Gianni's Ristorante, Bangkok

There were some crazy lunch deals going around in Bangkok while we were there .... and there seemed to be a following of Japanese house-wives (who's husbands must be working for mega-corporations in BKK) but we were quick to jump on the band wagon. First stop, Gianni's.

Located over in the shopping district, it was just a short stroll from Chidlom station. On our walk down to Gianni's, we discovered another little Soi just bustling with Thai workers on the lunch break, and a whole array of delicious looking foods (why there's just not enough time!) In particular, I loved this little noodle cart which seen taxi drivers and businessman sitting side by side on minuscule chairs chowing down their bowl of noodles ...



But then another few hundred meters down the road we arrive at Gianni's. There's valet service, and loads of black BMW's and Mercedes, but we just walk on in. The initial greeting was a little cold from the Thai host but she seated us anyway ...



after we receive the menu, Gianni himself comes over and gives us the run down and recommends a nice wine to accompany our lunch. White we ponder, we explore the incredible array of bread on our table. There's a vase full of grisini, as well as a basket with about 6 different kinds of bread. We dip the bread into the olive oil and balsamic on our table and have fun trying all the different types.



We have both gone for the 3 course option, at a mere 370B no reason not to! My first course, Vitello Tonnato con Peperoni. A superb interpretation of an Italian classic, thinly sliced veal (that was cooked, and tasted like a milk roast beef) was blanketed in a super smooth tuna mayonnaise with some sweet roasted peppers on top.



Kim has the Carpaccio di Polipo. Thinly sliced octopus is layered into perfect circles, and then stacked with a crisp vegetable vinaigrette layered between. It looks amazing, so colourful, and tastes just as good!



In the bottom of our little bread basket, we had spotted a little treasure, an unusual looking black bread roll, with a heavy dusting of flour, and both decided to save it for our main course. But while we were so into our entrees, a waiter just whisked the basket away, perhaps thinking we didn't want that one lonely bread roll. I call someone over and explain that we were actually saving it, and then what appears, but a basket full of those little black bread rolls.



Arrosto di Maiale Salsa alla Senape - low temperature roasted pork neck with mashed potatoes and mustard sauce. We both liked the sound of this one, and it comes out in it's simple glory. Beautifully roasted meat, a tangy mustard sauce, and super creamy mash.



Petto d'Anatra al Balsamico - pan roasted breast of duckling with vegetables and balsamic. Another one that grabbed both of our attention, so splitting half way was no problem. The duck was pink and tender, with a nice crisp skin. The vegetables, potato, sauteed spinach, baby carrot and a too-cute little pancetta wrapped bean bundle that all paired well with the duck and the rich balsamico sauce.



Now I love a liqueur trolley, but an olive oil trolley? That's superb! While having a little rest before dessert I notice the liqueur trolley which indeed had an impressive selection ....



but it was the olive oil trolley that took my eye. Perhaps it comes out at dinner time, and you can even select your oil to dip your bread in.



Mm, dessert. Kim takes the olive oil tor ..., er I mean gelato torta ;) It's a layered ice-cream cake with raspberry coulis.

Tiramisu is my choice. I love the simplicity. This one is rich and light all at the same time ...



Coffee's finish an incredible lunch, my cappuccino almost defying gravity with the tower of foam !!



Gianni Ristorante
34/1 Soi Tonson Ploenchit Road
Bangkok 10330
T: +66 2252-1619
F: +66 2 652 2584

11-Gallery Restaurant, Suk 11

Sometimes while staying over the Sukumvit side of town, we would miss our regulars haunts of the Banglumphu side of town. But Suk 11 and it's surrounds had some little gems. For instance, the 11-Gallery restaurant right at the entrance of the little sub-soi.

A beautiful wooden two-story structure, we're ushered away by a beautiful Thai girl in a Sabai (cloth wrap) and decide to perch upstairs. We sit at the tiny little ledge,



with a pleasant view down to the happenings on the street and get to watch the little pinto's being carried from the downstairs across-the way kitchen over to the restaurant.



Kim starts with a gin fizz, a delicious refreshing combination of gin, soda and lime.



