Chiang Mai – The Restaurant – at the Chedi

Via: Wall Street Journal

For many people, the mention of Chiang Mai brings images of ancient temples, gentle elephants and adventure sports – charming and rustic, but without the glamour of Bali, Koh Samui or even parts of Bangkok.

But gourmet Indian food?

Thailand’s “Rose of the North” is increasingly defined by more than just its mountains and temples, as it successfully lures many Thais, foreign expatriates and tourists to its bustling city center. As part of that trend, the Chedi Chiang Mai, a resort of boutique-luxury specialists General Hotel Management (GHM) Ltd., opened its doors in 2006 to become the first five-star hotel located along the Ping River.

The resort, just steps away from Chiang Mai’s famed night market and Sunday Walking Street, has been constructed around what was once the British Consulate. If the US$300 price-tag for a night at the hotel sounds a bit much, opt for the next best thing – a meal at The Chedi’s restaurant, simply named The Restaurant, housed in the former consulate’s early 20th-century colonial villa.

Though the hotel management is aware that location is one of the key factors behind the hotel and restaurant’s success, initial visitors were not wild about The Restaurant’s menu. Reviewers raved about the hotel’s “exceptional” rooms, surroundings and spa, but not so much the food, which critics deemed sub-par.

In 2010, though, the menu underwent a re-launch, propelling the restaurant into one of the top dining experiences in Chiang Mai.

Read more, HERE:

http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/02/17/food-fridays-the-restaurant-chedi-chiang-mai/?mod=google_news_blog

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Chiang Mai – SP Chicken

Via: New York Times

In Chiang Mai, there is food everywhere: rows of vendors selling bowls of noodles or coils of sausage, bustling outdoor markets where inscrutable soups and stews are set out in trays and in plastic to-go bags, and street stalls where treats hidden inside banana leaf packages are grilled over charcoal. “In  the beginning, you have no idea what any of this stuff is,” Mr. Ricker said as we ogled dozens of bowls of chile relishes at a covered market. “And you can’t  ask anyone because you don’t know more than a few words of Thai.”

It was good fortune, then, that early in his adventures, he met Chavalit Van, known as Mr. Lit. Now in his early 60s, Mr. Lit opened SP Chicken in 1977 on the moat road that surrounds the old city. He recently retired, leaving the daily operation of the restaurant to his wife and daughter, but Mr. Ricker almost always spots him out back, entertaining his grandson.

The first thing you see at SP Chicken — and the items that first caught Mr. Ricker’s attention — are the lemongrass- and garlic-stuffed chickens rotating out front on a vertical spit beside a wall of glowing charcoal. “When I finally approached him to figure out how he did it,” said Mr. Ricker, of Mr. Lit’s poultry, “I said something in halting Thai and he responded in near-perfect English.” They struck up a friendship, and later Mr. Lit taught him how he modified the cheap rotisseries you find in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

During a brief but furious Thai rainstorm, we sat beneath the restaurant’s aluminum awning on plastic chairs while the two old friends caught up. As we ate sticky rice, papaya salad and those flavor-packed birds, hacked into pieces and served with a sweet, spicy dipping sauce, they discussed the toils of running restaurants. The food is incredibly good, but it’s not just the flavors at SP Chicken that inspired Mr. Ricker. “I love that he has been making more or less the same food for more than 30 years,” he said.

SP Chicken, 31/1 Sri Phum Road; no phone.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/travel/in-chiang-mai-a-chef-traces-his-menus.html

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Chiang Mai Falafel King – ‘When (where) drug users get hooked’

Via: Bangkok Post

The warning follows the arrest of three members of a gang in Chiang Mai last week after two holidaymakers lodged complaints with police that they had been blackmailed by drug dealers.

The three suspects were identified as gang leader Shmilov Herzel, 29, an Israeli with a Canadian passport, his 20-year-old Thai wife Thasani Klanklin, and Phichet Pheungsai, 39, a key associate.

According to the Chiang Mai-based Immigration Bureau’s Division 5, the gang had been under police surveillance for some time before their arrest.

They had been placed under police watch last month after local officers were told by the US Drug Enforcement Administration that an Israeli national who was a major drug dealer in the US and wanted by authorities there had opened a restaurant in Chiang Mai.

The suspect was also on an arrest warranted issued by the Canadian police, said Division 5 commander Thitirat Nonghanphithak.

The DEA’s information led police to Mr Herzel, who ran the Falafel King restaurant on Chai Si Phum Road in Muang district.

Mr Herzel’s wife managed both businesses and supplied various illegal drugs including cannabis, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy to tourists in Chiang Mai.

