The BigChilli
  • Home
  • News
  • Promotions
  • Features
  • Social Events
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • The team
    • Pricavy Policy
  • Contact us
  • Blog

Back to Chesa – and happy to be home!

10/8/2020

Comments

 
Picture
After three months of abstinence we resumed B&B lunches of course at Chesa, home for the Club, and it turned out to be a great homecoming. 

Though numbers were restricted to acknowledge that social distancing is still in force, 16 gourmands assembled to dine and wine in style.  


Our aperitif, Alma Cuvée Franciacorta Brut Bellavista NV (Brecia, Italy), is set to become a Club favourite; one-third the cost of a Champagne, it is a delicious, predominantly Chardonnay sparkler with an elegant, lush mouth feel and earned compliments from Danny Arn, wine spokesman and white wine aficiando.   

Dining commenced with an amuse bouche, an Irish oyster enhanced with Whitcraft-style relish, presented on a golden mat.

It was followed by a colourful and tasty dish, White Shrimp Bolognaise topped with Slow Cooked Pork Belly and Grilled Pacific Scallop, found by food spokesman John MacTaggart to be excellent, with the pork having been slow cooked for 18 hours.  

With this came Neudorf Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (Nelson, NZ), a very typical NZ SB, and said by a Vivino critic to be “very crisp and clean. Apples and lime come through on the [sic] pallets”.  Our bottles arrived in a carton and were enjoyed especially by Danny.

Read More
Comments

Attico – perfect choice for authentic Tuscan cuisine

24/12/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Beautiful Italian restaurant at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok
There’s no shortage of Italian restaurants in Bangkok, so the challenge for food lovers is to pinpoint one with all the right credentials –convenient location, great décor and agreeable ambiance, friendly and efficient service, and a chef from Italy who really understands his art and knows how to please his guests with outstanding cuisine.
 
Frankly, Attico at Radisson Blu Plaza is a great choice. It ticks all the boxes. Well located on the 28th floor of this five-star Sukhumvit hotel, a short walk from the Asoke BTS station, award-winning Attico is the only rooftop Italian restaurant in Bangkok.
 
Views of the city from the elegant main dining room and two alfresco lounge terraces are spectacular.
 
Designed in the style of a Tuscan villa, the restaurant makes the most of high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling picture windows with warm dark woods, exposed brickwork and decorative wine barrels.
 
Front and centre is a semi-open kitchen and butcher counter with a display of Italian charcuterie, giving the place with an inviting and relaxed mood. The wood furniture and a semi-private room for family style dining add a feeling of comfort while the floor to ceiling windows frame the dramatic city skyline.
Picture
Picture
Overseeing the authentic Tuscan kitchen is Chef Danilo Aiassa from Piedmont in Italy, one of Bangkok’s most experienced chefs, having worked for the Four Seasons and the Mandarin Oriental, among other famous hotels. He’s always available to explain his amazing daily specials and recommend dishes from Attico’s extensive menu.
 
Attico’s cuisine is described as ‘traditional taste, with modern techniques’ focusing on high quality imported and locally sourced ingredients. Popular favourites include the homemade pasta and gnocchi, traditional Italian soups, glorious salads, cold cuts with cheese, premium antipasti and Attico’s heavenly home-baked breads. The menu features a number of highly recommended ‘signature dishes’ for each category. The signature pasta, for example, is the delicious Homemade Tagliatelle with Imported Boston Lobster, while the recommended mains include Traditional Italian grill 1.5 kg T-Bone Fassona, Whole Italian Sea Bass, and the Classic Grill Pork Ribs Rosticciata.

Read More
Comments

Andiamo! Let’s go to Rossano’s

27/8/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Rossano’s is an established name in the Italian food scene in Bangkok. The super friendly Executive Chef Matteo Verini leads the kitchen team here - dishing out specials and Italian classics in a spacious house in downtown Sukhumvit.
 
The interior touches in Rossano’s reminded us of a typical country house in Tuscany, Italy - pastoral and cozy. Grappa bottles line the wall niches and Rossano’s signature pig mascots give a warm welcome.
 
Our lunch started with a plate of small bites from the region of Liguria, where Chef Matteo is originally from. Its Mediterranean coastline is known as the Italian Riviera, with several fishing villages that are a must-visit. Next up, we sampled the Rossano’s selection - a wide range of meat and cheeses from across Italy. Highlights for us were the mozzarella on tomatoes, fried squid, eggplant and Mortadella - a famous cured pork sausage from Bologna.
Picture

Read More
Comments

My Name is Lola

12/8/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
By CK Lee
Dining in Lola by Cocotte is fun. It is conveniently located on Ekkamai Soi 12.

