Deadly Bunny & Chubby Penguin: brasserie

Showing posts with label brasserie. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

La Brasserie du Bon Bec @ Cogne, Valle d'Aosta, Italy

Cuisine: Italian (Aosta)

Map: La Brasserie du Bon Bec @ Cogne, Valle d'Aosta, Italy

Price: EUR20 per person (what we paid for)

Visited: 7 October 2014

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 8/10

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

It was during Autumn when we visited the village of Cogne in Valle d'Aosta. With no surprise, there was hardly any restaurant operated during the period. Just to mention that the high seasons for this area are Summer, when visitors enjoy warmer climate and nature, and Winter, when ski enthusiasts parade in. Nevertheless, we were fortunate enough to get recommended, by the owner of a small hotel where we were staying, a nice, cosy, and so much of our like brasserie that still in operation: La Brasserie du Bon Bec. The restaurant is a part of a famous hotel in the area, Hotel Bellevue. La Brasserie du Bon Bec is situated right in the middle of the town so you won't be missing surely. The dining hall is set to fame the Alpine traditional mountain setting. Staffs were friendly and worked efficiently. There were only a few of them working in a restaurant with around 15 tables. Honestly, food was nice and staffs were equally nice. We decided to stick with this place for dinner during our few days of passing by.

La Brasserie du Bon Bec @ Cogne, Valle d'Aosta

old fashion country interior but cosy

just another cosy corner

Let's mention a bit on the food. They are pretty much local cuisine. No those fancy things at all. But they were yummy. By the way, breads and rolls here were simply delicious. Pricing of each dish was as well attractive: no those ridiculous mark up even in such mountainous place.

Cheese Fondue, Honey, and Walnuts (8/10) and Cream of Potatoes with Fresh Aromatic Herbs and Sausage (7/10) are highly recommended for any cold day (most of the days here anyway). These warm soups were such a good kicking start for a meal. They were creamy and savoury. The cheese fondue, in particular, was splendid with well balance between sweetness of honey and cheesy notes. Walnuts also provided cracking texture to the overall picture.

bread and cutlery

Cheese Fondue, Honey, and Walnuts (EUR10)

Cream of Potatoes with Fresh Aromatic Herbs and Sausage (EUR8)

Next was Polenta with Cheese and Melted Butter (7/10). I promise I really love cheese and this classic polenta with cheese was so yummy and classic: so warm, so smooth, and so cheesy. Another polenta dish was Stewed Beef with Polenta (7/10). Classic stew that was not too thick with creamy polenta was so enjoyable. Lastly, it was Lillaz Trout Baked in a Foil (8/10). So simple but yet so much of satisfaction and joy. Juicy and sweet. Just nice. Lillaz is another little town in Valle d'Aosta and just a few kilometres from Cogne. So you sure guarantee the very best of local catch here.

Polenta with Cheese and Melted Butter (EUR8)

Stewed Beef with Polenta (EUR14)

Lillaz Trout Baked in a Foil (EUR14)

friendly staff boning off trout

During the visits, I did also get the chance to try local wines. I opted for pinot noir which I fond of. L'Atoueyo Pinot Noir 2013 (87/100) and Maison Anselmet Pinot Noir Eleve en Fut de Chene 2011 (89/100) were the choices. Both were enjoyable with pinot fruit aroma. But Maison Anselmet possesses more structure and mild oak palate.

Anyway, though we only tried a restaurant in Cogne, we could really say that we do like La Brasserie du Bon Bec and it is a place to go for in Cogne: reasonable price, delicious, and nice people. It won't disappoint you, I promise.

L'Atoueyo Pinot Noir 2013 (EUR12, 375ml)

Maison Anselmet Pinot Noir Eleve en Fut de Chene 2011 (EUR17, 375 ml)

La Brasserie du Bon Bec @ Cogne, Valle d'Aosta, Italy
72 Rue Bourgeois
11012 Cogne
Valle d'Aosta
Italy

Open Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12:00pm - 02:30pm for lunch and 07:00pm - 10:00pm for dinner

Tel: +39 0165 749 288

Web: http://www.hotelbellevue.it/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Hotel.Bellevue.Cogne

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Triplets Brasserie @ Luxx Hotel, Lung Suan, Bangkok

Cuisine: Global Cuisine (European mostly)

Map: Triplets Brasserie @ Luxx Hotel, Lung Suan, Bangkok

Visited: 16 February 2013

Price: THB700 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 5/10

After a long break for more or less a year, we, Deadly Bunny and Chubby Penguin, are back to share our experiences (wish this time we can keep reviewing for long, fingers cross). This time, we are back the review of Triplets Brasserie. A lot of you may recognise that we had reviewed once 2 years ago exactly (http://deadlybunnychubbypenguin.blogspot.com/2011/02/triplets-bistro-thonglor-bangkok-french.html). However, the brasserie have moved into the new place on Lung Suan which is now more chic, relax, and easier accessed.

