By CK Lee With a no-nonsense approach to cooking, Piri Piri prides itself on offering fast and tasty food that doesn’t scrimp on quality. While their grilled chicken is the main star, this restaurant chain also has other delish burgers, beef grill and a selection of salad. We came one afternoon to have a feast… The casual and rustic atmosphere was welcoming. Piri Piri has several branches across Bangkok. Location is key, as we all say - and this chain has got it - superb locations within Siam Paragon, Emporium, Terminal 21 and their latest opening in Trendy Building on Sukhumvit Soi 13. We started the meal with the must-have Piri Piri Chicken, cooked the Portuguese way. The piping hot fries were a welcoming sight, we downed it with gulps of ice-cold Coke (or soft drink of your choice) and happiness rushed in. We had a great time sharing the various plates of chicken. Lemon & Herb Chicken was most memorable. 4 distinct bottles of sauce were available at every table. Hot Chilli, Thai Salsa, Sweet Chilli and Extra Hot - the last one is surely not for the faint hearted. It was also possible to swap out the fries and have a bowl of fried rice, to accompany your chicken. Beef lovers - move towards the Grilled Meat section in the menu where Tenderloin 200grams kicks off the selection. Combo options also aplenty for anyone wanting to mix and match and have a portion of seafood with your chicken. We tried the prawns and sea bass, interchanging them with different sauces! Oh, what a great lunch! |
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! By CK Lee During summer, R-haan took home 2 distinctive awards - from Thailand Tatler and Bangkok Best Dining. The overflowing passion in this restaurant is palpable - and the awards, a true testament to this. With the advent of the monsoon season, acclaimed Chef Chumpol Jangprai unveils a whole new menu that is elaborate, significant, creative and all-encompassing. In one dinner, you can traverse the provinces and regions of Thailand.
In R-haan, before you are seated for dinner, you can relax in their comfortable lounge. Unwind and prepare yourself for the culinary journey ahead. Start your champagne early, or if you really must, reply the last few messages and work emails but get a glass from their curated list of wine or refreshing mocktails. On their website, Soba Factory is classified as a Japanese micro Izakaya, but there is nothing micro about the authentic taste it delivers. Located on the Lobby Level of the expansive Bangkok Marriott Marquis, Soba Factory has a seating capacity of 30 and is open for lunch and dinner in 2 shifts, with lunch ending at 2.30pm & dinner starting at 6.00pm. Their newly launched Soba Set Lunch is value for money. Choose either cold or hot homemade soba. Onwards, choose a mini donburi or sushi set to complement your soba. For the namesake of the place, we say start with the soba. Worry not of the slurping sound you make, no one will judge… Alternatively, you may also start with the hot miso soup, which is presented alongside a plate of salad, pickled vegetables and an appetizer - all inclusive in the lunch set! For the mini donburi, select from a choice of katsu, oyako, katsu curry, tori soboro, salmon ikura, bara chirashi and ten don. The sushi and maki set comes with 6 slices of variations. Daily dessert is hot red bean with toasted rice cake. Iced/hot green tea is included - and we really liked how the service crew paid attention to this - our glasses (and cups) were never half empty. There was something really comforting when cupping a hot cup of tea in your hands - feeling the heat and warmth and in that moment, it almost felt like the hands of time had slowed down - so we all can order a second helping of sweet goodness. We also sampled an assortment of yakitori - the pork belly and beef selections were memorable, and there’s a huge selection - so surely you will find a few (or all) to your liking. Cold and hot towels were presented before and after our meal respectively. During our walk out of the restaurant, we saw the chef hard at work, kneading the dough and making soba noodles, for the incoming dinner crowd surely…
We humbly received the food during this memorable lunch, as per the saying Itadakimasu! We received it, and we enjoyed it - and for that, we say thank you... Red Sky Restaurant and Red Sky Bar maybe most famous for its towering, multicolored arch that glows high above Bangkok. You may have seen it while gazing up from street-level – or even sipped a cocktail next to it on our 56th floor deck.