Upon entering, the decor had to be the first thing we noticed. With a blue Vespa parked in the front, and a gigantic palm tree model in the center; the venue boasts an albeit unusual yet creative aesthetic that is playful yet not over-the-top. Warm and bright, with cheerful colors, it makes the perfect photo spot. 

Lola is not just the name of the restaurant; but also a persona. It tells the story of the travels of a small-town girl from Italy and her travels to New York, where she falls in love with the food scene there and opens a restaurant featuring her favourite: Italian and New York cuisine!

The menu in Lola by Cocotte is inspired from Lola’s diary, and we applaud it. The story of Lola is one that we can easily relate to - the earnest discovery of new cuisine and new experience as we travel. We adore the laid back feels in this restaurant. We chose several of Lola’s favourites and began feasting. Signatures here are the Burgers, Pizzas & Pastas!

Read More
Comments

Delicious secrets at Chesa

29/4/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Guest review by Bangkok Beefsteak & Burgundy
DUE to last-minute confusion in the setting the date of our March lunch, we found ourselves several months ahead of schedule but in very familiar territory.
 
The Chesa team performed wonders by creating a menu for us within thirty minutes of uncovering the mistake and two days later proceeding to feed 16 gourmands in effortless style.
 
Thomas and Rene even were able to match the food to the wines instead of in the customary reverse order, starting with Ottosoldi Gavi 2016 (Piedmont), bright yellow colour and flavourful, and tasty “Snacks at the bar”, with the prawn served on a spoon attracting the most compliments.
 
Stuffed Cremini Mushroom with Foie Gras on Port Wine Sauce was the first dish to leave the kitchen; when asked to identify the stuffing we learned it was to a secret recipe. You have to return to enjoy the taste which had prompted the question, food spokesman Alex Fisken was told.
 
Wine spokesman John Handley was able to be more forthcoming with an excellent presentation of the merits of Tegernseerhof Riesling Steinertal Smaragd 2016 (Austrian) with pale golden colour, and complex nose including apricot and spice. I thought this was the best wine of the day and had been scored 93 by Parker.
 
There followed Poached Snow Fish Fillet on Green Pea Puree and Noilly Prat Sauce, with John telling us perhaps this was the only bottle remaining in Thailand of the white wine based vermouth, made with two wines which are matured separately for a year before a secret selection of herbs and spices are macerated for three weeks. 
Picture
The delicate flavour of the Snow Fish had been carefully preserved. The dish was well matched with Cantina Terlano Chardonnay Classic 2016 (Alto-Adige, Italy) which John deemed his favourite wine of the day.
 
Next came Spinach Cappuccino Enhanced with Brie Cheese and Bacon Bits; Alex detected cinnamon in the very tasty dish but this was denied by Chef Rene, who only confessed later that in fact his cooks had enhanced the recipe with that secret addition of their own choosing.
 
The main course featured Roasted Black Angus Beef Striploin served with Yorkshire Pudding, Gratin Vegetables, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes cooked perfectly to order and an excellent rendition of my school-days Sunday lunch.
It was accompanied by Ghostwriter Bates Ranch 2013 (Santa Cruz, California), surprisingly light on alcohol (ABV: 13.5%) made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that had spent 18 months in 25% new French oak and which may remain drinkable for ten more years. It was a very classic textbook Cabernet with notes of black currants and leafy herbs. Elegant, layered and impeccably balanced, with fine tannin The next wine, Altrovino by Duemani (Merlot - Cabernet Franc) from Tuscany is a full-bodied red wine with balsamic fragrances, fruity, quite bitter and characterized by Mediterranean notes. Suckling scored it 93 and most agreed that winemaster Thomas Boedinger had made an excellent, courageous choice.
 
Some were beginning to wilt, I think, when faced with Mango Mille Feuille accompanied by Raspberry Coulis, another tasty and beautifully presented dish; “a feast for the eyes” said Alex.
​

Variations of Cheese rounded off the meal and Peter Bourke applied the finishing touch by presenting to us a bottle of Seppelt Para Liqueur Barossa Valley Tawny Port, which Peter had carefully preserved for more than 30 years. It was truly magnificent and glasses were raised to thank Peter for his generosity.
 