Triplets Brasserie is now located in Luxx Hotel which is simply opposite Soi Lung Suan 6. It may be difficult to spot so pay attention for the sign of the hotel. I say I love this place more than the old venue at Thonglor. The atmosphere is more relax and at the same time can be romantic. The garden seats are particularly perfect for dinner with your love one (love the Alfresco), during the day it may be too hot. Inside, it is friendly and cool as much as any brasserie can be; don't be confused though, I personally think this place is not the kind for fine dining but it can suit regular special occasions. Decoration is kept minimal.

Triples Brasserie @ Luxx Hotel, Lung Suan, BKK

Overview of Decoration

Another relaxing corner

More chill corner

As usual, we began our meal with soups. Yes, it was soup again as we do enjoy eating warm soup ^^. We had Corn Soup (5/10) and Vichyssoise, which is simply potato and leek soup (6/10). Both were cream base soup, delightful and enjoyable. However, leek soup was somewhat lighter, less thick, and more fun from potato bits. The prawn in the leek soup was also well cooked: a tick for this (^_^). Whilst the leek soup contained prawn as the highlight, the corn soup also filled with crab meat.

Corn Soup (THB195) and Vichyssoise (THB175)

Oh oh, forgot to mention that the basket of bread here was garlic, just normal garlic bread really. Ok, it was nice but standard really, prefer a typical bread like baguette with good butter personally (2/10).

Garlic Breads

For the mains, we had Pasta Alfredo (7/10) and Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom and Rosemary Gravy (5/10). We felt that pasta dishes here look and sound ordinary but they are well made really. The al dente penne alfredo was lightly creamy with mushroom as the main ingredients. Strong taste of garlic. If you like garlic, then this is the one for you. For pork tenderloin, I felt it was a little too salty for the gravy. Strong mushroom aroma. The pork meat was naturally tender as much as the local grade could be. Don't expect the super tender one. The dish came along with mashed potatoes which were creamy, smooth, and well seasoned (give it a plus).

Pasta Alfredo (THB295)

Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom and Rosemary Gravy (THB395)

Overall, I would say I can visit this place like every week really. Friendly brasserie with decent food and of course price. If I have to meet up with friends in any restaurant in a crowded department store in town, I would suggest them to meet up at Triplets instead. Nevertheless, wine list and alcohol range are rather limited from my sense. Give Triplets a go, would you?

Triplets Brasserie @ Luxx Hotel, Lung Suan, Bangkok

Luxx Hotel
92/3 opposite Soi Lung Suan 6
Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Open Hours: Tue - Sun 11:00 - 14:00 for lunch and 18:00 - 23:00 for dinner

Tel: +66 (0) 2684 1684

Web: http://www.tripletsbangkok.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Triplets-Brasserie/231306840224876

Monday, August 1, 2011

Pizzazo Bistro @ Sukhumvit 16, Bangkok

Cuisine: French and Italian (Casual Dining)

Map: Pizzazo Bistro @ Sukhumvit 16, Bangkok - พิซซาโซ่ บิสโทร @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 16 กรุงเทพ

Price: THB1,200 per person without alcohol (what I paid for)

Visited: 26 July 2011

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 4/10

Service: 6/10

This recently opened bistro & brasserie style restaurant, called Pizzazo Bistro, is situated in Soi Sukhumvit 16, pretty close to Kuppa. The style of this restaurant is rather relaxing and warming with rather easy-going decor. What we would recommend here is, of course, pizza. It is comparable to Limoncello @ Sukhumvit 11: thin pizza bread with loads of good quality stuffing. The restaurant calls itself as Italian and French Casual Dining because they are serving pizza and Italian dishes but having French as the head chef (it does work though). So you may expect some enjoyable French dishes in the menu. Pizzazo is an isolated house in Soi Sukhumvit 16 with some parking space, hence, driving is not a problem otherwise take BTS or MRT to Asoke station. Notice that there is also an open kitchen right at the front of the restaurant house to show their guests. This place is surely a good one to hang out with friends and family and enjoy pizza.

Pizzazo Bistro @ Sukhumvit 16

Parking This Way Please!!!

