Bann Klang Nam: a Thai Family Restaurant

While America has Denny's as its premier family dining restaurant, Thailand has Bann Klang Nam (roughly translated to "House in the Middle of the Water"), and with it's "II" prefix, its a chain which caters to families and small parties.

Serving a range of typical Thai food and some seafood, it also offers a few Japanese sashimi and sushi dishes just in case you wanted something different. The Rama III branch is often jam packed during the weekends, and reservations are necessary to get a table beside the river.

Prices are quite reasonable, and you could easily get a decent meal for two people for under 600 baht (US 16 dollars). In the picture below, we've ordered green curry, fried shrimp patties served with sweet plum sauce, stir fried vegetables as well as Kang Kai Cha Om, or Curry with Scrambled egg. All very typical fare, but filling and good.

Menus are also available in English, and this place has been named one of the best restaurants in Thailand Tatler in 2006, so you can't go wrong. Parking is a bit skimpy, so make sure to arrive early.

Call ahead for reservations: http://www.baanklangnam.net/

Red Wings Korean Chicken

Hungry for fried chicken, Adam and I decided to try Red Wings Fried Chicken in the Western Addition/Nopa area of San Francisco which is actually fairly close to our neighborhood. The chicken was amazing, but a little pricey. It tasted like they use mostly thigh meat, as the chicken was super tender.

Although not really wings, a half order of the fried chicken is 8.50 USD, whereas the grilled versions run between 11-15 USD.

Complimentary pickles and radishes are also served at the beginning of the meal and on the side with the fried chicken specials.

1 Large OB beer (enough for two people)
Complimentary pickle and radish
Half order fried chicken
Full order grilled chicken


Total: 38 USD after tax and tip

Flash Summit "Free" Lunch

I am always fascinated by things like subsidized or "free" food. This past week was the annual Game Developer's Conference and I attended the Flash Summit. The lunch box included a bag of Sun Chips, a turkey sandwich with a cranberry relish, 1/4 cup of pasta salad, 1/4 cup of caprese salad that tasted like rancid olive oil, a fuji apple, and a cookie. The food was ok, but I had to remove the top half of the bun on my sandwich because it was so thick. Gross!

Flash Summit sub-par "bento" lunch: included in 175.00 USD ticket to conference, paid by my company

Un-Kraft Your Life with this Giant Block of Turkish Feta

a photo by pintobean on Flickr.

Most of my shopping is not done at large supermarkets such as Safeway or Albertson's or Kroger's etc (GASP!), instead I usually hit up the local delis and markets in my neighborhood, mostly out of laziness since they are only a few blocks away. My last post demonstrated what a great deal I can get on extremely high-quality smoked salmon. Keeping an open mind on what to eat, and trying substitutions in my diet, has allowed me to come across some very delicious edibles that often end up being healthier choices.

Speaking of diet, the amount of dairy I eat only proves my Western-ness, but at least I can add a little culture (hehehe, get it?) with an alternative to those giant bricks of unnaturally orange extra sharp cheddar. This 17.65 oz tub of feta cheese costs 5.99 USD before tax. Surprisingly soft, I have been spreading it on toast, crumbling on salads, and using it as an alternative to cream cheese and ricotta. This giant tub comes all the way to the US from Turkey, and is actually a cow's milk feta. That means it is extremely unsustainable if you are a localvore, but totally awesome if you are worn out on spreadable cheeses from (achem) Kraft Foods. Thus successfully convincing myself that imported Turkish cheese is harmless, I will continue to relish in this crumbly brick of white deliciousness.... sometimes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

According to the packaging, this block contains ~ 16 servings of cheese, thus, here is my breakdown:

ULKER White Feta:
5.99 USD a tub
.33 USD / oz
.37 USD a serving
~70 calories an oz ;)

Dusit Thani Greek Salad

The Dusit Thani makes an excellent hearty salad, and their Greek salad is stuffed with so much that it can easily be a fulfilling meal.

Price: 260 baht (plus 7% VAT and 10% Service Charge)

The Greek Salad here is stuffed with plenty of thick chunks of cheese, in addition to crispy romaine lettuce, bell peppers, pickled olives, red onions and fresh rosy tomatoes. It's served in a fried dough/cracker bowl, which is edible and tastes quite good, and topped off with a hearty vinaigrette.