To get the full ‘Red Sky Experience’, go for the Seasonal Tasting Menu – a six-course international gastronomic journey curated and updated each season by Chef Christian Ham. The journey began with Oscietra Caviar, topped on a smoked salmon tartar, Japanese cucumber salad & saffron toast. For salmon and caviar lovers, this is it! Take the customary photo but think about the hashtag later. Soak in the view outside and pay homage to the plate and pick up your fork... Bawarchi is quintessentially Indian. It is not a new reinterpretation or fusion restaurant. In fact, Bawarchi is celebrating 20 years this year. Bawarchi is also the Number 1 Indian Restaurant in Bangkok on Tripadvisor (we checked on 24 June). We visited their flagship restaurant to find out what drives their success. Located in President Tower, Bawarchi is one floor below the main lobby of Intercontinental Hotel, an easy walk from BTS Skytrain Chit Lom, which is just 1 stop from Siam on the Sukhumvit Line. The hostess guided us in and our Indian odyssey began. We started with the classic Achari Murgh Tikka - a plateful of boneless chicken, marinated in a myriad of spices before it was brought to perfection in the tandoor. We also sampled the fish equivalent - their signature Ajwani Mahi Tikka. Moving on, Rogan Josh was presented to us. A recipe from Kashmir - the way the spices came together is hard to put words to, and the lamb was fork tender. Dip the naan bread into it and savor away. Or, have spoonfuls of that amazing gravy like what we did… occasionally sharing the moment with some saffron flavoured Basmati Rice. The Butter Chicken or Murgh Makhanwala was equally divine. Is a whole new spice dimension and we could taste the smokiness of the chicken. The luscious gravy goes perfectly with their cheese naan. We saw many tables around us having the same butter chicken, so Bawarchi definitely is doing it right. For us, the evening was flawlessly executed. There was even applause for the live ghazal singer. We were told he has been singing here for over 16 years, now that’s something. We also sampled their prawn biryani and decided another visit is required to try more dishes (their marinated overnight whole leg of lamb comes to mind). In our chat with their manager, we discovered that Bawarchi is also the 6th best restaurant on Tripadvisor for the entire city of Bangkok! For all Indian food lovers out there, this is surely a must visit. For reservations, call 026560102
Opens daily from 11AM Follow us: fb.com/bawarchithailand or IG @bawarchibangkok Cocotte Farm Roast & Winery is more than a rotisserie, it is a French experience in a rural chic setting, in downtown Bangkok. Driven by passion, their food has taken Bangkok by storm. We came one fine evening to be their guest… Cocotte serves a wide range of cheese from France - Truffle Brie de Meaux, Truffle Gouda & Tomme de Savoie to name just a few. So it was only natural that we started with the Farmer Board - a selection of three cheeses and three cold cuts. The perfect ‘warm up’ for the gourmet meal ahead. Next up was the Burrata X Parma and boy, was it divine. Nothing beats having burrata with fresh heirloom tomatoes. Add on the parma ham, and this salad dish is a meal in itself. The Tartare ‘Au Couteau’ soon graced our table. This Angus Beef tartare is topped with decadent slices of truffle. Just from looking at it, one can comprehend why this is a Cocotte Signature Dish. Tartare lovers - pay attention, this is a must-have. The dish is served with a side of hot, crispy, homemade French fries. We also had a chance to sample their famous roast chicken from the rotisserie. We adore the presentation, truly rustic!
Opening hours:
11am – 3pm, 6 – 10.30pm on weekdays 11 am – 3pm, 6 – 11pm on weekends Tel : 092 664 6777 Reservation : cocotte-bangkok.com, chope.com Website : http://www.cocotte-bangkok.com An amazing new concept that brings dining and entertainment together in one exciting venue has opened in Sriracha, a boom area of Thailand, some 90 minutes from Bangkok and within easy reach of popular destinations along the Eastern Seaboard.
Called FAME, this unique project features food, art, music and entertainment in an attractive lifestyle community space that appeals to people of all ages and background. At its heart are four spectacular international-standard dining and entertainment venues, each with its own distinctive cuisine and modern design, together with a stunning central piazza greenery outdoor space for al fresco functions. Without question, it is a fantastic and unrivalled hangout venue. FAME is located in Khaokhunsong area of Sriracha. Guest review by Bangkok Beefsteak & Burgundy On a blistering hot day, we returned to Park Society, the flagship restaurant of SO Sofitel Hotel, to see what’s new since our last visit with Chef Joost Bijster and his team.
In addition to spectacular views of Lumpini Park, we also observed extensive construction that was much advanced on the opposite corner of Wireless and Rama IV Roads – part of the massive One Bangkok project where some 60,000 people will live, work, and shop. Noting the mammoth tail-backs stretching in both directions along Rama IV Road, one might suggest that clients of this new development should plan to stay permanently within the confines of the site. In addition to wonderful views, we also enjoyed a truly excellent sparkling aperitif in the form of Alma Cuvee Franciacorta Bellavista Brut NV from Lombardy, Italy. This is mostly Chardonnay (80%) and Pinot Noir (19%), accurately described by the winemaker as “White, bubbly and persistent mousse… tiny pearl-like chains forming an obvious crown that lasts” and for wine spokesman Andrew MacDowell and myself it was the best wine of the lunch. This we enjoyed with our Chinese inspired amuse bouche, a delicate dumpling that featured lemon grass and was presented in a smoking bamboo dim sum steamer.
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