I start with a young coconut juice,



as well as a pandan juice. The pandan juice is served with a little syrup on the side, but I find myself adding the pandan to the coconut as I slowly sip down ...



The menu gives a nice little run down about the balance of Thai food and the way it should be eaten (you can also check it out on the website). We're almost seasoned pro's so dive right in !! First up, our salad, fried bits and curry all arrive carried in a little yellow and green pinto, a tiered / stacked set of little boxes.

The yam ma keaur yow - eggplant, shrimp and pork mince salad with boiled egg was dressed with a tangy tamarind dressing and the perfect way to set of on our gastro journey.



The next stop on our gastro journey, gai ta kai - crispy fried chicken that's topped with a dried and shredded lemongrass floss. The floss is textural explosion of flavor and adds a bit of zing to the fried, salty chicken.



~*woot woot*~, chu chee goong.  A rich red curry thats rather mild and full of coconut cream. The prawns, sweet and delicious, and the kaffir lime adding another dimension.



We take a little detour, and find ourselves feasting on some pork toasts. Resembling that of the Chinese style prawn toasts, this version a nicely seasoned pork minced is slathered onto white bread and fried until golden. A cucumber and chilli dressing cutting a bit of the richness.



The tom yum goong ma phrao oon was one of the recommended dishes. I love Thai soups and I love coconut, so the idea of a soup served inside a coconut, awesome! The only disapointment was they had ran out of coconuts ;( They still served us the more expensive option (claiming there was still coconut flesh in there ... well then where was the coconut?!) I even thought to offer up my drinking coconut so they could make the soup in there ;) But it was divine, none-the-less. Rich with coconut, but still somehow light and fresh with all that lemongrass and tamarind leaf.



The last pinto to pull in for the evening contained a typical Thai dessert.



More a palate cleanser, nice and refreshing and not to sweet ... red beans and tapioca floating in a salty/sweet coconut cream.



Definitely discovered some art we liked at 11-Gallery, and were lucky enough to take it all home in our bellies !!

11-Gallery Restaurant

1/34 Soi 11, Sukhumwit Rd

Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

P: 02-651-2672

Mobile food markets

I love how even among the bustle, you will find a little hand pushed cart being wheeled down the madness of Khao San Road selling an array of fresh vegetables.



People come running from their little pad Thai stalls, the massage parlours lining the street, the bars blaring out loud music and even those braiding the farang's hair .... a little pause for a moment of serenity in the craziness that is Bunglumphu .....

The Yam Naam lady in Banglumphu

We did find a guy selling Yam Naam earlier on our trip .... It was okay, but we'd been hanging to go back and see if the lady in Banglumphu was still there.

And indeed she was, perched where she usually is just out front of the supermarket, just opposite the giant fridge full of funny sausages.



We're quick to jump in line and order 2 yam naam.



She methodically takes exact amounts of peanuts, naam, pork skin, shallots, ginger and crushes a red curry crispy rice ball through the mix, then makes the dressing over the salad with palm sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and chili. I think she's made fair few of these in her time .....



Each one is mixed individually, then placed in a bag with chunks of cabbage and crisp lettuce.



We make our way over to the park, sit down and enjoy what we like to call the greatest yam naam in Bangkok.

Hello old friend

Over the years shops come and go for all sorts of reasons, luckily Ricky's has and is still there for us. Located on Pra Arthit off the back of Bunglumphu, Ricky's has been knocking up great baguettes out the faux chinese coffee shop for years.







They have been there for us when we just needed some farang food, they have been there for us when we've been drinking for far to long and need a solid stomach liner, they have been there well... always, except for the brief moment when we came back to the shop and stood horrified at the closed down front for a few seconds be for relising they had just moved next door (be still my racing heart).
The drinks are good the staff friendly but what brings us back time after time is the crusty baguette stuffed with bacon lettuce, tomato and blue cheese or feta if we're feel a little daring and topped with slice green olives and dried oregano. It is and will always be a winner in sandwich circles.







Ricky knows we'll have a few brief flirtations with others but we' always be back. See you again soon Ricky.

Chinatown, Bangkok.

