Showing posts with label prawn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prawn. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Chillax on A One Fine Day at Chon Buri - ตะล๊อกต๊อกแต๊ก ณ เมืองชล กับวันสบาย ๆ

It was towards the end of January 2015 and we had a quick opportunity to visit a friend at Chon Buri. We, hence, popped by a cafe for chitchatting and a restaurant for lunch: Teaory Tea and Dessert Cafe and Peak Mun Talay respectively.

Cuisine: Cafe
Price: THB150 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 24 January 2015
Food: 2/10
Atmosphere: 5/10
Value for money: 2/10
Services: 4/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Teaory Tea and Dessert Cafe is a coffee shop in Bangsean area with a rather large space in relax ambient. Just like those typical cafe here in Thailand, they serve a range of coffee and tea beverage, soda, smoothies, and pastry.

We had Cafe Latte and Iced Cafe Latte (3/10) for drink. Honestly, I think they were not any better than cafe latte that I personally make. There was no distinct aroma. The body was light and after-taste was flat. The go-along sweet was Choco Banana Waffle (2/10). It was a shock. Just by looking at the texture of waffle and ice-cream, it was just not persuasive at all. The vanilla ice-cream was just sweet and not creamy: not even sure whether it was bought-in ice-cream. The waffle did not have the somewhat combination of chewiness, dense, and softness: it was just fluffy. The aroma was not there too. The best part on the plate was banana perhaps.

Come on, you need more than just a big relaxing venue for a cafe. At least your coffee needs to work.

Teaory Tea and Dessert Cafe @ Bangsaen, Chon Buri, Thailand

atmosphere

Iced Cafe Latte (THB85)

Cafe Latte (THB75)

Choco Banana Waffle (THB195)

Teaory Tea and Dessert Cafe @ Bangsaen, Chon Buri, Thailand
1/7 Bangsaen Sai 4 Nuea
Saen Suk, Mueang
Chon Buri 20130
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 10:00am - 10:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 92 637 6665
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/teaorybangsaen/

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Cuisine: Seafood (Thai)
Price: THB500 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 24 January 2015
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 5/10
Value for money: 5/10
Services: 4/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

I always fancy a seafood meal many times when I visit seaside destination like Chon Buri. Peak Mun Talay is another destination in Ang Sila area of Chon Buri. It is a local ambient seafood restaurant with really large space: more than 100 seats easily. Peak Mun Talay shall be a good destination for family meal indeed. An average kind of seafood restaurant in Thailand for me.

In brief, this was an enjoyable place at a moderately pricing. The first dish was Fried Grouper with Spicy Chilli Sauce - ผัดฉ่าเนื้อปลาเก๋า (6/10). Nice and hot dish with fresh grouper. It was really hot in fact (at least for me). Even I had asked for not so spicy, it turned out to be hot and spicy still. So watch out when ordering. Next was a dish with my favourite ingredient: Fried Squid and Roe with Fish Sauce - หมึกไข่คั่วน้ำปลา (6/10). It had nice and fulfilling flavour: rich and full. However, the texture of squid was a little too chewy. Lastly, it was Fried Shrimp with Fish Sauce - กุ้งคั่วน้ำปลา (4/10). It was somewhat disappointed for this dish. Though the ingredient was fresh, it was overcooked for me. In term of flavour, strong scent of fish sauce was well balanced with sweetness. This dish was priced at THB900. Too expensive in my opinion for this kind of place.

Peak Mun Talay @ Chon Buri, Thailand

large and spacious venue

Fried Grouper with Spicy Chilli Sauce - ผัดฉ่าเนื้อปลาเก๋า (THB250)

Fried Squid and Roe with Fish Sauce - หมึกไข่คั่วน้ำปลา (THB200)

Fried Shrimp with Fish Sauce - กุ้งคั่วน้ำปลา (THB900)

Peak Mun Talay @ Chon Buri, Thailand - เปี๊ยกมันทะเล @ ชลบุรี
73 Rop Khao Sam Muk Soi 1
Saen Suk, Mueang
Chon Buri 20130
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 10:00am - 10:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 86 845 5080, +66 (0) 89  750 4916
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/kookbangsaen

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai (seafood)
Price: THB400 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 1 March 2014
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: 5/10
Scale: [ 1=poor ----- 5=average/standard ----- 10=outstanding/exceptional ]

During the last few years, Pran Buri has been our destination for a short vacation to get away from the busy Bangkok. We love Pran Buri in the way that it is quiet, private and there is not so much tourist like Hua Hin. Though there are not so many restaurants like Hua Hin, OX Seafood is a one that should be looked over.

