Baan Ice Southern Cuisine

For more than 20 years, ‘Baan Ice’ has been one of the most famous Southern Thai food restaurant in Bangkok. Main branch locates at a little bit outskirt side of Bangkok in Jatujak ward. I couldn't be happier when I heard that their second brunch has newly opened at Thonglor, replacing The Orient Thai Restaurant inside Somerset Thonglor.

I found the menu was filled with Southern Thai food and homey treats made by their original recipes. Southern Thai Food is famous for its spiciness. We decided to ordered non spicy food to sooth out taste bud also.

First dish landed on our table, Lieng leaves stir fried with eggs. This is one of traditional food from southern. Taste mild and easy to eat.

This is one of their original dish. Salted Crispy Chicken. Chicken were deep fried to the light crispiness. Coated with salted and sweet sauce. This sure bring out our appetite.

Another homey treat from their kitchen, Pork with Shrimp paste. Shredded pork was seasoned with Shrimp paste and cane sugar before being stir-fried thoroughly to the tenderness.

Crispy Pork Belly with Chilies and Ginger sauce. Pork belly was boiled then deep fried to crispiness. These Crispy Pork Belly absorb the chilies and ginger sauce very well.

Here comes another traditional southern food, Fish inner organs curry. This was thick and concentrated. Rather like a stew than a curry. Very full flavor and goes well with rice.

Assorted vegetable in coconut soup. This was mild and rather sweet. Vegetables were soft and absorb the taste of coconut soup thoroughly.

This is one of their signature southern dish, Kua Kling Australian Beef. Kua Kling is a kind dried curry made from minced pork stir fried with spice. Baan Ice made the premium version of this food using AUS beef. The outcome was lip smacking. Literally the star of our meal.

The last savory of our meal, Stir fried Pakria with vermicelli. The overall taste was mild, with a hint of preserved garlic as after taste.

This is their signature dessert. It’s Shaved Ice cream. I just love this unique texture, a combination of shaved ice and ice cream. A refreshing dessert to clear our taste bud after the meal. 

 It was a nice dining experience at Baan Ice. Atmosphere was good. Service was attentive. As it locates inside Somerset Thonglor, Car parking couldn't be more convenience. 


Baan Ice @Somerset Thonglor 
11:00 - 22:30
02-381-6441-2

115 Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor), 
Sukhumvit Road, Klongton Nua, 
Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand

Taste @The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

Let’s face it, not every weekend you would find bar hopping is the best activity for your Friday night. There are nights you prefer satisfying dinner in relaxing restaurant. And when it comes to this time around, the end of the year, Our weekend are blessed with many dining promotions launched by gourmet oriented hotels all over Bangkok. 

Among those, I must say The Westin Grande Sukhumvit is offering a very attractive weekend dining experience on their International Buffet Restaurant, ‘Taste’.

On Friday and Saturday night, the price of international buffet is pinned down at regular price of 1,990B. The good news is it’s on 50% discount until 29 December 2012. (Reservation needed)

The highlight of the meal was premium ingredient freshly cook from grill bar. With mouth-watering treats like Australian Beef, Lamb, Rock lobster, foie gras and Snow fish   

Our meal began with classy seafood on Ice. Alaska King Crab, Shrimp, Rock Lobster and Oyster.

Charcuteries were in good quality. Also came with significant variety of cheese and cold cut. 

It left me a big impression that Sun Dried Tomato (my favourite) was at Salad Bar as well. I had plenty of these.

Roll Sushi  and Sashimi were freshly prepared by the chef at Sushi Counter.

Here come our first dish from Grill bar, Rock-lobster. The flesh was juicy. And the heads were packed with roe.

Another highlight was sauteed foie gras. Rich and creamy. The portion was generous.

My all time favorite meat treat, Lamb. This was thoroughly marinated and well seasoned. Even those who don’t enjoy lamb because of the smell would find this enjoyable.

And here come the star of Grill Bar. That makes it the star of our meal also. Snow fish. These were packed with juice and full flavor. The flesh was so tender that it could melt in your mouth. One of the best Snow fish in any buffet I ever encounter. I enjoyed it a lot. Can’t remember how many dishes of these I had all entire meal.

I was almost too full for dessert. But I couldn’t stop myself from over eating as the ice-cream is from Movenpick. Which can be another highlight of the meal.

Vanilla, Chocolate, Mocca Chocolate-chip, Tiramisu, Caramel, Raspberry, Rum Raisin and Passion fruit   8 Flavors of them. This ice cream booth alone almost worth the promotion price already.

As a plus, waffle to go with ice cream is freshly made. The waffle was very rich in flavor but light and crispy in texture.

Syrups and toppings for your ice cream. Among these, I found an interesting syrup. It was ‘Macaron’ flavor. (I tried a bit. It tastes like sweet almond)

I had 4 scoops of Movenpick ice cream. A very enjoyable after meal dessert indeed. I wish I could have more of these, but I was too full already. Blame their sublime grill bar for this. 

Dessert in buffet line overall wasn't too sweet. This is well considerate setting. As Movenpick Ice cream itself is a bit too sweet already.

I had a plate of self-arranged plate dessert. I found their Creme Brulee was very delectable. Also Chocolate were in very good quality. The chocolate from fountain was bitter dark and it suits my liking perfectly.