The salad is an excellent meal on its own, and with pizza, proved to be an excellent end to the day.

The Pieces of a Better (and Cheaper) Fishy Breakfast

a photo by pintobean on Flickr.

My car was due for some new tires and the tire shop is right by a branch of the famous San Franciscan Boudin bakery. I decided to grab a baguette this morning and on the walk home I picked up some protein to go with the bread: smoked salmon sold by the pound at our local Russian deli, yum!

Baguette: 2.35 USD after tax
Smoked Salmon: 5.07 USD for .39 lbs (yup that is 13 dollars a pound, but who eats a pound of smoked salmon?)

My boyfriend and I made a fancy breakfast of lox and delicious bread that would have cost at least twice as much, for about half as much salmon, if we had gone out to a local brunch place. Plus, we still have half the baguette left. Who wants a Nutella and baguette snack this afternoon?

Bim Bap at Kosirae

Bim Bap with Beef

Kosirae, Sukhumvit Soi 55, Bangkok, Thailand

Price: 300 baht (US $9.73)

Like other major metropolitian cities, Bangkok has its fair share of ethnic restaurants run and own by the original creators of the food. There is sizeable Korean population in Bangkok and with it comes excellent Korean food.

Located just off Sukhumvit 55 (Soi Thong Lo) and accessible by the BTS Skytrain, Kosirae is owned and run by a Korean family, offering both a la carte and a 290 baht Korean barbecue pork buffet. Having come for the highly recommended buffet before in which they use hot coals to power your stove, I wanted to try out the a la carte menu as well.

I ordered the Bim Bap with beef (300 baht or US $9.73), which is basically served in a piping hot stone bowl with raw beef on top. You would then stir the beef and mix it with the rice, in which it will quickly cook and become well done, given the immense heat of the stone bowl. An hour later, the bowl was still warm. The rice itself also comes mixed with flavourings as well as fresh mountain vegetables.

As part of the set, you also receive a set of nine side dishes which you can ask to be refilled as many times as you want. These side dishes include kimchi, fruit salad and very delicious spinach, which is crispy and has a very distinct flavour. The side dishes themselves are very tasty and almost constitute a meal in itself. 

The bim bap was scrumptious and came with a bowl of soup, which helped to counter the stronger and spicy taste of the side dishes.

It's an experience, but the price of the bim bap is rather expensive, given that its 10 baht more than the buffet. That said, it's trying to understand the taste of Korean food, but I would probably come back for the buffet next time.

Curry Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen at Ramen Tei

Ramen Tei, Sukhunvit 33/1 (Japan Town)
Curry Ramen and Tokotsu Ramen

Price: 180 baht (US $5.83)

Ramen Tei is an institution that has been around in Bangkok's Japan Town for as long as memory serves. Targeting the large Japanese expatriate community, they serve authentic an authentic menu of ramen in typically Japanese surroundings.

When stepping into the restaurant, the entire staff will greet you with a hearty "irrashaimase!", while you can choose to be seated at normal tables, at the ramen counter or of course, at the tatami tables.

Their ramen doesn't come cheap though, starting at around 180 baht (US $5.83) for a bowl. Their tonkotsu ramen is excellent:  the soup is hearty and creamy and stays true to its Hakata origins, and one bowl will fill you up. It comes accompanied with the usual condiments, including a few slices of Japanese roasted pork (chashu), cabbage and other vegetables.

Having always come here to have the tonkotsu ramen, I decided to go for the curry ramen. I am quite a big fan of curry, and while living in Japan, I often went around different shops just to sample the different and unique varieties of curry on sale.

The curry ramen is basically ramen soup, with thick curry poured on top. When mixed together, the curry is watered down to the right consistency for ramen. It comes with vegetables and thick chunks of pork.

The flavour is strong and the meat is well marinated. For such as strong tasting food such as curry, its surprising to see that the texture and flavour of the ramen is well maintained.

If you have deep pockets, then Ramen Tei comes highly recommended. For a taste of the Japanese ambiance in the heart of Thailand, watch the short video below.