The Open Kitchen

The Furniture

We had Bruschetta alle Verdure and Rocket Salad to start off. Both are pretty good. Bruschetta did not just come with tomato but also grilled artichoke and mozzarella. Tasty and crisp (7/10). Rocket Salad was an ordinary one but fresh (6/10).

Bruschetta alle Verdure

Rocket Salad

Next was Fried Calamari which came with delightful dipping sauce: taste of sour cream and dill, rich and thick but not so creamy. Squid was well fried also, let down by just small portion ^^ (6/10).

Fried Calamari

Tiger Prawns with anchovy brandade was just deep-fried prawn with smooth mash. Nothing in particular to us (5/10).

Next was Vegetable and Crab Meat Cannelloni. This felt like crab and vegetable being wrapped with pasta and baked with cheese then finished with the sauce. The sauce tasted like lobster bisque to us: rich and creamy. Let down by the texture of cannelloni that had rather coarse touching in the mouth (5/10).

Tiger Prawns

Vegetable and Crab Meat Cannelloni

Coming to the highlight of the meal, Adriatica Pizza. This smoked salmon based pizza came with cheese stuffing (cream cheese and mascarpone) that went really well together. Pizza bread was thin and tasty (7/10).

Adriatica Pizza

Adriatica Pizza (close-up)

Braised Beef Cheek and Tail had tender texture. Smooth in the mouth but rather salty from our perspective, otherwise a delicious dish (6/10).
We did also have an opportunity to try Caramelised Duck Breast. May be a little chewy but taste good, sweetness of prune and soft touch of stewed zucchini (6/10).

Braised Beef Cheek and Tail

Caramelised Duck Breast

At the end, we were then introduced with the signature dessert, Crispy Chocolate and Almond Flavoured Cake. It was good and not particularly to our taste. The cake had chocolate mousse layer with crispy chocolate as base, rich but not so flavourful. The vanilla ice-cream (not a home-made one) was ok, we could feel some icy bits but not so sweet, more creamy would be preferable (5/10).

Crispy Chocolate and Almond Flavoured Cake

Pizzazo Bistro @ Sukhumvit 16, Bangkok

188 Soi Sukhumvit 16

Sukhumvit Road

Khlong Toei, Khlong Toei

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

พิซซาโซ่ บิสโทร @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 16 กรุงเทพ

188 ซอยสุขุมวิท 16

ถนนสุขุมวิท

แขวงคลองเตย เขตคลองเตย

กรุงเทพ 10110

Open Hours: Tue-Fri 11:30am - 02:00pm for lunch and 06:30pm - 10:00pm for dinner, and 1/2 hours earlier for weekends

Tel: +66 (0) 2663 8500

Web: http://www.pizzazobistro.com/

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

99 Rest Backyard Cafe @ Rama 9 Road, Bangkok

Cuisine: International

Map: 99 Rest Backyard Cafe @ Rama 9 Road, Bangkok - 99 เรสท์แบ็คยาร์ดคาเฟ่ @ ถนนพระราม 9 กรุงเทพ

Price: THB800 per person (what I paid for)

Visited: 26 June 2011

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 6/10

We recently came across this lovely restaurant called "99 Rest Backyard Cafe" and decided to try out right away. Just like its name, it is situated within a relaxing atmosphere which is surrounded by garden. Ok...foods and choices of drink are just like other bistro & brasserie style such as Wine I Love You or Minibar Royale. However, atmosphere is the highlight here: lovely decoration in contemporary style with a touch of Thai mood and homely garden. Upon arrival, we were stunned by the beautiful scenery of this place, friendly yet relaxing. This is surely a good place to be enjoy with family. The restaurant is located just a few minutes from Thonglor by car.

99 Rest Backyard Cafe

The Interior

Table Setting

Just a little attention on the menu, we think that it is lovely such that there are many different good quotes about food in the menu. Taking a look at them, good quote good meaning they are.

The Menu

Some Good Quote

Though we did not have a chance to take note down this time, we wish that compensation of photos will give you enough feeling of dishes here. Overall most of items here are on par level (5/10).

We did try quite a number of starter including salads and fried dishes.

Basket of Bread

Crispy Calamari

Onion Rings

Caesar Salad

Rocket Salad & Spicy Italian Sausage

UFC - Unidentified Fried Chicken

A few of pasta and noodle types are also observed. They were up to standard on quality and taste.

Penne with Spicy Italian Sausage

"Bamee" Egg Noodle with Blue Swimmer Crab Meat

For main course dishes, we found that Duck Confit was rather good and was a better choice than others. However, this does not mean the others are not enjoyable though.