Showing posts with label thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thailand. Show all posts

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Just a thought, Oldie vs. Trendy

Having been writing blog for sometime and most of the time I have been trying to keep posting a weekly basis, this would be my last post before taking a long break. Writing blog does give pleasure of sharing experience. Of course, some are great, some are enjoyable, and some are unacceptable. Living in the world of social media nowadays, I, personally, do often feel somewhat uncomfortable despite writing the blog.

Thus, I have come to decision that this post would be my last blogging for now before returning in the future. Just need sometime off really. More time on dining table with beloved one and family with flashing photos. Of course, there will still be one or two for instagram and things like that. Anyway, for this blog I will be comparing a few of those the local has enjoyed for long while the trendy stuff has as well penetrated the market especially for those young generation. All of which are Tubtim Krob @ Wongwein Yai, Strawberry Cheesecake Kakigori @ After You, Coconut Ice-cream of Pa Na @ Hua Ro Market in Ayutthaya, and Tiramisu Soft-serve of Kiss the Tiramisu @ Siam Square.


First of all, it is Tubtim Krob at Wongwein Yai. Tubtim krob has long been one of favourite desserts for generations. These ruby like water chestnut are just crisp and sweet and when combined with a touch of syrup and coconut milk, it is just awesomely delicious. I, personally, can go on and on with this dessert meal after meals. However, it seems to be freaking hard these days to find a good store/stall that sells nice one. Just when I was a kid, a nice tubtim krob can be found like within the neighbourhood.

Anyway, this one at Wongwein Yai is a famous one and is just wonderful. Love the freshness and crunchiness of water chestnut. The sweetness of syrup is just right. Having along with salim or coconut is equally pleasant. Going there can be difficult but this is not a hurdle for me at all when I feel like one.

P.S. They also serve vermicelli with fish curry and soft-boiled egg (Kanom Jeen Nam Ya).

Tubtim Krob (THB40)

water chestnut, salim, and ruby water chestnut


For Strawberry Cheesecake Kakigori at After You, I have to say that this might be the only one at After You I would actually eat. As posted a long while ago, After You has never been my choice of dessert. With those toast soaked with yakky melted butter and ice-cream that is full of esters aroma, I will never touch it. But this kakigori is another story in my view. They do it much nicer that others. The ice flakes are creamier and with more flavour. If there is more of the strawberry sauce, it would be more balance. By the way, kakigori is just shaved ice in Japanese. You may also find the word Bing Su in Korean shop. But if you go on street food in Thailand, it would simply be Nam Kang Sai (น้ำแข็งไส). They are all the same word but just different marketing terms.

Anyway, at the price of THB235 (if I recall it correctly) for just shaved ice and strawberry sauce is way too excessive in my view, not even counting in the long queue you will have to encounter. For me, I surely rather go for 8 of tubtim krob than just a bowl of this shaved ice. But it has been a trend in Thai for the last year and still now. You can find it anywhere. Wish the younger generations will realise the goodie of old time local food.

Strawberry Cheesecake Kakigori (THB235) 

If ones have been following my blog, facebook, or instagram, they would recognise that I am one of the ice-cream lovers. Back in May when I had a chance to visit the old capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, I did not hesitate to search for a nice ice-cream stall. Indeed I did find one at Talad Hua Ro (Hua Ro Market) which sells the classic coconut ice-cream: Pa Na.

Na is the name of the owner and Pa means Aunty in Thai. This ice-cream stall is just a tiny corner in the market. There are perhaps less than 10 seats for you to sit while enjoying your treat. At the price of THB30, you get a delicious cup of coconut ice-cream with your choices of topping. My favourite would have to include sticky rice and candied palm seed definitely. If you want to go for a more rustic one, have them on bread. Surely classic and heavenly delicious. The best parts of Pa Na Coconut Ice-cream are just everything. The ice-cream is creamy and yummy. The toppings come in variety. The local atmosphere is priceless. Everyone is friendly. Hey, THB30 for coconut ice-cream is expensive??? Hell no for me. It is a treat for me.