OX Seafood is right by the sea so the view from OX Seafood can be spectacular on a fine day with blue sky. The place is also very large. Perhaps more than 100 guests can be easily placed in the restaurant. OX Seafood also provide parking lots of its customers which is right opposite the restaurant.

large sign, easily spotted

OX Seafoods @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

large opening space


The kind of food that is served here is of course those typical seafood. Ingredients are fresh. Though pricing might not be one of the cheapest but satisfaction wise is wonderful. We had grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (6/10), stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (6/10), and Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (7/10). At the price of THB900 per kg for grilled prawn, we say it is quite dear but acceptable. Fresh, firm, and sweet, those prawns were. The dipping seafood sauce also brought out the flavour of the prawn well. Tom yum seabass, on the other hand, was as well splendid. Tell the staff how spicy you want it to be and just enjoy the fresh seabass in it. We say this is a chillax place when hiding away from a busy city. But be warned that the place might get crowded during long public holiday in which you may like to avoid.

grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (THB450)

grilled prawn with seafood sauce

stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (THB180)

Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (THB150)

fresh seabass

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์
277/2 Pak Nam Pran
Pran Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan 77220
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:00am - 09:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 32 631 230, +66 (0) 32 631 246
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/oxseafood

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

Cuisine: Chinese (Hong Kong / Cantonese)
Price: HKD675 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 27 September 2013
Food: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 3/10
Services: 6/10

Here comes another Chinese fine dining with award of 2 Michelin Stars "Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la, Hong Kong". First thing I have to say is disappointment. Not even sure if I had ordered wrong menu or something. Anyway, I just think such prestigious restaurant should perform so much better for all dishes.

Summer Palace is located on the 5th floor of Pacific Place./ Island Shangri-la. To come here, it is pretty easy, not to mention taxi of course. Pacific Place is connected directly to MTR Admiralty Station and travelling by tram can also be pretty convenient. The dining is kind of grand and elegant in the sense of Chinese tradition with red and gold theme. Again, we were not so impressed with the kind of service in fine Chinese restaurant. We suppose that with this price tag, the service should be clearly none or less fabulous with helpful and knowledgeable staffs.

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la

traditional and elegant entrance

big dining room

Anyway, let's get into food. For our starters, we had Baked King Prawn in Truffle Pesto (5/10) and Steamed Fresh Crab Claw with Winter Melon in Egg White and Mashed Yunnan Ham (7/10). Cooking skill and quality of ingredients are no doubt. Prawn was cooked to near perfection with soft but meaty texture whilst the aroma and the overall touch of crab claw was cool with fresh and firm crab meat. I like the cool touch of winter melon with egg white which can be really good for Summer dish. However, the taste of king prawn was a bit plain. The East meets West magic of king prawn dish did not quite work for us.

Baked King Prawn in Truffle Pesto (HKD180)

Steamed Fresh Crab Claw with Winter Melon in Egg White and Mashed Yunnan Ham (HKD200)

For the more serious and heavier dishes, first of the three was Deep-fried Crispy Chicken (7/10). The chicken was pretty tender, juicy, and delicious. Skin was really crisp which brought the wonderful touch apart from tender meat. Nevertheless, this dish can be a little oily in which I would recommend anyone to have this with plain rice rather than just pure chicken.

Next was Stewed Spare Ribs in a Clay Pot (5/10). Ok, this was nice but did not meet the expectation of Michelin Star awarded restaurant. It tasted like delicious home-cooking food really. Well, the pork was tender I have to admit. But still not spectacular. The flavour of this one was thick and rich. Again, plain rice is highly recommended to go with the dish.

