The Duke's Chiang Mai

Happiness is a long table full of Duke's dishes.

With so much sublime and affordable food in Thailand some ask why I'd ever crave middle of the road western eats such as burgers, pizza, meatballs in tomato sauce and sticky ribs.

Those asking have never dined at The Duke's - a Chiang Mai (CM) institution - that gives US-influenced food a bloody good name. A meal at the Ping River located Dukes restaurant has become a tradition when we visit CM.

What's the attraction? Hugh quality  cuisine at mid-level prices and probably the best hamburger in the Kingdom. I'm a no-frills burger guy, get the basics right - like they do at The Duke's - and the rest takes care of itself and no need for messy extras such as cheese, eggs, mushrooms, onions etc. 

The Duke's beef patty is succulent, just right in terms of seasoning, and flavoursome with a slightly smoky taste. The patties are complimented by homemade buns that are light and yeasty. Other faves include the breaded fish and string fries, chargrilled steaks, meat filled sandwiches, homemade foccacia bread, crisp thin crust pizzas and tangy, tender pork spare ribs.

If getting high on the hog is not your thing, I recommend the warm spinach salad with crispy bacon bits and a zingy balsamic dressing. 

To fully embrace The Duke's experience bring friends, quite a few, because the portions are Texas-sized and there's plenty to choose from. And though you'll be in calorie overload for the next week it would be a crime to ignore the Duke's desert counter. 

I've never come across a better apple pie in Thailand and their cheesecakes and chocolate cakes are equally attractive and delicious. 

If you can't get to CM, but live in Bangkok, good news, you can grab a Duke's burger at The Duke's Express restaurant in the Emporium mall.

Duke's Bangkok web site

Perfect harmony - Steak and mash perfection.

Nice and cheesy does it ....

Apple crumble & ice cream - big enough to bring down the Titanic.

Medici Kitchen and Bar

The united colours of Italy on a plate. 

Whatever your pre-conceived thoughts and views about Bangkok throw them out the window.

While it's not changing at the same rapido pace as major Indian and Chinese cities, Bangkok is hardly snoozing with interesting new malls, buildings and hotels opening on a regular basis.

A terrific example is the new Hotel Muse Bangkok (HMB) on Soi Langsuan. This former apartment has been nipped, tucked and facelifted into a chic, elegant central city boutique hotel. Design-wise, it tastefully blends 19th-century French architecture and style with King Rama V era furnishings and art.

I'm terrible re: interior descriptions - but this line from an article nails it pretty well.

"Think dark woods, black and silver trimmings, immense white enamel bathtubs with silver feet."

A great place for a Goodfellas-styled sit down.

As with many hotels, HMB boasts a host of eateries and bars and last week, we dined at the Medici Kitchen and Bar. A walk down the sweeping staircase takes you to a spacious and luxurious Tuscan-inspired eatery featuring brick walls, faux wine barrels, leather banquettes, two large private dining rooms and a roasting spit.

Opulent yes, but not over-the-top opulent. And just when I thought I had seen it all in Bangkok, the Medici experience was intensified with a pre-dinner opera performance from a group of young singers!

Operatic theatrics over, it was time to order and eat. The Medici menu includes a good selection of pasta, seafood, meat and tapas type dishes - not huge - but more than enough alternatives for everyone. The wine list is also generous.

Beef tenderloin with a red wine sauce.

My main was excellent - seared tuna served with a tomato salsa, rocket lettuce and a zesty dressing. My buddy's seafood kebab was impressive as was the beef tenderloin with red wine sauce wolfed down by my wife and daughter. We also enjoyed a steamed mussel and seafood platter starter.

The show-stopper however, was Medici's signature truffle ravioli that tasted as good as it looked.

All up, a memorable, if a slightly pricy (for BKK but v reasonable anywhere else in the world) dining experience and perfect for a special treat.

A word of warning - if you are allergic to Bangkok's 'hi-so' crowd, you may want to find another place.

The Medici signature dish - the truffle ravioli. It tasted as good as it looked.

KK

I'd just about given up hope of finding a half-decent South East Asian eatery in Auckland.

Thanks and praise then to the chefs and owners of KK restaurant in Epsom for preparing and serving delicious, affordable and 'real thing' Malaysian cuisine.

Like many of the best dining places in Asia, KK is an unpretentious gem where substance (well cooked and flavoured food) is more important than style (flashy decore, waiters with attitude and Buddha Bar soundtracks).

And as it's well established, KK has built a loyal customer base and is always full, or close to.

Tofu genius - crispy on the outside, like custard on the inside.