Overall, it was an enjoyable meal for Friday night. A very nice way to begin a sublime weekend. (Except the calories I will have to later burn out. As 1 scoop of Movenpick Ice cream gives 150kilo cals.) I must say the price after discount is very good offer. And as this promotion goes on until the end of the year, the place will be packed. Reservation should be made in advance.  


    
Taste
THE WESTIN GRANDE SUKHUMVIT, BANGKOK
6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
02-207-8000 
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/

Fin with Passion for Chocolate Pleasure @Wyne by Sansiri

A Halloween night party couldn't be any more fancy when it comes to a chocolate party, especially when the party is a private poolside one. The location was ‘Wyne by Sansiri’, a condominium by Sasiri under the concept ‘Live with Passion’.

The night started with catering from one of the most famous and refined catering vendor in town, White Cafe. The food was designed for Chocolate Party. Chocolate are implemented to all dishes.

The first starter, Chocolate Macaroon with Foie-gras Mousse. Creamy Foie-gras Mousse and chewy macaron shell were a delectable combination.

Next one was Coco Chili Roast Chicken canapes. Chicken was nicely grill and full flavor.

This one was my favorite  Coco Beef and Beetroot Jam. Beef was tender and has small tint of cocoa, goes well with mild sweet Beetroot Jam.

Plate dessert was consist of Dates with Cream Cheese and Chocolate / Chocolate Cup with Mascarpone and Mulberry / Pavlova with Chocolate Sauce. Puffy Pavlova was light and enjoyable while Chocolate Cup was rich with Mascarpone.

 Last but not least for our Chocolate themed food.  Chocolate Cupcakes from  Radi cafe. The appearance itself can make the party be a merry one already.

A Chocolate Party wouldn't be completed without the most popular Chocolate Ice cream of the year, Magnum.

And there comes the main event of the party, sample decorated room under chocolate theme. Magnum His Suite in Dark Chocolate Theme and Magnum Her Suite in White Chocolate Theme. The model for this concept was famous actor and  actress K.Koi Ratchwin for Magnum Her Suite. And K.Yuke Songpaisarn for Magnum His Suite.

Magnum His Suite in Dark Chocolate Theme tell the story of self esteemed and sociable male. Dark brown color stand for a charming ‘dark tall stranger’ anyone would fell for.

The White Chocolate themed room represent ‘Stylish female’. Covered under white tone furnish, the room was filled with refined atmosphere.

It was one of the most enjoyable Halloween party ever in stylish and unique condominium  Another great even by SANSIRI and Magnum indeed.

Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort and Spa, Manohra Cruise

A great escape doesn't always call for a long drive or a few hours on vehicle. I had a ‘something different’ vacation at the outskirt of Bangkok at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort and Spa. By the time I got myself back to town, my battery was fully charged up. 

The resort locate on the riverside of Chaopraya River, the calm and peaceful side of the city. I couldn't believe I was only 30mins away from town.

The room was decorated in simple modern style, infused with Thai essence. Calm and warm with earth tone furnishing. Identifying the heritage of Thailand with crave work and painting.

The view of the Chaopraya river from our room was spectacular.

Facilities were full-equipped. Let alone above standard LCD TV or fridge, there was even a iPhone/iPod station in the room. It sure gives the ‘at home’ feeling once you play the music from your device in the room.

  

It was an hour before noon when we got there. All other guests were enjoying one of the most popular activity inside the resort, swimming.

There was a show on poolside. It was the Ice craving on the day of our visit.

The hand-craftsman managed to bring out this little cute deer out of the ice cube.

What would we do if we don’t want to dine at the hotel yet we feel too lazy to go out? The perfect solution was this Manohra Cruises.

We had ourselves a full course of 9 dishes arranged in Thai, Gold Course. The menu was created by the famous Iron Chef from Iron Chef Thailand, Chef Chompol Jengprai.

The furnish on the cruise was based on wooden tone. Relaxing and comforting.

The meal began with herbal drink. It was Rosella juice on the day we went to.

The first starter was in Meing (Assorted herb, Roasted coconut, nut, dried shirmp with syrup wrapped in Betel Leaf). The presentation itself was a merry one. As if a toy.

  

Another 3 Starters came in one wooden tray. Freid fish cake, Shrimp Wanton, Spicy Pomelo Salad and Grilled Chicken with Lemon Glass.

One of the main dish was Massaman curry. This was one of the most concentrated Massaman I ever encounter. It has strong flavor of spice and sweetness from onion. The chicken was tender and fell off the bone.

Stir-fried Scallop in Red curry sauce. The scallop was HUGE and perfectly plump. The Red Curry sauce was rather mind to bring out the sweetness from the scallop. Allowing the true flavor of ingredient shine through.

This looks like a dish from Chinese Cuisine. Stir fried asparagus with Shiitake Mushroom in oyster sauce. The veggie was crisp and nice.

Steamed Roll fish in curry sauce. The flesh was tender and goes well with the sauce.

  

All entire meal, we encounter many spectacular places along side of the river. This is the Emerald Temple.

And this is one of my favorite spot on riverside. Thammasat University, The university I went to when I was a college kid.

And there we are back to our nest. A great meal followed by a comforting room to rest. A luxury night indeed.

Overall my short escape at Bangkok outskirt was a sublime one indeed. This surely is another best way to spend a nice weekend in Bangkok. 

Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort and Spa

Bangkok Riverside, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 2476 0022