Dusit Thani Italian Pizza

Hotels normally have good pizza. The Dusit Thani with its gas fired ovens and home made pizzas is no exception to the rule.

Dusit Thani, Hua Hin: San Marco Italian Restaurant

Price: 350 baht (plus VAT and service charge)

Staying at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin on company tab gives you the benefit of enjoying the food there without having to worry too much about the cost - especially since you don't really have a choice when you can't get out into town without a car.

The hotel has an Italian restaurant called San Marco. Its an outdoor restaurant adorned with pictures of Venice and like its namesake, San Marco square, and serves a good selection of Italian food. They also happened to have a pizza oven and made hand made pizza, which is why we ordered the pizza pictured above.

For around 350 baht (plus tax and service charge), we received a freshly baked pizza with a decent set of toppings. The crust was crispy but soft, while the cheese, toppings and sauce all equalized, and one did not over power the other. It was a good pizza which I would certainly be glad to order again.

Sumiyaki Coffee

Scant aroma; and even less acidity: just the way I like it.

The presentation is like that in the menu.

Sumiyaki Coffee
$52.80 ($48 + 10% service charge)
Suzuki Cafe (Vicwood Plaza)

I generally can't tell the difference between good coffee and bad coffee. On this occasion, however, I could taste the difference in acidity between this coffee and others that I have had recently. This coffee was verily mild: no pretentious aroma. Although this coffee is the second most expensive siphon coffee on the menu, (Blue Mountain is the most expensive.) the coffee, I believe, is worth the price because it occupies that coveted low acidity niche on the menu.

Khao Soi

Khao Soi (Northern Thai Noodles with Chicken and Curry)
Ros Niyom, La Villa, Ari, Bangkok, Thailand.
Price: 80 baht

Khao Soi is a traditionally northern Thai dish, found in Chiang Mai. It's basically chicken with curry, served with a mix of crispy and soft yellow noodles.

Like the ubiquitous fried rice, the taste varies depending on which shop you go to. The curry here is thick and tasty, and they give you a nice large piece of chicken. The lime, raw red onion and pickled vegetables provided as condiments are in the correct proportions, and compliment the dish exactly.

Ros Niyom, which roughly translates to "the taste which is popular", is an offshoot of iBerry, a Thai premium ice cream chain. They also serve other traditional Thai dishes such as green curry, and they also have an English menu. Their selection of dishes is small, but they are all good.

The decor is made to resemble an old Thai shop reminiscent of the 60s and 70s, except with air conditioning and much higher hygiene standards. The service is simple but snappy, while the choice of drinks is also very traditionally Thai.

It comes highly recommended if you're in Thailand. The establishment is a shop in the La Villa shopping village, which is beside BTS Ari.

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Make It Yourself: Polenta

In the rural south of the U.S.A, what the Italian's call "polenta" Americans call "cornmeal mush". Which one sounds more appetizing? I picked up a pack of Franch brand "Palenta", the most generic looking stuff I have ever seen, at the local Russian-owned market. For 2.29 USD, this box yields over two cups of dry cornmeal. I cooked it up and let it solidify so I could slice it like the polenta you get in the sausage-shaped packages. I have enough to last for dinner for two for an entire week, and I cooked up about 10 slices already!

One of those sausage shaped packages will set a hungry fellow around 3-4USD depending on the quality.

Was the 70 cents I saved worth the extra 5 minutes I had to stir the stuff and then the 40 minutes I had to wait to let it cool in the fridge? Considering I have at least twice the amount in one of those packages just in leftovers, I think so!

Franch "Palenta": 2.29 USD a box!

Fast Fowl: Quail or the Colonel?

Everyone loves good and FAST chicken, and on a lazy day some will turn to a bucket of the Colonel's Original Recipe. A healthier, but alas pricier, alternative is quail, which I can purchase at the local Russian-owned deli and market. One is about the size of a chicken thigh. I ended up eating two. The best part is that they are pre-marinated and cook up in less than 30 minutes in the oven! The worst part is that we bought 4 (two for me and two for my boyfriend), and that jacks up the price to 12 USD for a meal for two.