As the menu is sizeable, food selection was left to our Malaysian food expert who ordered a spicy stir fried eggplant dish, deep fried tofu drizzled with crunchy peanuts, a sweet chilli sauce and sliced cucumbers, chicken curry (the house speciality and worthy of its status) and mummy's ribs - spare ribs grilled with a sweet, sticky sauce and covered with sesame seeds.

Every plate was a tasty winner - why? Unlike many Asian eateries in Auckland, the KK food was well seasoned (not too sweet or salty) and bang on in terms of "true-to-Malaysia" flavours.

In addition to the top-notch cuisines, the night was extra enjoyable thanks to the company of old friends - we swapped work war stories including epic typos encountered in our respective careers such as eight cups of sugar cake recipes.

No ingredient fails at KK and for an intermittent spice junkie like me - it's one of the best places in Auckland for a decent hit of sambal and chilli padis.

KK address and contact information

Triplets Brasserie

TB's charming courtyard - more great photos from their FB page

Triplets Brasserie (TB) is chic and elegant like Audrey Hepburn, and likely to become as iconic (local dining-wise) as the Hollywood legend.

Recently relocated from its former address in Thonglor, TB version 2 is right at home at its new central, and salubrious Luang Sang neighbourhood in the Luxx Hotel compound.

When we stepped into the stylishly lit TB courtyard we were immediately charmed and enchanted.

Cuisine wise, TB's extensive and well-thought out menu is equally attractive and appealing. Grouped under six categories - Verrine, Brochette, Small Plate, Salad Bowl, Pasta Bowl and Dinner Plate - it offers a great opportunity to share dishes tapas or dim sum style.

As we were in celebration mode, we ordered a host of different things including crab schnitzel balls, seared tuna salad, calamari, steak lollipops, crab pasta and a baked scallop and cheese dish.

The crab schnitzel, with a thick and crunchy breadcrumbed casing, was crammed full of fresh crab meat. Another hit was the seared tuna served with strawberries, a pink peppercorn dressing and leaves - an unlikely looking combination on the plate - but simply sensational when devoured. And the beef tenderloin lollipops were tender, juicy, full of flavour and one of the best beef dishes that we've ever eaten in Bangkok.

As with all good eateries, the ingredients, sauces and side dishes are super fresh and locally sourced, or made, including a selection of cheeses and sausages.

I'm not sure what the Triplets in the restaurant name refers to, but we gave TB a triple A rating - it's a rank that even Standard and Poors would find hard to dispute.

The volcanic chocolate molten cake. 

Seared tuna with a pink peppercorn sauce and sliced strawberries.

TB website

BK Post review

Salt

Another great reason to visit Ari - cheers to this site for this photo.

I'd been eager to dine at this new'ish Ari joint for ages and thank buddha it lived up to expectations (this rarely happens).

In many ways, it's a slightly trendier cousin of Pl Dib, which is just around the corner on Ari Samphan. For example, the Salt menu is chock full of Japanese and other Asian influenced dishes and flavours and sports the same industrial-minimalist interior look - there's even a 'towering inferno' wood fired pizza oven near the kitchen.

Whether you are enjoying the "alfresco aspect" in the cool backyard, lounging in the daybed section or sitting in the glasshouse front dining area, Salt offers a fun, funky and chic eating experience. My nephew, sister-in-law and me especially enjoyed looking out the big windows to get an up close view of Ari street life.

Our attention was quickly diverted when the first of our many orders arrived. Every dish was well cooked and presented and received a thumbs up from the junior and senior members at our table. My bro-in-law described the moist, beautifully cooked snow fish as 'joy on a plate.'

Other top picks? A fresh and zesty salmon carpaccio; a hearty beef shank platter served with cute spice cubes (like Oxo stock cubes but red and spicy); delicious tuna and fried salmon skin sushi and a juicy, cheesy margherita pizza that my bro-in-law declared to be as good as anything encountered during his many years of eating in New York.

Only an overcooked duck confit failed to impress - but one disappointment out of eight ain't bad. Given the other interesting and mouthwatering options available including beef ragu ravioli, frogs legs and a spicy lamb dish we'll most definitely be back.

Finally, a word on the atmosphere. We loved Salt's inclusive vibe - while it's one of the most fashionable new entries on the BKK dining landscape right now it's a place where everyone can enjoy.

BK magazine's review
Salt's Facebook page

Before..

And after 10 minutes in the wood fired oven

The flavoursome tuna and fried salmon skin sushi roll that offered a nice crunch factor

The Thai-styled beef shank and its spice cube condiment

The snow fish described by my bro-in-law as 'joy on a plate.'