“They opened the restaurant simply to hide the illicit business of selling drugs to foreigners,” said Pol Maj Gen Thitirat.

“If any customer said ‘yes’ to the restaurant’s ‘special service’ on the menu, they could shop for various types of drugs as if they were in a 7-Eleven store and then go upstairs to take them,” he said.

By coincidence, while the authorities were investigating the gang’s activities at the restaurant, two male tourists lodged a complaint with immigration police on May 19, claiming they were being blackmailed by Mr Herzel and Mrs Thasani.

Jan Pieter Rutter, 22, from Belgium, and John Eric Crabtree, from the United States, told the police that after buying the drugs at the Falafel King restaurant, Mrs Thasani called Mr Phichet, who impersonated a police officer, to arrest the two.

Mr Rutter and Mr Crabtree claimed Mr Phichet then took them to an ATM and told them to withdraw 45,000 baht (approx. $1,500USD) and give it to him in exchange for their freedom.

Read the rest, HERE:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/240744/when-drug-users-get-hooked

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Trip Advsior: ‘happy-happy customers’:

Reviewed April 22, 2011

“. . . the owner is really nice & welcoming.”

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Reviewed April 13, 2011

Owner is a CHAMP!!!

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Reviewed April 16, 2011

” . .  .and the Canadian guy who served us was very friendly.”

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293917-d1996972-Reviews-Falafel_King-Chiang_Mai.html

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Vietnamese vegetarian killed in apparent suicide in Nonthaburi

Via: The Nation

Nonthaburi – A Vietnamese vegetarian was killed Monday morning in apparent suicide when he fell from his room of a residential building in side the Sukhothai Thammathirat University.

Tran Huu Dan, 24, fell from his room on the eight floor of the Chalermprakiart Building at 9:30 am.He checked into the room with three other friends on May 22. They were scheduled to check out Monay.

Komsan Phokong, deputy director of the open university, said some 1,000 Vietnamese vegetarians sought permission to use the university’s compound to organize the world vegetarian festival to pray from May 22 to 30.

They arrived on buses and stayed at the building.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Vietnamese-vegetarian-killed-in-apparent-suicide-i-30156545.html

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photo: ‘Heavy tongue piercing at the annual Vegetarian Festival Thailand’

http://www.thailandmagic.com/Thailand-Festivals.html

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Q: Did you go to the Vegetarian Festival?

A: Oh, hell no!    I STAYED ON THE BUS, and Tip the driver and I, had ribs at the Dukes, Chiang Mai.

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/chiang-mai-the-dukes-restaurant/

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Chiang Mai – the Duke’s Restaurant

Via: Chiang Mai Chimes

The Duke’s is all about FOOD. Lots and lots of it. Without any doubt, The Duke’s is the best known and best loved American Restaurant in Chiang Mai.

The enduring quality of The Duke’s is down to one man, Dave, the owner, a restauranteur from California, who ensures that no compromises are made in the quality of the ingredients used and the high standards of preparation.

The portions are indeed enormous and it is a common sight to see replete customers leaving with a “Doggy Bag”  clutched in their hands.

http://www.chiangmaichimes.com/restaurants/the-duke’s.html

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Q1: Do they have a good menu?

A1: yeah, man!

Here’s the menu, via, Chiang Mai’s – Meals on Wheel’s

http://www.mealsonwheels4u.com/food_show.php?restaurant_id=017

note: However, I’m not sure if the menu is up and running during NON-business hours.

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Q2: Tell me the truth, is the food any good?

A2: I believe if this restaurant was in any U.S. city or town, there would be customers waiting outside on any given Friday or Saturday night!

Seriously; the food, service, ambiance is THAT GOOD!

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Thai Visa (dot) com

I think this is the BEST ‘expat’ source of information for people who:

- LIVE in Thialand

or,

- are considering MOVING to Thailand

or,

- are simply thinking about VISITING Thailand

http://www.thaivisa.com/

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Chiang Mai – ‘Butter is Better’ is the BEST, . . .

Bakery and Breakfast joint in town!

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‘from their website’

 ”Remember how rich and buttery pastries used to taste? At Butter is Better we do, too. That’s why we use genuine butter and only butter in all our pastries.

And our commitment to quality doesn’t stop with butter.
Whether they’re in our pastries, breads, soups, or casseroles, all our ingredients are honest and old fashioned – the kind your great grandma used.

So, if you have forgotten how rich and delicious old fashioned food used to taste, we’re here to remind you. Because at Butter is Better, we turn happy memories into food.”

http://www.butterisbetterbakery.com/

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Example: Breakfast Set 3

choice of toast, choice of eggs, choice of meat, comes with coffee (including one refill) or tea and a glass of orange juice.