Coconut Ice-cream Stall of Pa (Aunty) Na @ Ayutthaya

Coconut Ice-cream with your choice of topping (THB30)

Coconut Ice-cream on Bread (THB25)

Now it comes to a posher side of ice-cream. The Korean brand, Kiss The Tiramisu, offers just one choice (as far as I'm aware of at the time of tasting): Tiramisu Ice-cream of course. However, they recently offer Banamisu flavour also. Suppose it is banana flavour. The cost of savouring this Korean soft-serve would be THB159 for one. Good god!!! THB159 and it does not even satisfy me. Ok, it is not that bad, enjoyable at a certain level. But please, it is tiramisu, not vanilla soft-serve with a dash of chocolate flavour. Oh, did I miss out the coffee part. No, I did not. I barely sensed the coffee bit when eating. Give me back my THB159 pleaseeeeee.

Kiss The Tiramisu @ Siam Square

the owner must really love Mary Poppins in my view

its soft-serve with filling to resemble tiramisu: Tiramisu Ice-cream (THB159)

shaving in the chocolate

Anyway, the point I would like to make here is nowadays we seem to forget all those nostalgic goodies and tend to be lured with those pricey fancy stuff. Personal opinion, I have to make it here. Not trying to discredit anyone here but purely pointing out that the local food can be equally great and at a more realistic price. Just don't forget them before they are no longer available.

Well, wish everyone enjoy their savouring. I will surely do. Sometime may be in any restaurants. Sometime may be strolling around on streets finding the best kept secret. Travelling the world to search for local culture could also be. Sipping Barolo while typing facebook can be a regular activity or swallowing in glasses of Burgundy somewhere on earth. Instagram with glasses of Champagne in someone backyard. Surely most of the time, dining either opposite or by the side of Deadly Bunny. Or even grilling my own steak, tossing pasta, blending soup, or baking something in my tiny orange kitchen. Bon appetite to you all till we meet again.

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Tubtim Krob @ Wongwein Yai, Bangkok
184 Thanon Lat Ya
Khlong San
Bangkok 10600
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:30am - 08:30pm
Tel: +66 (0) 2438 2118

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Pa Na Coconut Ice-cream @ Talad Hua Ro, Ayutthaya
Tha Wa Su Kri
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Ayutthaya 13000
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 09:00am - 01:00pm

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Kiss The Tiramisu @ Siam Square Soi 3, Bangkok
258 Siam Square Soi 3
Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 12:00pm - 09:30pm
Tel: +66 (0) 91 562 9956
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/kissthetiramisuthailand/


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, April 2, 2014

Afternoon breaks at Hua Hin / Pran Buri : Eighteen Below Ice-cream @ Hua Hin and La a Natu @ Pran Buri

Towards the end of February / beginning of March, we had a chance to take a short break to relax at Pran Buri. Having heard rumour about the famous Hay Lobby and Eatery @ La a Natu Bed and Bakery and Eighteen Below Ice-cream @ Naeb Kehardt Road, Hua Hin, we did not hesitate to find sometimes to visit them. In brief, we are not so impressed with both places, especially Hay Lobby and Eatery in term of taste but they are ok when not crowded and happen to be nearby.

Cuisine: cafe food / afternoon tea
Price: THB210 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 1 March 2014
Food: 2/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Value for money: 5/10
Services: 3/10
Scale: [ 1=poor ----- 5=average/standard ----- 10=outstanding/exceptional ]

La a Natu is set right on the quiet beach of Pran Buri. The place has been resembled to give the natural relaxing ambient by using haystack for most of its accommodation. Hay Lobby and Eatery of La a Natu is well-known for afternoon tea and even the place itself is proud of its reputation. The Hay Lobby is not really a big which can probably accommodate around 30 guests max. The very best part is the cool and relaxing atmosphere. The dining room provides a good sea view but bear in mind of hot weather and strong sunlight in the afternoon.

La a Natu @ Pran Buri

village style surrounding

Hay Lobby and Eatery

relax ambient for afternoon tea certainly

The pricing of menu is not so cheap nor so expensive, modest in fact for a hotel. However, we are not really so delight with the taste of it. The first impression goes for the tea. La a Natu is supposed to be famous for afternoon tea. But we were served with Twinings. Good god, I could not believe and it was tea bag instead of loose leaf. In addition, the staff tried to pour us a cup immediately after the tea had arrived out of the kitchen. For heaven sake, the tea was nowhere near being properly immersed and infused.

The next disappointment was the pastry set in the afternoon tea set (2/10). If I remember correctly, there were 7 kinds of dish that were served: cheese sandwich (I really mean the simply cheese only), scones with whipped cream and jam, panna cotta, cheesecake, brownie, carrot cake, and chocolate cake. The scones were the first one to make me laugh. It was sure not a scone with that spongy texture and served with whipped cream and somewhat sour strawberry jam which was supposed to be the classic homemade. The panna cotta was the worst. It melted after a while leaving us with creamy liquid with strawberry sauce (that tasted like the strawberry jam). Not so whether the weather was too hot or there was too little gelatin in the panna cotta. The rest of pastry were just ok to eat.

