Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione @ Grinzane Cavour, Cuneo, Italy

Cuisine: Italian

Map: Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione @ Grinzane Cavour, Cuneo, Italy

Price: EUR40 per person (what we paid for)

Visited: 9 October 2014

Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 8/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Here is another restaurant in Piedmont with prestigious tag of a Michelin Star, Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione at Grinzane Cavour. The special thing about this restaurant is it is located right in the Castello di Grinzane Cavour. I personally like this place a lot. The price tag is not ridiculously high. Staffs are nice and helpful. The ambient is unique but cosy: love the comfortable feeling and non crowded tables.

The place, which is currently headed by Alessandro Boglione, serves one of the very best Piedmontese cuisine in the region. Like its menu, the wine list is as well interesting. It comprises mainly with the recent vintages of selection in the area and they are priced at the modest level. I would really say that this is a really fabulous restaurant in the region and would urge those who are visiting Piedmont to give it a visit. Please be ware that as of now November 2014, there is news that the restaurant and the owner of the property might not be able mutually agree of the rent terms and the restaurant might longer not existing from 2015. It would be a real shame from my view if the restaurant is forced to leave as it would not be able to afford rental cost. So check the place well before visiting to avoid disappointment.

walking path to the castle

view for the castle at night

view with vineyard by the castle

castle restaurant ambient

the wine shop in the castle

As usual amuse bouche was firstly served to greet guests and it was salted cheese with potato cream, which was delicious, for this case. Sadly, I lost the note of Ristorante al Castello (T_T)" but will try to put things from my memory. I had asked for wine by glass to go along with the meal and a glass of Langhe Nebbiolo and a glass of Barolo were recommended. Cascina Morassino Langhe Nebbiolo 2011 (89 pts) was the lighter of the two. It was elegant in style with red cherry and acidic balsamic notes. Fine and medium body but still present strong tannins. The second one was Gabutti Boasso Barolo Gabutti 2009 (91 pts). This was the one with class and power. Rose on the nose. Bigger body than the previous one. Rather ready to be accessed at youth. Oak and balance acidity with raspberry were there.

Salted Cheese with Potato Cream

Cascina Morassino Nebbiolo DOC 2011

Gabutti Boasso Barolo Gabutti DOCG 2009

For our first plates, we had Quail Two Ways: Black Truffle and Red Cabbage with Anchovies (7/10) and Sauteed Salted Codfish Cake, Soft Potato Puree, and Lavazza Coffee Powder (9/10). For the quail, I can hardly recall how it was. All I remember is it was nice but not great. The cabbage was kind of similar to sauerkraut. But the sauteed salted codfish cake ravioli thing was superb. Fabulous texture of al dente of the pasta balanced well with soft touch filling. The potato puree was as well smooth and delicious. Another dimension was from the coffee power. Really like this dish.

Quail Two Ways: Black Truffle and Red Cabbage with Anchovies (EUR14)

Sauteed Salted Codfish Cake, Soft Potato Puree, and Lavazza Coffee Powder (EUR15)

Next, it was Mezze Maniche Wheat Pasta with Mussels and Burrata Cheese (9/10). This was another wonderful pasta dish from Alessandro Boglione. The perfectly cooked mezze maniche were filled with yummy creamy burrata and flavourful fresh mussels. A touch of tomato based sauce complimented well with the dish. Pasta dishes here are really delicious. Wish I could have a chance to go back there (fingers crossed). Lastly, it was Tender Veal with Cream of Jerusalem Artichoke, Anchovies, and Black Truffle (7/10). This was a nice and classic. Really tender veal with jus and black truffles. Pairing with barolo and it was yum.

It would be really pity if Ristorante al Castello would not longer exist from 2015. This is definitely a place with nice food and at a unique location. It would be hard to find a valuable and reasonable priced restaurant with star tagged elsewhere.

Mezze Maniche Wheat Pasta with Mussels and Burrata Cheese (EUR15)

Tender Veal with Cream of Jerusalem Artichoke, Anchovies, and Black Truffle (EUR20)

Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione @ Grinzane Cavour, Cuneo, Italy
5 Via Castello
Grinzane Cavour 12060
Cuneo
Italy

Open Hours: daily except Tuesday from 07:30pm for dinner

Tel: +39 0173 262 172
Web: http://www.castellodigrinzane.it/

Revana Family Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Date of Tasting: 15 November 2014

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14.8%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: St. Helena

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR120

Web: http://www.revanawine.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 93/100
Professional Rating: WA - 88/100, WS - 97/100, ST - 92/100, CT - 93/100

Appearance: dark inky garnet but bright

Aroma: pepper and herbs, black fruits aroma, and toasty oak

Palate: Soft, supple, and elegant with integrated fine tannins in medium-full body. Sweet ripe currants and cherries. Mild herbaceous and graphite notes intermix. 

Not so much of the big and bold style of Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon but more of the elegant style. Had this along side striploin steak and it was fantastic. Nice bottle, I would say. But pricing might not be so attractive. Not really a wine to last long and perhaps at its peak at the moment. Enjoy this until the end of this decade perhaps.