It was fitting therefore that the service team of Chesa who as ever had done a first-class job were presented by Peter with our customary thanks and gratuities.
 
Chesa, Sukhumvit Rd, Soi 20, 
Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110 
Tel: 02 261 6650 
www.chesa-swiss.com
Comments

First visit to GalleriaMilano is a great success

25/3/2019

Comments

 
Picture
THIS was our first visit to Galleria Milano, tucked away in the Mille Malle at the far end of Sukhumvit 20, where Michelin-starred Chef Roland Schuller and his team of attentive lasses were at hand to welcome us. They did a great job.

Our Apéritif, Domaine François Pinon Vouvray Brut NV (Loire valley), found favour with most of the 21 diners.
 
This traditional method sparkling wine is made from 100% Chenin Blanc from old vines and spent over 18 months on lees in the bottle lending complexity and depth to the style.
 
Knowing in advance that our starter was to be Cantabria Anchovies and Tuna Tartare with Caviar and Tofu-Yuzu Emulsion, some of us deliberated on a suitable matching wine. Thomas Boedinger’s final choice of Domaine Frédéric Lornet Arbois Nature 2015 (Jura) was confirmed by wine spokesman Tom Whitcraft, to be an excellent one.

Made from the indigenous Savagnin grape variety, it was not too dry and even had some hints of apple. Food spokesman John MacTaggart singled out the tuna which was especially nice and the dish colourful.
 
The next course was Fettucine with Quail Périgord Truffle, which featured generous shavings of the prized fungus along with delicious portions of quail that was cooked to perfection. This was paired with Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Western Cape, SA), which proved to another good match for the food, though it is perhaps still a bit young.
​
Venison with Rustic Polenta and Chestnut Honey, Chestnut Purée and Blueberry Juice was our main dish. Chef Roland did an excellent job of cooking the venison just short of medium rare; overall this was a really excellent presentation.
To accompany it, Thomas had selected Hacienda Monasterio Crianza 2014 (Ribera del Duero, Spain), for which Robert Parker had awarded 94 points. “The secret was an early harvest to keep the acidity and freshness in the wine and keep the alcoholic degree under control. It’s mostly Tempranillo, with 10% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and with long and soft macerations. It matured for some 18 months in French oak barrels”. A big and lovely wine said Tom.

Read More
Comments

Pizzazo with passion by the host

21/1/2019

Comments

 
Picture
IT was nice to be back in Pizzazo which we had visited as recently as January last. Familiar faces were to be found expertly performing the service and our host, K. New Vongasawad, was to be found everywhere - at the door, at the bar and in the kitchen.

Proceedings started with a choice of two aperitifs: Casali Lambrusco Amabile NV (Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy) and Feudo Maccari Rosé di Nero d’Avola 2014 (Sicily), neither of which elicited too many compliments from wine spokesman Roy Dean, who was reminded of Vimto and excursions to Ibiza. (As usual, all wines were selected and supplied by the Club).
However, any offended taste buds were quickly reset when we were presented with a very delicious first course of Baked Hokkaido Scallop prepared with tobiko, spicy mustard, and mozzarella that was served with wonderful crispy garlic bread. This was judged by our food spokesman, Alan Rankin, to be the most interesting dish of the day, and some of our 18 diners even suggested it would be great as main course.

It was accompanied by Lesehof Stagård Gaisberg Riesling 2016 (Kremstal, Austria) which Roy and others declared to be excellent and was heartily enjoyed by all.
Alan went on to praise Beef Carpaccio classic style with extra virgin olive oil, shaved parmesan and rocket though I thought that the beef should have been cut a trifle more thickly to secure more of its flavour. Tegernseerhof Bergdiestel Grüner Veltliner 2016 (Wachau, Austria) was served with this; I shared Roy’s respect for this first-rate wine and he reminded us that it had been served at an optimum temperature. Lobster Soup with minced lobster meat came next with more Grüner Veltliner This was an excellent rendition of a classic soup, and while perhaps not as thick and creamy in texture as some might expect, it was more than satisfying in terms of rich flavours and received well-deserved praise from all quarters.

Our main course was a generous portion of Australian grain-fed Rib Eye Steak, cooked to order and served with potato gratin, vegetables, and a Bordelaise sauce. To accompany this delicious beef our Winemaster Thomas Boedinger had chosen Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2013 (Tuscany, Italy).