Baan Maii Chaii Klong

Great eats, superb location.

Inspired by the TV series, "The Trip" my good friend, Awi and I, recently ventured to the edge of Nonthaburi to dine at one of his favourite home district restaurants.

When Awi said the eatery was out of the way, and hard to find, he wasn't kidding. We finally got to Baan Maii Chaii Klong (BCMK) after a 20 minute drive that took us down small side streets and through quiet, leafy neighbourhoods.

Though we were only 35-40 minutes from the centre of Bangkok, this old klong-side family restaurant offers a feel, or a glimpse of life in the capital before skyscrapers, sky trains, expressways, mega malls, whitening creams, soap operas, condos and subways.

Sitting under a big shady sala, surrounded by old trees and huge plants, and nursing an ice cold lime soda, it was a happy Monday. In addition, my accompanying junior food critic daughter enjoyed the river vista watching fish, bathing dogs, boat vendors, a visiting stork and three fat cats.

This was sloooow dining at its best and a perfect counter to the searing midday heat. And the food itself? We kept it pretty simple - prawn cakes, vegetable stir fry, moo dad jiew (pork jerky) and a fire-starting yum tua phu (wing bean salad) - and it was all good, very good.

The selection is massive so we'll have to come back with more people to fully sample their extensive menu. Given its special and serene location, it's a happening spot in the weekend so a booking is a must to enjoy this true 'hidden gem' of a restaurant.

Baan Maii Chaii Klong Facebook page

Besides good food, enjoy a quieter, gentler and more laid back Bangkok.

Rustic, simple and tasty dishes. The rice includes cubes of taro as well as corn.

Raan Ahan Thai Gold Bay Leaves

The amazing Chef Chai who with one wok, a BBQ grill and small baking/roasting
oven, weaved culinary magic. He makes Top Chef contenders look like pretenders. 

NB - Since I blogged in July 2011 - Chef Chai has moved to bigger premises and renamed the restaurant Gold Bay Leaves - though it's a few more train spots down the Sukhumvit line the food remains awesome.

After months of my pal Adam talking up the pla chu chi (fried fish in a curry sauce) at one of his favourite Pra Khanong neighbourhood eateries, I was honoured and delighted when he finally invited me and other chums to dine at this fabled restaurant.

Did Krua Suan Pak (fresh vegetable kitchen) live up to the hype? Most definitely. Though modest in appearance - think a family dining room complete with a big screen TV and karaoke system - the food served at Krua Suan Pak is five-star delicious. And price wise, Krua Suan Pak is easy - real easy - on the pocket.

The pla chu chi was flavoursome, coconut creamy, sweet and packed a slow burn spice punch. I also enjoyed a fiery eggplant, tomato and onion stir fry, while the black mushrooms in a bok choy main were super fresh and great tasting. My salmon larb order didn't hit the same high notes, only because the salmon was not as fresh as the chu chi snapper.

Like many Thai restaurants, the menu is extensive, chock full of Thai food staples as well as western styled steak and pork dishes and even pasta. My friend's prawn pesto pasta was as good as you'd get in a more pricy joint in mid-Sukhumvit.

Besides the food, make an effort to visit this cool neighbourhood and enjoy its community vibe - it reminded me of Bangkok when I first arrived in 1998. Enough words, here are some terrific photos provided our buddy, Mulyadi, a multi-media genius and incredible photographer.

Pla chu chi - before

10 minutes later...

Super fresh bok choy and black mushrooms

Larb salmon

Steamed rice served with a banana leaf cone to keep the rice warm. 

Luv A Duck

The star of the show. More fantastic photos here.

Best Peking duck in Bangkok? In our opinion, head straight to Great Shanghai for a magnificent Peking duck dining experience. 

It's our 'go-to' eatery for family get-togethers and celebrations and Great Shanghai rarely disappoints - my wife and her family have been regulars for 30+ years.

The main drawcard is the roasted to perfection Peking duck and its aromatic, golden brown, crispy skin.

Put a slice of duck skin in a light, but slightly chewy pancake, combine with spring onion, cucumber and hoi sin sauce and bite - taste buds will rejoice and knees are likely to buckle. 

Prawn toast - a favoured starter.

In addition to the skin, the duck meat is minced and stir fried with diced green beans and served in a lettuce cup. The bones are also used in a peppery, sour soup with bitter melon and pickled vegetables. 

To complete the gourmet experience, our other 'standard issue' orders include super high heat stir fried prawns, Szechuan glass noodles, prawn toast, steamed chicken, sweet and sour fish (one of the best in the city), and stir fried beef.

