Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2010

Date of Tasting: 3 June 2016

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Sangiovese

Alcohol: 14%

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR70

Web: http://www.valdicava.it/
Chubby Appreciation: 96/100
Critics' Opinion: JS - 99/100, WA - 93/100, AG - 94/100, WS - 96/100, CT - 94/100

Appearance: Bright and deep ruby.

Aroma: Orange peel, olive, dark cherry, earth and mushroom.

Palate: Medium-full bodied. Structured with silkily fine tannins. Vibrant acidity that balance out with time. Fruits and herbs. Long finish.

Definitely a gorgeous bottle of Brunello. This is something unique. Starting to be accessible but will live its life for long. Love the earthy tone while fruits and acidity still support its structure. Elegant one. It is hard indeed to keep my hands off. Grazie!!!

Saneh Jaan @ Glasshouse at Sindhorn, Bangkok - เสน่ห์จันทน์ @ กลาสเฮ้าส์ แอท สินธร กรุงเทพฯ

Cuisine: Thai

Map: Saneh Jaan @ Glasshouse at Sindhorn, Bangkok - เสน่ห์จันทน์ @ กลาสเฮ้าส์ แอท สินธร กรุงเทพฯ

Charged Price: THB1,000 per person

Visited: 1 June 2016

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 7/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Recently launched, Saneh Jaan, at the new culinary destination of Sindhorn Tower on Thanon Witthayu: The Glasshouse. It hit the town much later than its neighbours which had been around since last year. What I can say about this Thai restaurant is definitely rather positive. It is fabulously charming as its name: Saneh means charm in Thai.

The atmosphere would have already stunned you upon walking in. Well decorated and rather elegant. Thanks god, it is not in modern style but contemporary. For some, the atmosphere can be a little too heavy to their liking. Just for a tip for both local and tourists, though the place does not state dress code, as I am aware of, it is still best to dress in a smart way rather than casual, especially shorts.

As for food, I personally like it. It is not those kind of royal cuisine nor modern nor Thai food for foreigners nor those harsh and spicy. What I like about food here is its moderation. I mean each dish is rich to the taste but not those highly hot and spicy such that foreigners can consume while the local can still enjoy.

Saneh Jaan @ Glasshouse at Sindhorn, Bangkok

the entrance

rather cosy and elegant atmosphere

We began our meal with a bit of cocktail and mocktails to follow during the course. For cocktail, it had to be Margarita definitely. My all time favourite classic cocktail. I did try Classic Margarita and Blue Margarita (THB220 each). The difference between the two is the use of spirit: Classic one uses Triple Sec while the Blue one uses Blue Curacao. Not bad but not good. I would prefer the one without sugar syrup. To me a good Margarita needs no syrup but a decent quality of Tequila. There was also a small portion of amuse bouche being served before the actual meal. For this visit, it was ปลาแห้งแตงโม (pla haeng tang mo) - Watermelon with Sweet Dried-fish and Crispy Shallot. I like its freshness and sweetness that boosted up the appetite.

Pineapple Freeze and Frosty Orange (THB180 each)

ปลาแห้งแตงโม - Watermelon with Sweet Dried-fish and Crispy Shallot

For the meal, we had กากหมูผัดพริกขิง - Stir-fried Pork Rind with Chili, Salty Egg and Kiffir Lime (8/10), แกงรัญจวน - Gaeng Run Juan (8/10), and กุ้งแม่น้ำทอดกระเทียมพริกไทย - Deep-fried Fresh Water Prawns Marinated in Garlic, Pepper, and Coriander Root (6/10). All of which were nice but stir-fried pork rind with chili, salty egg and kiffir lime seems to stand out. To me, the best way of stir-frying cow-pea is by using pork fat or lard. It would bring out the flavour nicely. In this case, pork rind did its job pretty well. Gaeng Run Juan was pretty delicious too. Love the spices and hot touch of the soup which was not overwhelming. However, deep-fried prawns did not meet my expectation. I would love to see better execution for prawn. Prawn is a delicate ingredient and needs attention at cooking in my view. The texture should be crisp but yet tender. For this one, it was the texture that could be improved. In term of taste, it was enjoyable. Rather local taste.