We love Chinatowns everywhere we go there's a Chinese community and a new Chinatown to explore. It also gives us a chance to catch up on some foods we have missed if we've been somewhere without a Chinatown.



When we're in Bangkok there's always a trip or two to Chinatown planned, the food and markets always please. This time there was no time for a night visit to the markets that appear and sprawl out over the pavement and onto the roads. With time short we decided to return to a few favourites first being Hong Kong noodles, located up a super crazy cool alley lined with all sorts of animal parts and assorted food stuffs the noodle shop is easily found on the Nancy Chandler map and worth the visit.





Two orders of roast duck noodles with wontons are whipped up quick as a flash. As good as always the noodles are quick to vanish along with a side of dim sim from the dumpling shop next door.











After the soup we have a hankering for a little something sweet and decide to wander over to the old Siam center where inside unknown to most there is the most fantastic traditional Thai food court. If you haven't been there before head over with and empty stomach and enjoy.



In this case we were just after the tasty sweets from the tasty Thai sweets stand. Lining the stand huge brass woks are full of the different sweets as well as a pyramid of steamed sweets on one corner. Just rock up and point at what you like the look of and you'll be given a plastic bowl with your treat of choice. Step to the side and enjoy with the dozens of other people doing the same. Each time we have been many friendly interested Thais offer help and advice, and are often surprised when they are answered in Thai........limited broken Thai but Thai all the same. This time we both go for the tapioca cooked with pandanus and sweet corn. I love the gooey tapioca sweetened by the corn and given an almost savoury finish with salted coconut cream.



After we share a sankaya; a steamed coconut cream dessert with a finish like a set custard.



More photos here and here also here and here .

Well fed and ready for a sneaky afternoon nap we bid Bangkok's Chinatown farewell till next time

Ton Tong and dancing shrimp

When in Bangkok, we always make an effort to catch up with Brandon. We spent a bit of time working with him at Parrot Cay, he's a great guy, and must be as passionate about music as we are for food. Which means we always end up at some crazy Thai restaurant / bar out in the 'burbs listening to some super funky Thai folk music. And tonight is no exception !!

We know Brandon is working tonight, so decide to grab some dinner and wait for the call. We end up at Vientiane kitchen down on Suk Soi 36 after some Northern Thai / Loas cuisine. Little did we know we were in for some awful live music / performance. The food was okay, probably just such horrible association because of the deafening music.



Once we get the call we're told to head over to some obscurely random bar in some obscurely random place ... we try to relay to the taxi, but end up calling again and letting Brandon explain. About half an hour later we arrive ..... Andrew, another guy we worked with at Parrot Cay, along with one of his friends was also there. Just nice to catch up and have a chat. We quickly go through a bottle of Thai whiskey and listen to one band before skipping over to the other side of town to Ton Tong.



A few of the musicians who had just played also come along ... again, more Thai whiskey and a bit of food. First up, dancing shrimp; a dish we had not yet tried despite all our visits to Thailand. The little dish arrives and it's as if you can hear them kicking ...... live baby shrimp drowned in a fish sauce, lime and chilli dressing. Brandon gives them a little shake to slow up their movement.



There's loads of fresh vegetables on the side to be eaten along with it .... Then the little fella's are revealed. Kim and I both dive in, wanting to experience the sensation. And it's quite a sensation ... my first bite I actually had them sticking to my lips, tongue and roof of my mouth, the little spiky bits hurting like hell. But a little chomp and there's a firework like explosion of flavors, loads of dried chili, lime and lemongrass and cold, sweet little shrimp.



The next thing we were rather skeptical of was the sashimi. Sure, the fish was live, but it was swimming around in a murky warm water tank. After our time in Japan, I wasn't even keen to try it. I appreciate great sashimi, but really despise bad stuff. The fish is sliced as if a 1st year apprentice did it, there's some vegetable julienne and celery leaves along with enough wasabi to knock out the Japan winter ski team. I guess for Thai's in order to get the chili kick they require from wasabi they need that much?!



Kim tries the sashimi with the verdict that it's bloody horrible, so I just stick to the Thai whiskey ....

A great night spent with friends, old and new!