Baan Ice Restaurant Thonglor @ Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารบ้านไอซ์ ทองหล่อ @ อาคารซัมเมอร์เซ็ท สุขุมวิท ทองหล่อ กรุงเทพ

Cuisine: Thai (Southern)

Map: Baan Ice Restaurant Thonglor @ Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารบ้านไอซ์ ทองหล่อ @ อาคารซัมเมอร์เซ็ท สุขุมวิท ทองหล่อ กรุงเทพ

Price: THB350 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 26 October 2014

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 4/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

As one who enjoy Southern Thai food a lot, Baan Ice Restaurant at Thonglor has long been in the list of must try destinations. Baan Ice is sure a famous restaurant and reservation is highly recommended during weekends and public holidays. When I had made a reservation, I have to admit that I was kind of excited and eager to try this place. Words have been flying around about how delicious this place is. However, I, personally, was not so impressed with dishes here. Overall, they were on average and can be enjoyable but not fabulous.

Baan Ice is located on the ground floor of Somerset Sukhumvit which is pretty close to Soi Thonglor 5. The place is rather spacious and there are 2 floors. However, I did feel somewhat uncomfortable because the way they arrange tables that are so packed and close to each other. Honestly, I try to understand the commercial side of any restaurant but they will also need to understand the little privacy point of some customers too. The most disappointing part of this place is probably service; management within the kitchen to be more precise. Ok, staffs were trying to be helpful during a busy lunch of a Sunday. However, there were a few times during our visit that our order got wrong or even forgotten. Not really sure when happened in the kitchen. It must be chaotic perhaps.

Baan Ice Restaurant Thonglor @ Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor

rather crowded but easy enough ambient

Well, most of dishes are priced moderately and the menu does come in wide range with probably most of Southern dishes that you can think of. The overall taste is very hot and spicy. I found that the spiciness is overwhelming even though I can take hot and spicy a lot.

The first range of the meal comprised of Moo Hong - หมูฮ้อง (4/10) which is steamed pork with pepper and garlic, Khua Kling with Soft Bone Pork - คั่วกลิ้งกระดูกอ่อนหมูสับ (5/10) which is stir-fried pork with turmeric and chilli, and Stir-fried Sataw and Shrimp in Shrimp Paste - ผัดสะตอกะปิกุ้ง (3/10). Moo Hong was not impressive really. Peppery note overpowered other aroma and it was too salty. Pork was not tender enough. Khua Kling was one of the dish that turned up a little wrong. Instead of minced pork, we did get soft bone pork. This dish was ok but too spicy to be delicious. Stir-fried sataw was another too salty dish and we were disappointed.

Moo Hong - หมูฮ้อง (THB160)

Khua Kling with Soft Bone Pork - คั่วกลิ้งกระดูกอ่อนหมูสับ (THB180)

Stir-fried Sataw and Shrimp in Shrimp Paste - ผัดสะตอกะปิกุ้ง (THB220)

The second in the range is deep-fried dishes. Deep-fried Pork with Salt - หมูเค็มก้นครัว (4/10), the dish they had forgotten (T_T)", is probably one of the favourite menu for many people. Not really Southern Thai dish in my opinion but always enjoyable to eat. Deep-fried pork with salt here was too hard on the texture. I presume that pieces of pork were cut to largely. The next one was Deep-fried Silver Whiting with Turmeric - ปลาทรายทอดขมิ้น (6/10). This was a more savoury dish. I always enjoy the aroma and taste of turmeric. Decent deep-fried skill to crispiness. Would not mind to order again if have a chance to revisit.

Deep-fried Pork with Salt - หมูเค็มก้นครัว (THB160)

Deep-fried Silver Whiting with Turmeric - ปลาทรายทอดขมิ้น (THB200)

Lastly, we had some curry dishes and they are sure something not to be missed when having Southern Thai food. Kanom Jeen Khun Ya - ขนมจีนคุณย่า (6/10) in which I believe it is fish based curry served with vermicelli, boiled egg, and fresh vegetable. This was a rather nice dish here. It can be very spicy but still at acceptable level (for me). Eating Kanom Jeen with fresh vegetable is such a compliment. The last of the meal was Beef Curry with Garden Chilli - แกงเนื้อพริกขี้หนูสวน (7/10). It was spicy definitely but I did enjoy it. Beef was tender. Curry was rich and flavourful. This is a dish to enjoy with nice jasmine rice. Additionally, just to mention that beef was Australian beef as emphasised in the menu, probably local beef would do similar job in my opinion. No need to put higher cost of imported beef in the menu really when there are decent local beef around.

Kanom Jeen Khun Ya - ขนมจีนคุณย่า (THB120)

Beef Curry with Garden Chilli - แกงเนื้อพริกขี้หนูสวน (THB300)

Australian beef!!!!

Baan Ice Restaurant Thonglor @ Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารบ้านไอซ์ ทองหล่อ @ อาคารซัมเมอร์เซ็ท สุขุมวิท ทองหล่อ กรุงเทพ
Floor G Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor
115 Soi Sukhumvit 55
Sukhumvit Road
Khlongtan Nuea, Wattana
Bangkok 10110

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 11:00am - 10:30pm

Tel: +66 (0) 2381 6441-2
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baan-Ice-Restaurant-Thonglor/439210452804120