Lastly, we ended our meal with Fried Rice with Minced Beef and Egg White in Preserved Shrimp Paste (3/10). Guess what, my fried-rice is perhaps similar to this one at Summer Palace. Come on, anyone would not expect soaky fried rice, wouldn't they. The overall taste was ok but the texture and mouth feel just ruined the whole dish.

Well, we would prabably not return to Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la for the second time, unless we are really bored with other restaurants on Hong Kong island. (^^)

Deep-fried Crispy Chicken (HKD230 for half)

Stewed Spare Ribs in a Clay Pot (HKD175)

Fried Rice with Minced Beef and Egg White in Preserved Shrimp Paste (HKD180)

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Level 5 Island Shangri-la Hong Kong
Pacific Place
Supreme Court Road
Central
Hong Kong

Open Hours: Daily from 11:30pm - 03:00pm for lunch and 06:30pm - 11:00pm for dinner

Monday, October 3, 2011

Somsak: Baked Vermicelli with Crab & Prawn @ Charoen Rat Road, Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese
Visited: 1 October 2011
Price: THB260 per person (what I paid for)
Food: 8/10
Atmosphere: n.m. (street food)
Value for money: 9/10
Services: n.m. (street food)

Baked Prawn or Crab with Vermicelli may be something that sounds simple and can be found anywhere. But a great one is surely difficult to find. Somsak @ Charoen Rat Road has been selling deliciously taste and looking Baked Prawn and Crab with Vermicelli for over 20 years. The street food shop is located just by the entrance to Soi Charoen Rat 1. It can be easily spotted with bright stall front of Somsak along with tables that are always packed with customers. Indeed, something nice always comes with compensation, either price or something else. In this case, price is not so painful but queueing can be terribly awful. Somsak does not take reservation of table but you may call to order in advance so you do not have to wait for your food long after being seated. Those who do not want to wait can also order take away or delivery: Somsak uses nearby motorcycle taxi as a mean of delivery. Hence, it does not matter where you are in Bangkok, your food can be delivered as long as you are willing to pay a little extra for the delivery.

Stall Front of Somsak

More than 10 tables that are always packed

Good size of crab

Fresh looking prawns

Sign of Soi Charoen Rat 1

It also enjoyable to watch such efficient process of cooking of Somsak. There will be 1 person chopping crabs into pieces and another guy to lay them in pots. From then Mr. Somsak will season and prepare each dish himself before heat them over a stove.

Mr. Somsak in food preparation

Crabs being chopped

Dishes ready to be cooked

4 stoves only, hence, be patient

First to come may not be a signature dish but as well great. It was Baked Mussels. Each mussel may not be a big size one but fresh. It was tasty and savoury with hint herbs, including holy basil. This one is good as a starter (7/10).

Baked Mussels

Chilli Sauce

The famous Baked Crab or Prawn with Vermicelli was just as good as the rumour has said. Vermicelli was soft but presented chewiness at the same time. Taste just right, neither too salty nor too sweet. Both crab and prawn were fresh. Crab could be easily eaten as the shell had been smashed. Aroma of herbs were all around. This is a really great simple dish (9/10).

Baked Vermicelli with Crab

Crab - can now be easily eaten

Baked Prawn with Vermicelli

Fresh baked prawns

Somsak: Baked Vermicelli with Crab & Prawn @ Charoen Rat Road, Bangkok
Charoen Rat Road (at the entrance of Soi Charoen Rat 1)
Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San
Bangkok 10600
Thailand

สมศักดิ์: ปู กุ้งอบวุ้นเส้น @ ถนนเจริญรัถ กรุงเทพ
ถนนเจริญรัถ (บริเวณปากทางเข้าซอยเจริญรัถ 1)
แขวงคลองต้นไทร เขตคลองสาน
กรุงเทพ 10600

Open Hours: 05:00pm - 11:00pm Tuesday - Sunday
Tel: +66 (0) 81 823 9706
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