กากหมูผัดพริกขิง - Stir-fried Pork Rind with Chili, Salty Egg and Kiffir Lime (THB450)

แกงรัญจวน - Gaeng Run Juan (THB380)

กุ้งแม่น้ำทอดกระเทียมพริกไทย - Deep-fried Fresh Water Prawns Marinated in Garlic, Pepper, and Coriander Root (THB780)

Saneh Jaan @ Glasshouse at Sindhorn, Bangkok - เสน่ห์จันทน์ @ กลาสเฮ้าส์ แอท สินธร กรุงเทพฯ

Glasshouse @ Sindhorn
Floor G, Sindhorn Building
130-132 Thanon Witthayu
Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 09:00am - 03:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 35 251 761
Web: http://www.sindhorn.com/glasshouse_overview/Saneh-Jaan
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sanehjaan/

Terre Nere Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana 2013

Date of Tasting: 12 May 2016

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 98% Nerello Mascalese, 2% Nerello Cappuccio

Alcohol: 14%

Origin: Sicily, Italy

Appellation: Etna Rosso DOC

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR30

Web: http://www.tenutaterrenere.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 92/100
Critics' Opinion: JS - 92/100, JR - 17/20, CT - 91/100

Appearance: Bright ruby.

Aroma: Spices. Powerful ripe red fruits. Some floral and leather.

Palate: Medium-full bodied with ripe and sweet tannins. Smooth. Complete and complex. Outstanding ripe cherry and plum notes. Bright but firm. Long lasting in the mouth.

A really good job for this Etna by Terre Nere. Pretty much aromatic like the Burgundian but ways lower price. It is even ready for enjoying at its early life. I personally would not mind stocking up as table wine at all. If you like your wine a bit of ripe and bright, this is a candidate for you.

Nai Lieak Beef Noodle @ Ayutthaya - นายเลี๊ยก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อเอ็นตุ๋น @ อยุธยา

Cuisine: Noodle / Street Food

Map: Nai Lieak Beef Noodle @ Ayutthaya - นายเลี๊ยก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อเอ็นตุ๋น @ อยุธยา

Charged Price: THB100 per person without alcohol

Visited: 5 May 2016

Food: 9/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

Value for money: 10/10

Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Ayutthaya is not all about river prawn. When talking about visiting Ayutthaya, the first question that would literally pop up from everyone would be "going there for grilled river prawn?". Since when that Ayutthaya, the old capital city of Thailand, has become river prawn destination.

During early May 2016, we had a brief chance to visit Ayutthaya for a couple of days. After had sought opinion from local friend, we did hesitate at all to stop by Nai Lieak Beef Noodle as our first destination of the trip. Beef noodle seems to be another famous food in Ayutthaya and this local store does it exceptionally well. Nai Lieak is located on Thanon Pa Maphrao; towards the end of the road. Beware of parking space, it can be very difficult to find a parking lot along the road, especially, during public holiday. 

Nai Lieak Beef Noodle @ Ayutthaya - นายเลี๊ยก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อเอ็นตุ๋น @ อยุธยา

Nai Lieak, the Master

typical noodle joint

price list

If you have a chance to visit Nai Lieak, I would recommend to try both with and without soup. Personally, I would go for stewed noodle for the first one. Then follow with non-noodle braised beef soup. Both are equally delicious. The stewed noodle gives simpler touch in mouth-feel, while soup based one shows more complexity in flavour from the soup. I like the way that notes of spices explode from the soup. The beef has also been wonderfully braised giving tenderness and flavour.

For me, this is a destination that cannot be overlooked. So classic. Yet at a budget too. Love to go back there.

Beef Stewed Noodle (THB40)

zooming onto yummilicious

Beef in Soup (THB50)

Classic Iced-cold Beverage

Nai Lieak Beef Noodle @ Ayutthaya - นายเลี๊ยก ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อเอ็นตุ๋น @ อยุธยา

6/7 Thanon Pa Maphrao
Moo 4, Tambol Ho Rattanachai
Amphoe Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya
Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, 13000
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 09:00am - 03:00pm

Tel: +66 (0) 35 251 761