So here is a little Price and Health comparison:

Royal Market Quail: 2.99USD each
Guilt factor: not sure, I have no idea if they are organic or cage free
Health factor: high - they were baked, not fried!
Easy factor: high, these cook really quickly and are already marinated for maximum deliciousness

The unhealthier alternative:



Bucket of 6-piece KFC Original Recipe: 11USD
Guilt Factor: HIGH, they say these poor chickens have their beaks snipped off in the factory
Health factor: low, notice the first word of "fried chicken"
Easy factor: extremely high since it is fast food

Victoria Park Flower Market Food

Stinky Tofu ($10)
Traditional Coconut and Candy Wrap ($6)
Victoria Park Flower Market
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

The crush at the Victoria Park Flower market wasn't as oppressive as I thought it would be on a Sunday evening.  The intractable crowds mainly stayed in the shopping lanes between the rows of stalls, and at the food corner near the park's toilets, there was ample elbow room to buy and to consume some local delicacies.  My friends and I first tried some traditional coconut and candy wraps, sickly sweet concoctions that went down fast.  On the other hand, we more meticulously savored the stinky tofu.  I tried it for the first time, in fact, and was taken aback not by the stink, which ironically sufficiently defused the closer we approached the tofu stand, but by the grease into which the tofu was dumped and which coated the bag and my hand.  That was pretty disgusting.  Nonetheless, the tofu proved a big hit in my group, three of taking the plunge.  With a bit of sauce, a choice of sweet, or spicy, the tofu verily lit up my palette, and it filled me to boot.  Trying stinky tofu is definitely one experience worth having while in Hong Kong.

Slim Taste

Slim Taste
9/F 11 Stanley Street, Central
Hong Kong

A friend recommended this restaurant and, two weeks later, I visited the venue, discreetly placed in an innocuous building near Lan Kwai Fong in Central.  Nestled between larger, more prominent restaurants, the restaurant is certainly a hidden gem and worth a visit if only to take refuge from the hustle and bustle of Central life.

The selling point of the restaurant is the cardboard decor.  From the furniture, including cup holders, seats, stools and tables, to the bathroom signs, everything is made of cardboard.  The scene is incredible at first blush; I certainly couldn't believe that cardboard and lots and lots of masking tape could support such an enterprise, but the impossibility is the restaurant's appeal, isn't it?  Besides, I'm sure this model has been tried in Japan (Maybe, the products were made in Japan.) and what kitsch appeals in Japan may also appeal in Hong Kong.

The food is but an afterthought when dining at the restaurant.  My friends and I marveled not at the assortment of noodles, meats and buns, steamed, fried, salty, sour, spicy, but at the tables and chairs that could support our weight and which, at that time, remained untarnished by spills, drops and other natural foodie disasters.  Nevertheless, the food was delicious and reasonably priced. (My group of six split a check of $309.)  I tried the purple rice buns, that come steamed or fried, and they were quite filling.  Next time, I will try the purple rice noodles, which also came highly recommended.  I don't think eating here will break your budget; then again, it certainly won't leave you feeling slim!

Waffles

From top to bottom: strawberry waffle with gelato; blueberry waffle with cream

Waffles

$38 (waffle with gelato); $28 (waffle with cream)

Pappa Gallo, Langham Place, Mong Kok

On a whim, I stepped into the Pappa Gallo dessert shop in the Langham Place basement and was pleasantly surprised by its diverse menu.  The shop specializes in waffles, crepes and other desserts that would more likely be found in a shop in Korea or in the States than in a Hong Kong restaurant.  I ordered a $28 blueberry waffle while my friend ordered, for $10 more, a strawberry waffle with his choice of gelato.  The presentation of both were exquisitely presented, and no sooner had I taken the above photos than I scarfed down my waffle by the fork-load.  Sweet, filling and inexpensive, that is an unbeatable combination!

In fact, I was more interested in trying out their Lavazza coffee, which can be purchased for only $15 (regular price, $20) with the purchase of any meal.  Unfortunately, I had already had two cups of coffee earlier in the day so that seductive Lavazza will have to wait until I return!

Excellent Fried Fish Fillets in Thailand

Affordable and good Western food in Thailand is hard to find, and usually you would get one but not the other. This small shop, only known to locals, offers both and provides good food at excellent value.

