Words VEERAWAN THIEANWATTANANON Photographs JARAN LAKKANAWAT
Homemade Italian food just like mamma used to make – in the heart of Hua Hin.
Homemade Italian food just like mamma used to make – in the heart of Hua Hin.
THAT the best food is cooked with love may be a cliché, and a philosophy that’s wielded with reckless abandon by chefs who don’t know their onions from their elbows, visit this delightful beachside restaurant in the heart of Hua Hin and you’ll discover that, alongside hearty cuisine cooked with premium produce, the biggest ingredient to Mamma Mia’s success actually is passion. |
Established in 1996, the restaurant is the brainchild of Italian expat Claudio Ceriani, a gregarious entrepreneur who since arriving in Thailand 28 years ago has also operated restaurants in Pattaya and Cha-Am, and who, throughout all his culinary adventures, has always adhered to two guiding philosophies – to offer the best representation of northern Italian cuisine that he can, and to treat his guests as though they are visiting his home.
“At Mamma Mia we offer traditional mamma-style cooking,” he says. “We may not be professional cooks with backgrounds in five star hotels, but we are passionate about creating delicious homemade food using family recipes – and we pride ourselves on great presentation, too.”
“At Mamma Mia we offer traditional mamma-style cooking,” he says. “We may not be professional cooks with backgrounds in five star hotels, but we are passionate about creating delicious homemade food using family recipes – and we pride ourselves on great presentation, too.”
Bread and pasta are all made fresh daily, ingredients are sourced from local markets as well as the nation’s foremost importers, and Claudio has carefully constructed his menu to offer a decent selection of appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, risotto, wood fired pizzas, fish and meat dishes without going overboard. Quality over quantity is the mantra here.
Highlights for starters include the Snails a’ la’ Bourgogne (B360), cooked in garlic butter for a wonderfully rich taste; Fresh crab meat, fresh avocado and diced tomato in vinaigrette dressing (B330); and Light fried shrimps, prawns, calamari rings and tentacles served with tartare sauce and mixed green salad (B490) – just perfect for sharing.
For mains, don’t miss the Grilled lamb loin in black truffle sauce with diced roast potato, sage and rosemary (B690). Also worth a try is the Slices of slow-cooked pork loin covered with a mayonnaise, tuna and anchovies fillet sauce (B310), a melt-in-your-mouth treat that combines flavours of the land and sea to delicious effect. The steaks – premium Australian beef – are top notch too.Mama Mia’s menu is rounded out with a small selection of desserts (try the Tiramisu. B260), delicious ice creams, and a good choice of Italian wines (start at B200 by the glass), Italian craft beers, spirits, and grappa.
Opt to enjoy your meal in the restaurant’s air-conditioned dining room, or out on the second-floor terrace with splendid views of the sea. Mamma Mia! It’s good.
8/4 Naresdamri Rd. Hua Hin. Open daily 11.30am-2pm; and 5.30pm-10pm. Parking available.
Tel: 1032 512 250 email: [email protected]
Highlights for starters include the Snails a’ la’ Bourgogne (B360), cooked in garlic butter for a wonderfully rich taste; Fresh crab meat, fresh avocado and diced tomato in vinaigrette dressing (B330); and Light fried shrimps, prawns, calamari rings and tentacles served with tartare sauce and mixed green salad (B490) – just perfect for sharing.
For mains, don’t miss the Grilled lamb loin in black truffle sauce with diced roast potato, sage and rosemary (B690). Also worth a try is the Slices of slow-cooked pork loin covered with a mayonnaise, tuna and anchovies fillet sauce (B310), a melt-in-your-mouth treat that combines flavours of the land and sea to delicious effect. The steaks – premium Australian beef – are top notch too.Mama Mia’s menu is rounded out with a small selection of desserts (try the Tiramisu. B260), delicious ice creams, and a good choice of Italian wines (start at B200 by the glass), Italian craft beers, spirits, and grappa.
Opt to enjoy your meal in the restaurant’s air-conditioned dining room, or out on the second-floor terrace with splendid views of the sea. Mamma Mia! It’s good.
8/4 Naresdamri Rd. Hua Hin. Open daily 11.30am-2pm; and 5.30pm-10pm. Parking available.
Tel: 1032 512 250 email: [email protected]