​It was a good choice – easy drinking and excellent value for money. Everyone agreed that “the flavours swirl around a firm core of tannins that channel the fruit toward a long and spicy finish”, but many felt Suckling’s score of 97 was rather generous for this blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot that was aged 18 months in new French barriques.

Read More
Comments

Best of Italy and much more at Attico

11/1/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Award-winning Attico at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok specialises in Italian fare in a delightfully rustic setting enhanced by spectacular city views.
LOCATED on the 28th floor of the hotel, Attico is the only rooftop Italian restaurant in Bangkok that boasts breathtaking vistas of the city from both the intimate main dining room, as well as two alfresco lounging terraces.
 
Designed to capture the casual charm of a Tuscan villa, the space highlights warm dark woods, exposed brick walls and incorporates wine barrels into the design. Front and centre is a semi-open kitchen and butcher counter with a display of Italian charcuterie, giving the place an inviting and homey feel.
 
The wood furniture and a semi-private room for family style dining add a feeling of comfort and floor to ceiling glass windows framed by dark drapery highlight the energetic city views for an unforgettable urban vibe.

Read More
Comments

Festive December at Jamie’s

24/12/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
JUST like that, December is upon us. The month for reflection and celebration. At Jamie’s Italian, the celebration begins with A Festive Feast Menu.
On their Instagram page @jamiesitalianbkk, it says Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant serves fantastic, rustic dishes, using recipes that have been tried, tested and loved. We came in hungry on a weekday afternoon and it felt like an early Christmas.

The Duck Liver Pâté was a great starter and the accompanying balsamic onions were the perfect dose of sweetness. At Jamie’s, they use freerange ducks. The next dish we tried was the Porcini Mushroom Soup - and it was divine! The aged Parmesan and truffle lifted it up to another level and the homemade focaccia took in all that goodness in a bowl. Each spoonful was
a burst of joy.

The three other options for starters are Salmon Bruschetta, Beef Carpaccio and Retro Prawn Cocktail. For Mains, we have a hearty selection of Osso Bucco Alla Milanese, Salmon Fillet, Festive Roast Chicken, Mushroom & Truffle Ravioli and the main star on this menu - the Fillet Steak (250 baht supplement). The steak was served on a huge plate and one can’t help but focus on the roasted bone marrow that towered over the beef counterpart - it was the perfect presentation. We gently scooped out the marrow and had a feast, before extending the happiness with the tender Prime Angus Beef; bathed in red wine sauce, wild mushrooms and black truffle.

All mains are served with a generous side of rosemary roasted potatoes, parsnips, carrots and local greens. These sides were a light meal in themselves, and oh so fresh! Smoothies and juices are available from the à la-carte menu.

To end the feast on a sweet note, we recommend the homemade pudding with brandy cream (Christmas Pudding) and the Festive Sundae - which combines layers of ice cream with berry compote, caramelised orange & chocolate sauce. Complimentary tea and coffee available.
Jamie’s Italian Bangkok
Siam Discovery 989 Room G06, Ground Floor,
Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
T: +66 22 555 222 http://www.jamiesitalian.co.th
Picture
Comments

Bella Ducci Italiano Café

3/8/2015

Comments

 
Serving authentic Italian eats at The EmQuartier shopping centre
THE latest venture from the same team behind Piri Piri Flaming Chicken and Café Fish restaurant chains, and The Cliff Bar & Grill in Koh Samui, is all about pizza, pasta, risotto and seasonal Italian dishes served family-style (perfect for sharing, that is) – and at reasonable prices, too.
Picture

Read More
Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside
    Picture
    Picture

    *

    All
    American
    Beautiful Restaurant
    Cafe & Bakery
    Chinese
    French
    Fusion
    Hua Hin
    Indian
    International Cuisine
    Italian
    Japanese
    Mexican
    Pacific Rim
    Pattaya
    Pub & Bar
    Rooftop
    Seafood
    Spanish
    Steakhouse
    Sunday Brunch
    Swiss
    Thai
    Wine Bar


    calendar of events

    Picture
Picture
About  |   Emag  |  Subscribe (print)  |  Newsletter |  Contact Us  | Advertise 

FOLLOW US

CURRENT ISSUE

Jan 2021
FEB 2021
March 2021
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
August
October
November 2021
December 2021
March- April 2022
Copyright © The BigChilli Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Tel: 089 777 9697 
email: [email protected]
  • Home
  • News
  • Promotions
  • Features
  • Social Events
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • The team
    • Pricavy Policy
  • Contact us
  • Blog