On the service side, it was nowhere near hotel standard. Notwithstanding the aforementioned tea pouring service, we encountered a long wait for bill checking. We waited for quite sometime for changes to be returned and when asking, the answer simply was they had run out of change and needed to go somewhere for exchange. I presumed that I should have been warned or else something could have been adjusted. Well, I guess I had enough experience of this place. They are not so professional in the service. We sure will never return to this.

pastry and tea menu

happen to be just Twinings

afternoon tea set (THB350)

again, really great ambient

Hay Lobby and Eatery @ La a Natu Bed and Bakery, Pran Buri, Thailand - เฮย์ ล๊อบบี้แอนด์อีทเทอรี่ @ ลา เอ นาตู เบดแอนด์เบเกอรี่ ปราณบุรี
234 Moo 2
Samroiyod, Pranburi
Prachuap Khiri Kha
77120
Thailand

Open Hours: all day but 02:00pm to 05:00pm for afternoon tea daily
Tel: +66 (0) 32 689 941-3, +66 (0) 81 731 8688
Webhttp://www.laanatu.com/
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/laanatubb

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Raya (ระย้า) @ Dibuk Road, Phuket, Thailand

Cuisine: Thai (Southern)
Price: ~ THB350 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 20 December 2013
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 6/10
Services: 4/10

Visiting Phuket for a short vacation, it is perhaps a must thing to do these days to pop by Raya which is currently one of the most famous restaurant on Phuket Island. Raya is located on Dibuk Road, just by the corner where Dibuk Road (ถนนดีบุก) and Thepkasattri Road (ถนนเทพกระษัตรี) intersect. It is pretty easy to locate the place. It is an old build with two storeys and there is a big "Raya" sign to spot.


Raya @ Dibuk Road, Phuket, Thailand

the old house-converted building

The interior has been perhaps kept with most of original feature. I kind of like the old fashion ambient myself. The place is rather large. I guess up to 100 customers can be held at once. Range of food here is local Southern Thai food. Although, there are some of those famous Thai dishes available but please do not bother with non Southern dishes. On the pricing side, it is not cheap but not so dearly cost.

still kept the old fashion interior


more rooms on the upper level

One of the dish that we could not really miss was crab meat with curry and coconut milk - แกงเนื้อปูใบชะพลู (7/10). This is probably the most famous dish from the Southern part of Thailand. The dish itself was nice and lovely. The curry paste was flavourful. The overall taste was not too spicy and I guess foreigners can take the dish with care. They were fairly generous with the fresh blue crab meat in the curry. Though the dish was nice, the overall taste however was not as expected by the local. It tasted more like the recipe has been adjusted to suit the liking of Bangkokian and travellers. You may perhaps try the crab curry in a more local place to compare. I would not say I do not like this dish but I am not so fond of it. One of the knowledge that we have learnt from the local was chaphlu leaves (piper sarmentosum or wild betel) are never an ingredient for crab curry. Well, it may be Raya's own recipe.

The other soup base dish that we had to order was prawn and pak meang in coconut milk - แกงกะทิผักเหมียงกุ้ง (8/10). Pak Meang is a local vegetable in the South of Thailand. It can be a great ingredient for coconut milk base soup as well as to go with omelette. This soup was lovely indeed. Thick coconut milk with fresh leaves and fresh prawn. So simple and so authentic. Love it. (ps. I could not see it in the menu but you sure can ask for it)

crab meat with curry and coconut milk - แกงเนื้อปูใบชะพลู (THB600)

zoom up to crab meat

prawn and pak meang in coconut milk - แกงกะทิผักเหมียงกุ้ง (THB350)

prawn and pak meang

Steamed pork with pepper and garlic - หมูฮ้อง (6/10) was somehow less enjoyable than expected. I think that the overall palate was overwhelmed by pepper. I would personally love to see less pepper and a touch more of sweetness to balance. The pork itself, on the other hand, was wonderfully tender. I suggest asking for the belly part. The pleasure of a bite that combines both tender meat and fatty/gelatin part was wonderful in fact.

