekamai)

Carlton

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Carlton Restaurant 高樂大餐廳

Each year, the first quarter is the most difficult time for restaurants even before the worldwide credit crisis and economic meltdown. On Silom/Sathorn (Road) this year, the challenge raises. There are a lot of restaurants dotted around the Central Business District (C.B.D.) that are beneficiaries to the culture of expense account dining now suffer; as, companies cutting entertainment expenses and employees with little job security dwindling the spending on meals. Today the best selling lunch option among Silom/Sathorn white-collars maybe Mama instant noodles.

I see the closure of restaurants on a weekly basis. The glory of Silom/Sathorn restaurants bloom is fading into memory!

Grandmas like to talk about the old good days they spent at the Carlton Restaurant. True that Carlton did draw Bangkokians lots of memories. Whether you are grandmas in your 80's, you are daddy and mammy in your 50's, you are big brother in your 30's, or kids like me (don't laugh!) in our 20's; we all spent a tremendous happiness moment celebrated our birthdays, graduation parties, promotion parties, anniversaries, proposing, friends gathering or just after-school hang-out at Carlton.

Opened in the 60's, Carlton was the first high-class Thai cum French restaurant on Silom Road and almost an institution in the unique, famous or infamous Hong-Kong-style-Western-cuisine culture in Thailand following the trend of Western food bloom from Hong Kong. As the pioneer in foreign cuisine adjusted to the Thais palate, Carlton maintains its unique culinary characteristic for years.

In my memory, Carlton’s Rock Lobster Thermidor (Baht 495++) served with lots of lobster meat and rich in Parmesan cheese with sherry and bechamel sauce stuffed into a rock lobster shell, baked. This French dish since 1894 was one of Carlton's popular dishes. The Fondue set (Baht 550++), consisting of tender beef, pork and chicken cubes, fresh salmon and vegetables with the running oil dip always steal the show. The French Onion Soup (Baht 120++) with caramelized onions, reduced beef stock covered with gruyere cheese, baked, was one of my favorite dishes. And my other favorite dish was the Roasted Chicken with Rosemary Sauce (Baht 295++); the chicken was tender and aromatic. Carlton also offered the world cheapest Kobe Beef Steak (Baht 350++); of course for Baht 412 it was not real Kobe beef, but tender enough and good for value. On the Thai menu, what I really appreciated was (only) the Fried Noodle with Shredded Chicken and Chinese Mushroom in Brown Sauce (Baht 250++), probably the most expensive fried chicken noodle in a non-hotel establishment but it was simply delicious.

The last fort of Hong-Kong-style-Western-cuisine presence in Bangkok is completely vanished by the farewell of Carlton on December 31, 2008, giving us a chance of evolution to authentic French cuisine appreciation!!

Our Ratings (1 to 5 the higher the better): Carlton has [3.1]
(Ratings are based on Food, Service and Ambiance, with Price taken into account in relation to Quality) Food =3, Service=3, Ambiance=3, Money Worth=3.5

Details: closed (*Business ceased from 01/Jan/2009 onwards.)
Carlton Restaurant, Sriboonrueng Building, 283 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand; Tel.: 02.234.7793

Le Banyan

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Le Banyan

Pressed duck, my choice on New Year's day!



Le Banyan ****
59 Sukhumvit Soi 8
Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.253.5556
Le Banyan

Open Monday - Saturday 18:00 - 24:00 (last order 21:30)
Pay (food only for two): expect THB 6,000

* (update on 2012-02-05: Le Banyan is now La Colombe d'Or, still serving the same menu and pressed duck)

* hooray THAILAND Unseen Gourment reached 50,000 clicks on New Year's day!

Christmas Eve

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Christmas Eve dinner
Bacchus

A feast of Italian/Japanese fusion X'mas Eve dinner in Bacchus.


* pictures on courtesy of Mr. Tony King

Our 5-course dinner:
1. Lobster Salad Wasabi Dressing
(/Crab Meat Avocado on Endive)
2. Lentil Soup
(/Spaghetti with Porcini and Mushrooms)
3. Christmas Roasted Ham
(/Grilled Black Cod)
* Lemongrass Sorbet
4. Season's Greetings Turkey Cranberry Sauce
(/Braised Oxtail in Beer with Dark Soy Sauce)
5. Celebration Cake
* Limoncello
* Coffee or tea
Baht 1,766 ($52) + Red Wine

Bacchus Wine Bar and Restaurant ***
Ruam Rudee Village
20/6-7 Soi Ruam Rudee
Ploenchit, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02-650 8986
http://www.bacchus.tv/index/introduction.php

roof top dining 3

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The Vertigo

Imagine how wonderful if there is a restaurant that serves your visual pleasure while having your taste buds a lift; this has to be a view-to-dine-by restaurant. The surroundings elegantly decorated with tranquility ambiance; heavenly view of 360 degree panorama overlooking anywhere in Bangkok above the hustle and bustle of city living rarely found elsewhere.



