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Bangkok bites

Just in case any of you are visiting Bangkok in the next few weeks, here are a few suggestions of what’s on at some of Bangkok’s top eateries. The Déjà Vu restaurant in the Pullman Bangkok King Power are running “A Taste of Caviar” special from 18th to 30th January 2011. Enjoy Champagne and caviar at this special event. The set caviar menu includes, among other things, sea urchin and caviar Martini on shaved citrus ice, Osetra caviar on blinis, poached sole rolled with a soft salmon farce and caviar cream. For dessert lovers there’s “Strawberry caviar spheres of intense flavor, with a soft and delicate texture on a chocolate crunch”. So, if you love caviar, don’t miss out. Why not dine aboard one of the Bangkok Marriott’s beautifully restored antique barges, the Manohra and the Manohra Moon? You can enjoy a “Silver Menu” of seven courses of gourmet Thai food or a nine-course “Gold Menu”. The menus, which change weekly, offer a choice of four sets in each category. The dinner cruise leaves the resort’s pier every night at 7.30pm. The trendy Bed Supperclub is combining gourmet dining with a Thai classical dance show from now until early March 2011 (date unspecified). Lie back on one of the restaurant’s big white beds and enjoy special performances of Thai classical dance with a contemporary twist. Free Aussie Steak! From 21st to 31st January 2011, steak lovers have a chance to eat free at the Sofitel Bangkok Silom’s V9 restaurant. You can choose your cut of best quality Australian beef, including tenderloin, T-bone, rib eye and prime rib and if you can guess the weight correctly then you don’t have to pay! (They allow a margin of error of plus or minus 3 grams). Celebrate the Chinese New Year in style at the Landmark’s Sui Sian Chinese Restaurant on 3rd and 4th February 2011. To welcome in the Year of the Rabbit, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet lunch (11am-3pm). As well as dim sum, there are also soups, noodles, Peking Duck, desserts, and more. Each table will be provided with ang-pao (sweet golden oranges) and lucky money. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

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16 Comments

  1. If that’s your view, to take your point to reductio ad absurdum, we might as well say that there should be no Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Indian, French or Japanese restaurants in the UK, or that we should all stick rigidly to our own cuisines.

    Some of the best Middle Eastern meals I’ve ever had have been in Bangkok. (And, yes, I have lived in the ME for several years.) Equally, some of the best European meals have been in top Bangkok hotels – mostly prepared by top European chefs.

    Thai food is wonderful, I won’t argue about that. But are you really suggesting that people should eat it every day when there is such a variety of gourmet treats in Bangkok? I don’t eat haggis every day when I’m in Edinburgh. Why should I eat Thai food every day in Bangkok?

  2. Kay – yes that’s a fair point and sorry – I was a little hurried and very unfair in the comment I left from my mobile. I agree – middle eastern food can be superb in Bangkok – as can be Japenese and indeed Indian for that matter. If I had elaborated properly I would have said that the point is not that each country should stick to their own cuisine, but that European food is not often done well in Bangkok.

    I’ve never had much luck with European food there, even in the top hotels; it always seems to me about ostentatious display rather than quality food and whenever I’ve eaten European food in a top Bangkok hotel I’ve always seen it as an opportunity wasted – which prompted my irritation at the sound of the caviar fest. But hey, given I avoid European food wherever possible in Bangkok – I am probably not qualified to comment.

    Also, with the honourable exception of the great David Thompson, I have never yet come accross any decent Thai food in London (in contrast to Indian food which can be wonderful in London). I’d love to hear suggestions though!

  3. Hey, Sam, No worries, debate is what makes discussions interesting.

    I would agree with you about Thai food in London, or anywhere else. It’s very rare to get a decent Thai meal outside of Thailand.

    But I will push my point home that Bangkok has an amazing variety of cuisines and visiting chefs.

    I’m off to Bangers next week – I can hardly wait!

  4. I’ll raise a glass to you, Sam, when I’m enjoying my next gourmet meal in Bangkok.

    I had a favourite ‘Lebanese’ place in the Arabic quarter where I’ve been going to for several years. Sadly, it was a disappointment the last few times I’ve been. And I’ve not seen the old man around (the guy who was the previous owner/boss). Things change. But that place would have made it to my top five of favourite restaurant around the world before. Now I’m really not sure…

    For a good international buffet in Bangkok, I’d recommend the Hyatt Erawan. That’s my current favourite.

  5. I never been to bangkok yet but it is on my wish list. where would you recommend for fab thai food?

  6. Irene, funnily enough I view my Bangkok visits as opportunities to enjoy all different kinds of cuisines rather than eat Thai food. Mostly if I want Thai food I cook it myself.

    However, a couple of months ago I met up with a couple of friends who were new to the place and naturally they wanted to eat Thai food. I asked around and a lot of expats recommended Rosabieng on Sukhumvit, Soi 11. So we went there and we were all impressed by the good quality of the food and its good value for money too.

  7. Irene – there are so many of course, but I always go for a meal at Suan Kularb in an area called ‘Ari’ on ‘Soi Ari Sampan’. If you are in Silom then Banana House is great. Anna’s Cafe on Saladaang near the BTS station is good too. None of these are ultra high end though very good food nonetheless.

  8. Hi Kay & Sam

    thanks so many top tips from you both, you are making me hungry for some thai food just now. i am very impressed at your cooking prowess kay i would love to do one of the thai cookery courses so i could cook it properly.

  9. I have never tried caviar… still not sure if I want to. I have always wanted to be at a Chinese New Year celebration and dim sum sounds delicious

  10. Love the idea of the MarriottÂ’s antique barges, they look amazing, what an experience to eat there.

  11. I don’t think I could just live on Thai food while there. I like variety while at home and abroad. I think there should be more articles around on global food in countries, rather than just focusing on the country cuisine.

  12. Thanks for the options of Thai food guys. I’m off to Bangkok tomorrow and was wondering where I could go! Looking forward to trying all types of food – as much as I love Pad Thai, I don’t want it everyday! :)

  13. I just got back from my Bangkok trip. We couldn’t get a table for the Hyatt Erawan’s international buffet on Saturday night – you need to book early if you want to reserve a place for this one.

    We scouted around various other places but didn’t like the look of any of them, and then we found a really good one in the Landmark hotel’s Atrium restaurant. Highly recommended!

    By the way, for Italian food, I recommend Contrazi on Suk. Soi 11. There’s so much happening on Soi 11 these days it’s quite hard to get motivated to look beyond it!

  14. I will suggest also the restaurant on the roof of the central world hotel, who has a very nice view and affordable prices.

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