The other dishes that you may not like to miss were stir-fried sataw with shrimps - ผัดสะตอกะปิกุ้ง (7/10) and deep-fried pork with salt - หมูคั่วเกลือ (6/10). Sataw was fresh and delicious. Some may say that the natural scent of sataw can be unpleasant. Well, I disagree with the claim and would encourage to really try the dish. It was stir-fried nicely with shrimp paste. Deep-fried pork with salt is almost everyone, every gender, and every generation favourite dish. No strong chili or herbal taste. The texture is the part that comes into play. Crisp and light salted. Terrific indeed. Only if pork could be sliced in a thinner form, the dish would be perfect.

steamed pork with pepper and garlic - หมูฮ้อง (THB350)

tender piece of pork

stir-fried sataw with shrimps - ผัดสะตอกะปิกุ้ง (THB350)

deep-fried pork with salt - หมูคั่วเกลือ (THB200)

For dessert, something cool and sweet is really a compliment for hot weather in Phuket. Grass jelly with longan - เฉาก๊วยลำไย (6/10) is not the one to pay attention to. You can find this anywhere in Thailand. Lukchok in syrup - ลูกชกลอยแก้ว (7/10) is, on the other hand, the one you should try if it is available. You would not see much of lukchok elsewhere in Thailand. Lukchok is similar to lukchid (palm seed) but in a smaller form and round. The texture is chewy just like palm seed but firmer.

All in all, Raya is a lovely restaurant with nice ambient of local atmosphere and nice food. Some may have been transformed to suit the modern day liking but still enjoyable. For me, I would not really chase for it much but if you have not tried, why not?

lukchok in syrup - ลูกชกลอยแก้ว (THB30)

grass jelly with longan - เฉาก๊วยลำไย (THB30)

Raya @ Dibuk Road, Phuket, Thailand - ระย้า @ ถนนดีบุก จังหวัดภูเก็ต
48 Dibuk Road
Talat Yai, Mueang
Phuket
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 10:00am - 10:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 76 218 155

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Mook Dee Seafood (มุขดี ซีฟู้ด) @ Rawai Beach, Phuket, Thailand

Cuisine: Thai / seafood
Price: ~ THB200 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 18 December 2013
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 4/10
Value for money: 8/10
Services: 4/10

On our trip to Phuket for a short vacation, of course for relaxing and tasting local food, we stopped by Mook Dee Seafood @ Rawai Beach - มุขดี ซีฟู้ด @ หาดราไวย์ for our first meal there. Mook Dee has its own concept, uniquely different for others. You simply just have to buy your favourite ingredients from outside and they will cook for you. Cost for cooking a dish is THB100 per kg of ingredient. Really reasonable charge from our point of view.

To find Mook Dee is not that difficult at all. You will just have to drive all the way to the end of Wiset Road towards Rawai Beach and Mook Dee will be on a small street on the left hand side just a few hundred meters from Wiset Road.

Mook Dee Seafood (มุขดี ซีฟู้ด) @ Rawai Beach, Phuket

store front

bring your fresh ingredients for cooking

easy and simple surrounding

If you are not sure where to get your ingredients, there is a stall right opposite of Mook Dee Seafood. The stall sells pretty good quality seafood at acceptable price, ranging from fish to shells to crabs to prawn, and etc.

fresh seafood stall right in front of Mook Dee

fresh fish range

prawn and shrimp range

shell range

Phuket lobster

horse crab

I would not go into details of the dishes. I would just say that they were pretty nice and delicious. Most of the dishes can be rather hot and spicy. If you cannot really take spiciness, do ask in advance for minimum chilli and pepper. See below for what we had. However, personally I think that stir-fried clams with chilli and prawn in tamarind sauce were wonderful.

This is a really nice place to enjoy seafood from our perspective. Must try if you are somewhere near Rawai Beach.

steamed squid in lime sauce - ปลาหมึกนึ่งมะนาว

fish tom yum - ต้มยำปลา

poached cockle - หอยแครงลวก

fried squid with garlic and pepper - ปลาหมึกผัดกระเทียม

poached horse crab - ปูม้าต้ม

stir-fried clams with chilli - หอยลายผัดฉ่า

prawn in tamarind sauce - กุ้งมะขาม

zooming up to prawn

Mook Dee Seafood @ Rawai Beach, Phuket, Thailand
มุขดี ซีฟู้ด @ หาดราไวย์ จังหวัดภูเก็ต
Rawai Beach Port
Wiset Road
Rawai, Mueang
Phuket
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 11:00am - 10:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 81 719 4880
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