Bake n Stay, Lamai

Now I love my rice and chilli for breakfast, but even when in Thailand we sometimes just have a craving for some eggs, and a coffee ... maybe even some bread.  We've driven past this little place alot, right at the corner before you turn into Lamai. It's called Bake n Take.



But this morning we're going to Bake n Stay. I go straight for the French breakfast set. 2 fried eggs, 2 croissant with coffee and a juice. Well, it was okay, it certainly might frighten a Parisian calling it a French breakfast though. The coffee was great, a nice chocolate feathering on the top and a strong caffeine kick. Freshly squeezed Thai orange juice as well, mmmm.



Kim has a panini with sausage, olive, dried tomato and pesto. The bread's a little unexciting and could do with a touch more toasting, but it's not bad.



We had both been eyeing off the custard tart sitting in the display cabinet since we arrived. So this makes a fantastic finish. The tart was definitely the highlight. A rich creamy custard with a caramel top encased in a crumbly short pastry.



Another good start to the day, we're back on the scooter for more exploring of the island.

Our love for Issan ... food!

We both love Issan food. The herbs, the spice, the chilli ... oh the chilli! Of all the places we've been in Thailand, the Northeasten corner is one we've yet ventured to. We always say we're waiting for enough time, as we're certain we're going to love it and there'll be so much to see. We seem to do a pretty good job of finding Issan food along our travels, like this little gem in Samui.

We found this on our first trip to Samui, a couple of years ago. She moved to Samui and fell in love with the ocean. It works out quite well, as alot of the contractors building here migrate down from Northern Thailand, and all miss their food. She makes traditional Issan food for the locals, and I honestly think we were her first even farang customers those years back.


Our first visit to Issan Food, Lamai

This time the kitchen has swung around and got a bit bigger, still with the charcoal grill out the front. We order some nam on stick, fermented pork sausage. A bowl of fresh herbs and vegetables including Thai basil, cucumber, cabbage and snake beans is placed on the table along with some sticky rice. This is a damn fine nam!



We also get a grilled pork salad, that's tossed with a roasted chilli and lime dressing with some roast rice and corriander leaves.



The cucumber salad is a nice little play on the traditional som dtum style salad. Chilli, peanuts and dried shrimp are pounded in the mortar, lime juice, palm sugar, fish sauce and the cucumber is then added. It's all tossed together and is a refreshing explosion of flavours and textures.



I can never pass up the oppotunity of a soup when we visit Issan Food in Lamai. They always vary, depending on the herbs and vegetables that were at the market today. Today we have a beef & herb soup. Thin slices of beef are simmered with garlic, chilli, apple eggplants, a little cabbage and lots of dill. It's a heady, aromatic soup, with tons of flavour and loads of stuff.



Although we haven't physically made is up to Issan, we do often get the opportunity to be transported there by the food ....


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Perfect start to the day

Some people have trouble consuming rice or chilli for breakfast. Me, nu-uh! I'm still working on the Japanese breakfast ... cooked fish and natto in the morning? erk, I'll keep you posted how that goes.

Anyway, the chilli and rice thing, no problem. In Thailand our first trip out for the day is usually scooting around and looking for crowds of locals ... what are they up to? what are they eating, most importantly. This particular day we find ourselves in Lamai, at the wet market and notice as we walk in a little stall on the left hand side. There's about 2 dozen silver pots filled with everything you could imagine. I love these places, they get a big bowl of rice and you just point to what you want placed on top. I have opted for a very delicious looking green curry filled with apple eggplants and chunks of chicken on the bone. I also get a little side bowl of tom yum.



Now this is what I call breakfast. Hearty, tasty, delicious, simple yet grand and all for about $1.


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