Vertigo and Moon Bar ****1/2
Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok
21/100 Sathorn Road
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel.: 02.679.1200
Banyan Tree Bangkok

Open daily : 6:30 pm - 11 pm (weather permitted)
Pay (food only for two): expect THB 7,000

roof top dining 2

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Red Sky @ Centara Grand Hotel at Central World



My favorite rooftop restaurant in Bangkok simply its food is 'eatable' though not outstanding and the price is affordable, with the enjoyable panorama city view!

Red Sky ***
55th Floor, Centara Grand Hotel at Central World
999/99 Rama 1 Road
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.100.1234
Centara - Red Sky

Opening daily for Dinner 17:00 - 01:00
Pay (food only): expect THB 7,000 for two

roof top dining 1

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The Garden

Today, I went to Bangna district's Soi Udomsuk with a good friend from Hong Kong. Udomsuk area is about 40km southeast of Bangkok city center, a humdrum residential area. We took the BTS skytrain to On Nut terminus, caught a taxi to Soi Udomsuk. Total travel time was an hour from my friend's hotel located on Sukhumvit Soi 8 in the major tourist area. My friend couldn't hold his curiosity to ask, "Do we have to dine this far while our stomach is singer?", and his question had not been entertained. In my mind was 'hey, you will see'!

The Garden is on the rooftop of the Executive Residence Apartment on Udomsuk Soi 18. In order to reach to the rooftop of this 15-year-old poorly maintained apartment we need courage (yes, I am talking about real courage) to pass through a shabby lobby armed with moth-eaten carpet and took the building's only outworn elevator to the top floor (just on 6th). When the lift (door) opened my friend immediately realized the difference between haven and hell. A scenic British garden of lush tropical plants and floras caught our first sight with my friend's generous read out 'Wow'! For the next two hours we were dining in a paradise that transportation can reach.



At 4 pm, we started our late lunch with Ox tongue in red wine sauce (THB 250+). The ox tongue was tender and the wine sauce followed exactly the original recipe, as very French. Next dish was Rainbow trout in white cream sauce (THB 350+); trout was truly fresh (from Royal project in Chiangrai) without marinated and extra seasoning thus brought out the natural sweet and goodness of the trout herself. The cream sauce helped to enhance the taste if one found it bland. Another marvelous dish was the Fried rice with salted fish (THB 150+); top grade aromatic slated fish pla kurau (four-finger-threadfin mackerel, or ma yau in Cantonese) was used as the ingredients with chopped kale and BBQ pork cubes. Fried rice was fried dry enough, a well balanced dish with appealing taste and presentation.

The garden has both indoor (air-conditioned) and al fresco dining option. If you choose indoor dining, you will encounter an European mini palace fittings with chandeliers and classic paintings on display, dine with lovely Cupids (sculptures) if not your honey. I always opt for the al fresco option with the surroundings of a botanic exhibition and a 16th Century inspired fountain.

We left the Garden with a promise to return as soon as possible.

The garden, beautiful!
The food, delicious!
The Garden, marvelous! Seeing is believing, go!




The Garden ****
6th Floor, the Executuve Residence Apartment
Soi Udomsuk 18
off Sukhumvit 103 (Udomsuk)
Bangna, Bangkok
Tel.: 02.361.7881

Open daily : 11 am - 11 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 800


View the Garden in a larger map

Serina

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Serina Teppanyaki

This luxury Hokkaido style tappanyaki joint is little-known outside of the Japanese community. The cuisine, of course authentic, is strictly followed on traditional recipes with modern preparation and stylist presentation.

Serina has divided into three sections, main dining room does teppanyaki, upstairs for a-la-carte menu, while another dining room in the annex building does shabu-shabu at Baht 650 per person.

My recent visit with two friends dug us around Baht 7,000 ($205) for an a-la-carte teppanyaki dining with basic seafood and steak (no lobster and wagyu steak) order, and my stomach was not even fed to half-full. Alternatively the chef can prepare a tasting-set for you based on your budget (minimum Baht 1,500++), and teppanyaki lunch set from Baht 350++ is relatively a bargain.



The pros - smokeless teppanyaki table left no uninvited smell on shirt and chef has decent culinary skill the Japanese kind

The cons - uneasy for my wallet (well I did mentioned it is a luxury eatery didn't I) and our chef was lack of smile

The bottom line - lots of true Japanese and seasonal ingredients that other teppanyaki joints don't offer, chef with good skill in mastering the cooking and teppanyaki show in balance without acting like a monkey, and all dishes came out simply taste good

Serina Teppanyaki Restaurant ***
9/26 Soi Jim Thompson
Surawong Road
Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel.: 02.235.8382

Open daily: Lunch 11:30-14:00; Dinner 17:30-22:30
Pay (food only for two): around THB 3,000 (lunch set available at THB 450)