Given its prime Sukhumvit location, near the corner of Soi 24, Great Shanghai is busy most nights attracting many regulars like us, Japanese families in the neighbourhood and tourists.

Like Silom Patakan, Great Shanghai is a Bangkok dining institution and little has changed in terms of decor and food over the years. It's highly recommended if you are a fan of simple, but superbly cooked chinese cuisine - food and dishes that won't give you an MSG hangover the day after.  

Address and map details

Red Pinn

Baked green lipped mussels

Like Royal India - one of my favourite Indian eateries in Bangkok - Red Pinn is hard to find, but richly rewards those who make the effort to visit and dine.

Don't be deceived by its low-key East European tavern styled decor, if well-cooked, presented, seasoned and delicious 'inter' (international) cuisine is your thing, Red Pinn is the real deal. If there is a better value for money restaurant of this kind in the capital, please let me know where it is.

Last night, my extended family and I, devoured the following - chicken stroganoff pasta, cheese sticks, pumpkin and camembert salad, sweet potato crisps, latvian dumplings, baked mussels topped with a tomato salsa, bangers and mash, tuna bruschetta, quesadillas, scotch eggs, icecream, four beers, three lime sodas and two bottles of water.

Total bill = 2,100 baht (US$ 68). We're still digesting the magnificent food.

Lamb shank redemption.

There are many, many more dishes on the menu and we can't wait to go back to sample the others. The 'Full Monty' breakfast looks awesome and a possible challenge for super eater, Adam Richman from the Man v Food TV show.

Big thanks to another Adam (our Bangkok based pal - holla Adam ha ha) for this recommendation.

And more thanks for the great service provided by the Red Pinn owners and wait staff who were very hospitable hosts.

Red Pinn web site

Silom Patakan

The Silom Patakan pork chop. 

After a recent mid-morning climb up to the Golden Mount at Wat Saket, we decided to refuel at the famous Silom Patakan (SP) restaurant on Silom Soi 15.

Opened in 1945 SP is one of Bangkok's first "east meets west," or fusion-styled eateries, and a favourite for my wife and her family. So it was great to introduce their delicious offerings, that have stood the test of time, to our daughter last week.

Everyone orders the succulent bread crumbed pork chop dish - it should be declared a national treasure.

The sweet and spicy chicken curry.

Other popular orders include steak salad made memorable by its tangy vinaigrette, a sweet and spicy chicken curry and - in my opinion - the best khao pad boo (crab fried rice) in town. The Silom version is light, moist, flavoursome and not at all oily - the decades old wok hei continues to work its magic.

If these dishes don't take your fancy there's plenty to choose from including thai, thai-lish and thai-chinese combinations aplenty. Their aromatic, super soft, white bread is another major attraction and many diners leave with a loaf or two as well as a few jars of their sweet and sinful Kaya (a bright green pandan) spread.

Old school dining.

Besides the awesome food come to enjoy Silom's old-style design and atmosphere (marble tables, spacious canteen styled dining area, high ceilings, overhead fans, wooden chairs, Worcestershire Sauce bottles on the tables, granite and cast iron decor) that's becoming harder to find in the capital. If you want to keep it really old school, they even have an abacus on hand to total up your bill.

Click here for more great photos

Address: 793 Silom Soi 15 (one soi up from the Hindu temple), Silom Road, Bangrak
Phone: 02 236 4442

Bunfight At The Chockchai Corral!

Chockchai beef burger with everything.

A road trip to Khao Yai is not complete without a stop at the Farm Chockchai theme park (look out for the Big Cow) to devour a delicious burger or two at their famous burger stand.

Sure, it's a bit corny with employees dressed in cowboy and cowgirl outfits but who cares when the burgers are this good. The super fresh Chockchai meat patties are cooked to perfection - for my taste buds anyway - and are high quality, juicy, tender and slightly smokey.

Served in a wheat bun filled with tomatoes, lettuce and the Chockchai special sauce, it's an unbeatable combination. When the ingredients are this good, it's best to keep the order simple and for me, a pork or beef burger, served with an extra order of onions is hard to beat.

They also serve a pricy wagyu beef offering to satisfy high-end burger junkies. But pound for pound, the Chockchai beef or pork burger is one of the best value-for-money meat and bun offerings in the 150-200 baht price range.

Pork Burger with onions.

And good news for Bangkokians - there is now a Chockchai Burger stand in the Paragon Mall. It's located in the supermarket in the mall basement.

Also an honourable mention for the Dukes burger which gets a two-thumbs up rating from my pal Awi, who is a burger connoisseur.