My choice of toast: the HOMEMADE english muffins and HOMEMADE jam!

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I mean try getting that at Denny’s, and try getting it for:

150baht @ 30.30 = $4.95

Amari Rincome Hotel will close 1May-2011

The following was sent to hotel executives in the Chiang Mai area:

Dear all executives,

Greeting from Amari Rincome Chiang Mai ka. I’m Ping- the HR Manager of Amari Rincome.

It is my sadness to announce that on 1st May 2011, the 42-year old Amari Rincome Chiang Mai will close its doors to facilitate a new urban development project which will include a new, smaller Amari hotel. The 85-room property will be part of a larger redevelopment project which includes a community mall, retail areas, cinemas and restaurants.

Amari Rincome has been an integral part of the local community for over 40 years. It is therefore with sadness that we announce the end of this particular era. My team members were officially informed yesterday regarding to the transformation plan issue and their last working day will be on 30th April which coming very soon.

However, it will be my great pleasure to have your kind support for the list of vacancies in your property. This will be very useful information for my team to prepare and plan themselves for those who could not travel out to be a part of others Amari properties.

Hope to hear from all of you very soon. And sorry if I miss some contact.

Thank you very much in advance for your kind support and regards,

Ping

***

It’s a very nice hotel, and wish them the very best with their  new venture.

However, what I’m going to miss most is the wonderful lunch buffet at the La Gritta Restaurant.

Chiang Mai – Spirit House Restaurant & Bar

The Spirit House Restaurant & Bar is one of those quite amazing places which take you completely by surprise. The Spirit House Restaurant & Bar is located in the bustling Chang Puak area of Chiang Mai but is a haven of peace and tranquility. The Spirit House has indoor seating and a delightful garden area, full of tropical plants and water fountains, which surrounds an old Chedi. Not much is known about the original temple, but the owner, Steve, told us that the temple is thought to have sunk below the ground many years ago.

http://www.chiangmaichimes.com/gay-chiang-mai/spirit-house-bar.html

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The reviewer has it right; it truly is an amazing place!!

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I will add, the food is really, really, really good; especially the desserts!

 

Note: Steve was a pastry chef in New Orleans for I think, seven-years?

 

Anywhooo, he’s got it down!

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One other thing, it’s a very inexpensive.

examples?

okay, how about:

- American style meat loaf, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw (150baht @ 34 baht to the dollar) = $4.41USD

or,

Cordon Bleu (chicken/ham/gruyere cheese), oven roasted potatos, and steam vegtables (160baht @ 34baht to the dollar) = $4.71USD

Bangkok’s – ‘Seafood Market and Restaurant’

At +1,500 seats, it’s about as ‘intimate’ as a ‘high school basketball playoff game’; i.e. NOT ‘intimate’.

But with that said, it’s probably as much fun as a ‘high school basketball playoff game’; and the food, oh man, it’s soooooo good!!

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How it works:

1. After you are seated, you take a look at the ‘preparation styles list’ on your table, and then go pick up a shopping cart.

Note: Preparation styles: As Bubba Gump would say:

“Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That – that’s about it.”

2. You then go to the 50-METER long counter, and pick out what you want: Shrimp, Swordfish, Alaska King Crab, Phuket Lobster, Halibut, >>>>>>>>>>

3. You throw it in the cart, and take it back to your table. A waiter will come by ask you how you want it prepared, what you want for side dishes and drinks, etc, etc.

4. You pay ‘market price’ by kilo for the seafood, and ‘cooking charges’ at the end of the meal.

As you can guess, it’s quite noisy and hectic, but I’ve NEVER been disappointed with a meal.

http://www.seafood.co.th/

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Side-story:

I don’t remember exactly when it was, maybe early 90′s, I went to the Market one night for dinner.

As usual, there were a couple of ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ Thai hostesses at the door.

They greeted me with big smiles and wai’s (traditional Thai greeting: palms together, slight bow).

I smiled and wai’d em back, and since there were no other customers nearby, I pointed to a small sign with the restaurants motto, “IF IT SWIMS WE HAVE IT”, and asked, with a very straight-face:

“Do you have mermaid?”

I KNEW it would be met with blank stares, so I repeated ‘MER-MAID’, and ‘Pulled a Marcel’ (Marceau), and pantomimed a ‘breast-stroke’.

Still nothing, so I said, “You know, the movie, ‘The Little Mermaid’!!”.

It took less than two-seconds for one of ‘em, and less than three seconds for the other, to ‘GET IT’.

They both laughed like crazy, and cracked me up by saying, “Sorry Sir, we no have mermaid tonight.” – laugh, laugh, laugh

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Good Gawd Almighty – I LOVE THAILAND!!!