Fried Fish set with Toast and Salad: 45 baht (1.48 USD)

A plate of french fries: 40 baht (1.00 USD)

On Nut Soi 46, Bangkok, Thailand

At shopping malls or "proper" fish and chip shops or places selling Western food, this could easily go for 150-300 baht. The portions there would be just as equal, and the only benefit is that you get to use a napkin with the shop's name printed on it.

At this particular shop, the food is cheap but good, with large portions. You simply cannot argue with the value it provides. 

Although only known to locals and you would need a car to get there, it's worth the trip. The fish is crispy on the outside but maintains its tender texture and softness in the inside, while the french fries (ordered separately) is also freshly fried and crisp.

An additional piece of fish will only set you back 30 baht, which is excellent value given what you would need to pay anywhere else. They also offer food such as steak and som tum, but it truly shines with the fish.

Even though the shop is non-airconditioned, it is equipped with cool water fans which will keep you cool even during the summer months.

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The Restaurant at 22-32 Pok Fu Lam Road

The restaurant's exterior sign suggests that all sorts of Chinese dishes are served inside.

The daily set menu: we chose plan-A (the chicken) to go with our $52 fish. 

It seems as if this restaurant does, indeed, serve everything.  Nothing, save for the fish, is priced over $40.  Good value!

One fish and one dinner set sets me and my friend back $89.  

The clear soup that comes with the set meal

This is set meal A in its entirety.  The tea was free, by the way.

Chicken, onion and liver bits

The $52 fish: this guy, according to the waiter, had fewer bones than the other fish on offer.

Fish and Chicken

$52 (fish) and $37 (chicken set meal with rice, vegetable and soup)

22-32 Pok Fu Lam Road

I was scouting this restaurant as a possible venue for an informal gathering that I and my fellow research postgraduate student coordinators were organizing for our constituents.  We had heard about this restaurant from an acquaintance, who, last evening, took me to the restaurant.  We dined together.

I found this venue suitable because there was, even at the peak dinner time between 19:00-21:00, sufficient seating for nine.  (And if not, we could always book, the cashier told me.)  The portions and the price were in the right proportion so as to offer good value. (If we order one fish and one set dish for every two people, that will cost each person only $45 dollars.)  Besides, the venue is within walking distance from campus.  

Fruit Tree Peach and Apple Juice

Fruit Tree Fresh Peach and Apple Juice

$12.90 (1 liter carton); $21.80/2

Park N' Shop - Des Voex Road Central; Queen's Road West

These days, per my fast, I need juice, and spending $72 per day for a liter of green apple, parsley, spinach and celery juice from Cafe O will fast deplete my income; I need cheaper juice; and I have found it at Park N' Shop.  

I had time this morning to browse the juice selection at two Park N' Shops near my church.  Surprisingly, both sold their juices at the same prices: no price discrimination here.  The International Park N' Shop, however, had a greater selection, and that is where I bought two liters of the Peach and Apple Juice, and I also purchased a liter of carrot juice.

Of the Fruit Tree family of juices, I found the Peach and Apple juice offered the most nutritional value; other juice varieties, and other Fruit Tree flavors contained either too many calories, too much sodium, too much sugar or a combination of the three.  

Tub Tim Krob: an excellent Thai dessert

Tub Tim Krob, a refreshing Thai dessert served with fresh coconut milk and ice shavings is best savored at this speciality store at Thong Lo in Bangkok.

Tub Tim Krob is basically water chestnuts coated with flour and a bit of red syrup, served with coconut milk and crushed ice. The water chestnuts retain their crunchy insides but when you bite into it, you first feel the soft outside.

It's not too sweet, with the ice helping to reduce the amount of sweetness on the tongue.

The particular store I frequent specifically for tub tim Krob is located in Bangkok at Sukhumvit Soi 38, where they have street stalls open at night. The shop (and it is a shop proper and not a stall) is located around 15 meters into the Soi and is on the right.

Other stalls also sell this dessert, but this shop nails it with the perfect water chestnut texture and the right amount of coconut milk, so that it compliments and not overpowers the water chestnut.

At only 20 baht (USD 0.67), it's a nice refreshing end to a good Thai meal.