Double B Chinese Restaurant

Low expectation occasions/events/places often provide the best times and this was the case when we recently dined at the intriguingly named Double B (Big Ben? Brigitte Bardot? Bobby Brown? Big Bopper?) Thai Chinese Restaurant.

First impressions were not great. Its outer Patumwan location is off the beaten track and the restaurant interior was as inviting as an over-lit 3-star hotel lobby.

Aw suan - arguably, the best cooked oyster dish in the world.

While the surroundings were underwhelming, the cuisine was top drawer and it was a near full house when we visited. The Double B chefs cook a great aw suan (oyster omelette) - the light, not too gluey, oily, or rich batter was just right to showcase the very fresh, flavoursome oysters.

Goong chae nam pla (raw prawns) - great with a few cold beers I've been told.

Next up were a couple of raw dish platters beginning with goong chae nam pla (raw prawns) served on a bed of raw cabbage and a spicy, sweet and sour'ish dipping sauce. I'm not big on prawns so couldn't comment.

Pla dib - Thai Chinese style sashimi - best enjoyed with raw vegetables and the dipping sauce.

However, I do love fish and the pla dib dish (thinly sliced sashimi style raw fish sprinkled with sesame seeds) and its sweet, nutty and sesame flavoured dipping sauce was the star plate for me. So simple, but superb especially when dipped in the sauce and eaten with shredded raw cucumber, cabbage, carrots and lettuce.

E mee - so simple, but so delicious.

Next up was e mee (fried or baked egg noodles served strips of ham and black vinegar - zisho) that was highly recommended by our friend. It lived up to the hype. The noodles were crispy and crunchy on top and soft and moist underneath.

Though we were way too full, the final order of kah bpet ob wonsen (duck feet vermicelli claypot) was on a par with the others - the vermicelli soaked up the peppery, coriander flavours and the duck meat and juices. It's not the prettiest dish in the world, and people unaccustomed to the joys of eating duck or chicken feet (bones, cartilage, gristle etc) may freak, but presentation be damned - get stuck in.

Double B was a great find, and although it's a bit off the beaten track it's worth visiting for the e mee and pla dib alone. And as most plates are priced between 200-350 baht its excellent value given the quality of ingredients and the amazing food served. As it's only up the road from our place we'll be back to try more of the Double B menu - any joiners?

Double B address 

Moneyball

Larry Blackmon look-alike, Ricardo Vaz Te's late, great strike on Saturday.

A minutes from full-time goal scored by Ricardo Vaz Te clinched promotion for my beloved West Ham United to the English Premier League (EPL) on Saturday.

Like Sergio Arguero's last minute EPL-title winning goal for Manchester City, Vaz Te's decider in the 2-1 playoff win over Blackpool may be the most important net-buster in West Ham's history.

After all, the right to sit at the top table of English club football brings its own rewards (to the value of around 90 million pounds) courtesy of generous broadcasting rights. 

That's a lot of wedge for a mid-sized club like the Hammers and will ease some of the club's major, mostly self-inflicted, financial pressures. Recruiting new talent is another priority and young Thomas Ince, who played out of his skin for Blackpool, would be a great addition if funding was available.

While I'm "over the moon, sick as a parrot" and slightly hungover, the rose-tinted sunglasses have been removed because it'll be a dog fight next season. Money, money, money, and even more money, is the name of the game in EPL land - there is no level playing field - who spends the most, ultimately wins.

For example, Arguero's strike to land Man City's first title since 1966, is tiny payback for the estimated one billion pounds invested in Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nayhan over the past three years.

Truth be told, the competition has always been dominated by big, rich clubs but the uber-commercially driven EPL has significantly widened income gaps and reduced competitiveness at the top of the table.

Today, the EPL is like a Tarantino movie - teams involved in a number of sub-plot scenarios - i.e. two elite teams contesting the title; six more chasing a spot in Europe; the majority seeking mid-table comfort and the rest trying to avoid relegation.

This provides drama and all that, but being an old bastard I'd love to see the glory spotlight shared around the teams a little more (like the old days) - but that dream is antiquated and over. Congrats to the Hammer players, especially Carlton Cole and to Big Sam - enjoy the summer and look forward to reading some outrageous transfer market gossip and rumours in the weeks to come.

Sour Times

Mavis Gray - a KFC eating, delusional, bonkers mad badass 

Young Adult (YA) is the "feel bad movie of the year" and its lead character, Mavis Gray (Charlize Theron) is as scary, nasty, terrifying and black-hearted as Hannibal Lector.

While it's not a film for everyone, I loved YA for its originality and dour, sour tone. It's compelling and funny (though the humour comes from very dark places), and will stay in your head.

On the surface, the story retreads a familiar 'big city gal returns to small town roots to reconnect and learn life lessons' theme. This does happen, but along the way, Mavis' true love quest, or journey, travels down a bumpy, rough, gravel road.

Mavis, a mildly successful ghost writer of young adult books lives a self-absorbed, semi-detached life in "Mini Apple" (Minneapolis) where her days are spent writing, looking after her dog and going on dire dates.

When her old true love, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson) invites her to a party to celebrate the birth of his new child - she accepts, though she has a hidden agenda. Her return home is motivated by a deluded desire to win Buddy back.

Full of big city swagger and attitude she wants to to relive her prom queen glory days. But everyone from her golden past has moved on, or moved out, and her only companion is Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt).

As the high school loser, he was invisible to Mavis during her teen heyday. He was also tortured by school bullies and left partially crippled after a vicious beating from them. Though it's not revealed how, it seems Mavis was partially responsible for this.

But that was then. 20 years later, Matt is now the only person Mavis can connect and confide with and together, the "damaged goods" pair uncover many uncomfortable and inconvenient truths about their respective lives.

The outcomes are raw, unflinching and brutally honest in parts and that's the film's biggest strength. It also features a brilliant opening titles sequence that will appeal to fans of the Scottish band, Teenage Fanclub and mix tape aficionados. I loved YA and hope you will to.

IDMB link

Smoothie Blues

Tuna melt & the Berry, Berry Booster smoothie

While some like to start the day with cigarettes and coffee, we prefer more substantial and tasty options. And when we are in Chiang Mai, breakfast at Smoothie Blues (SB) is a must - a tradition now - as it meets these twin needs and more.

Sublime sandwiches, waffles, muffins, french toast, breakfast burritos, fruit smoothies (of course), pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs (a super eggs benedict), muesli, porridge and more, much more, are some of the standouts of their four-page menu.

My favourite order is the grilled-to-perfection tuna melt sandwich washed down with a Berry, Berry Booster - this combo will have you more than ready to seize the week.

Eggs Benedict & salmon.

Their bagels are also among the best - a bit of crunch on the outside and chewy (in a good way) on the inside - we've ever eaten in the Kingdom.

Like an all-conquering football team, SB do the basics superbly and we've been regulars since 2006. About the only thing they could improve on is a slightly stronger black coffee.

Sitting on the corner of Soi Nimmanhaemin 6, SB is a Chiang Mai institution, especially among expats and overseas students, and besides top nosh, it's one of the best places in the city to people watch.

Dear SB owners please consider opening a branch in the capital.

Smoothie Blues FB page

Roast beef baguette with mustard and salad.