And a dishonourable mention for the fish sandwich served at the Black Swan Pub. This 'back to basics' creation features a fried fish fillet in a fried bread roll with french fries - nothing else. Even mid-70s Elvis would have sent this heart stopper back to the kitchen.

For more information about other non Mickey D burger shops visit Bangkok Burger Blog - the author has really done the hard yards to find the best burger eats and treats in Bangkok.

The Smoke House

The Smoke House (SH)..... sounds like Snoop Dogg's dream hacienda.

The wine shop and dining area.

But if you're looking for THC-flavoured thrills, you're in the wrong place. Sausages and assorted meats - not ganja or skunk - are the only things smoked here.

Mind you, whoever proposed a Bavarian Castle inspired restaurant/deli/wine shop/bar/concert venue in the middle of the Khao Yai countryside was probably under the influence of a herbalicious substance or two.

Despite being at odds with the lush green surroundings, SH is magnificent and impressive and sure to attract thousands of visitors in the months ahead.

Porker's delight.

For the food? For the wine? For the sausages and smoked meats? Possibly. The wine and beer list is decent as is the food, especially the spicy pork neck salad and the famous SH sausages.

In my opinion however, the major plus points are the SH buildings (including a tower that houses a wine and beer bar) and its surrounding landscape. Both offer many super, picturesque backdrop options for photo-snapping family groups, university students and love birds.

Khun Somchai and Khun Fon no longer need to fly to Europe for their gothic castle snaps - they can now make an easy 220 kilometre drive from Bangkok!

SH is another new attraction in the Khao Yai district, which has changed dramatically since we visited two years ago. Here's hoping that development doesn't go into overdrive - Thailand's version of Napa Valley deserves better.

More information:

The Smoke House web site
Check out this amazing hotel in the area
Granmonte Vineyard

Pedalicious - Dee-Lovely and Delicious

Our quest to find quirky and original restaurants in BK's quieter streets led us to Pedalicious - a cycling/bike shop themed cafe in Ekamai Soi 12.

There is so much to like about Pedalicious - super friendly staff who treat you like friends and a cool, creative interior that features industrial styled furniture and a long table with a bike parked on top (yeah you read right). It's all about effortless cool and Pedalicious wouldn't be out of place in Harajuku or Nakameguro.

On Yer Bike

And the grub? It was perfect for our family group ranging in age from 4 to 70+. My niece and I fought over the mashed potato which was the best I've ever eaten in Bangkok. This wasn't the usual bland, flavourless mush served at other establishments - their mash was creamy, buttery and well seasoned.

Other highlights included the smokey BBQ'ed corn on the cob and chicken wings with BBQ sauce and caramalised onions. We also liked the spaghetti and its robust meat sauce and a vegetarian fried rice served with apples and raw vegetables.

We'll be back and thanks again to the terrific staff for their kindness and hospitality .. and for putting up with the three wee monkeys at our table.

Pedalicious FB
Pedalicious review CNNGO

Translation - drinking is not a healthy hobby, but if you must, be a generous drinker
and ensure everyone is taken care of. 

Teacup and Chopsticks

You get the best of all worlds at Teacup and Chopsticks (T&C) - east and west, modern and traditional, town and country, and sweet, sour, savoury and spicy flavours. Set in a garden compound, T&C offers something fresh, new and unique to the Bangkok dining scene - a delicious noodle shop on one side and a stylish cafe next door.

Given its quiet street location in the outer suburbs, you can sit outside to slurp and savour a good selection of noodle dishes. You may hear the odd crowing rooster and be joined by a wandering dog or goose. After a night on the tiles, it's quite therapeutic for both mind and body.

As with all great noodle shops, everything centres on the broth and T&Cs' is the business - fragrant, herby, well seasoned and well balanced. In addition, their secret recipe nam som prik tam condiment is incredible and a bit of fire starter.

To counter the heat and spice, check out the T&C deserts and cakes next door. They look great, and taste even better. White chocolate cheesecake, mango cheese pie, cheese pie icecream cake, cupcakes,  banana yoghurt cake, tiramisu, Oreo cheesecake, waffles and strawberries and cream... postpone the annual medical for another month.

But don't delay a visit - I'll let the photos do the convincing.

Teacup & Chopsticks 

Soi Ladprao-Wanghin 48, Ladprao-Wanghin Road, Ladprao, Bangkok

Tel: 080-57-67008

Map

White chocolate cheesecake

Ice cream pie

Tiramisu

Beef brisket and beef ball noodles

Happiness is a warm bowl of flavoursome noodles.

Tender beef noodles sans the fire starting nam som prik tam 

Take a load off...

... and make yourself at home