we are DEAD tonight...could someone deliver dinner to us??

That is just what we ended up doing tonight....room service....pizza and a hamby.

Aloha!

ended up with a club sandwich, chicken tikka and chicken wrapped in a leaf.

perfect

The lovely colonial house is about 100 years old. It has a royal connection.

There is lovely outside seating as well as inside. the old style rooms have been refitted and many are brightly colored with retro and modern furnishings. Some might consider it eclectic, but honestly it is very charming and works well.

We arrived in two taxis and some of us looked around on the 2nd floor before the others arrived. Pook says the house style is that of a 1940'/50's thai house. We enjoyed the bubbly and conversation before seating ourselves around a large oval table.

Mony was a perfect hostess and handled the menu selections. She chose 5 appetizers and 5 main courses, plus a surprise dessert.

The food is beautifully presented on interesting pottery. Flowers often accompanied each dish.

Appetizers:

the best ever slow cooked thai pork ribs, individually served out of a wooden box
tuna tartar in individual pastry shells with toppings presented in an old kitchen utensil with a handle
eggplant and shrimp in a delicious sauce
spicy beef with chiles and a sauce
smoked salmon slices with herbs

There were two plates of each choice

Mains:

Braised lamb shanks
soft shell crab towers with a pink sauce
filet steak thinly sliced, rare, with a finely chopped green topping
seafood thai soup in individual small bowls (shrimp and calamari)
a flaming chicken
rice

Italian Red wine and bubbly continued to flow during the whole meal---thanks pook.

Conversations continued to be lively, much of it centered on the food and its presentation.

The table was cleared and two giant banana leaves were placed in the middle of the table. We wondered what was next.

Pook announced that the young man who had entered the room was the restauran's pastry chef. The staff brought him a couple of trays and boxes with different ingredients in them.
In clear English he wove a story which related to the name of the dessert (Broken Barrel) and what it all meant.

So he proceeded to dobble items on the leaves, dump things onto the leaves, swirl things about on the leaves, toss other items onto the leaves until there was a complete mess. He then messed it up a bit more too. Finally an orb of dark chocolate about 6" in diameter was presented and it was smashed onto the leaves where it broke into many pieces. He then swirled it even more and we were allowed to serve ourselves from the "mess"... it was simply wild and delicious: chocolate, lemon curd, raspberry, vanilla cream and other flavors. With this 3 flavors of homemade sorbet were served from a coconut shell. A large rectangular platter of their famed petit fours were served as well.

simply amazing end to a wonderful meal... 1800 B per person.

First it was Gaggan recently, now it is Issaya, what will Pook come up with next?

You had to be there to get the full dramatic feeling from this meal.

each had a unique taste.

The staff summoned taxis for us and we were on our way. A fantastic evening had by all.

Friday Nov 2---Royal Barge Procession Day

Breakfast downstairs. Took a taxi to Platinum Fashion Mall on the other side of town where P&L were waiting for us right out front.

First stop was on the 5th floor--Coconut Banana--- the ultimate in cheap costume jewelry. Each girl left with a bag full.. Pat also bought a bunch of stuff from a shop called "Pink Pussy" , just opposite CB---mostly necklaces..

good place for ATM's there as well..

Next we moved next door to the new annex and to the 5th floor there as well--mostly shoes... Several pairs were bought as well as an additional suitcase for Pat ($11).

From there we headed to the four seasons Hotel where we were to meet up with the McBeanies. From there we headed to the Supatra River House Restaurant where I had a 1PM reservation.

From there we planned to watch the full dress rehearsal of the King's Barge Procession. It was quite amazing with perhaps 50 decorative barges with rowers in full dress. The rowers also chanted and sang, plus rowed in unison with great precession.

After lunch (thai food) and the procession, we had quite a difficult time getting taxis.

We took our cab to Chang's optical shop and picked up some of our new glasses. From there we went to River City Mall to JS Thai silk for Pat's purchases. We took the hotel boats back to the anantara, passing Asiatique on the way which was busy and brightly lit.

Simple american dinner in the hotel.

BED!!! exhausted.

Bob, can't remember have you been to Gaggan yet?

Issaya sounds just wonderful. Looking forward to trying it next year.

Checking your suggestions. Enjoying the read. Love to hear you're exhausted. This means GOOD TIME in BKK. :)

always a good time in bkk!!! can't get enough of it.

gaggan is on for the end of the month..

Saturday---

taxi after breakfast to jasmine ctr at the corner of soi 23, sukhumvit and sukhumvit--3rd fl. the periodic craft show is on this AM for 4 hours. met P&L there. bought a ton of hand made things there. the thai craft org. is a very worthy one. check out their website and schedule at: www.thaicraft.org


taxis back to the hotel. Pat went to pool, karen went for a haircut (500B) and i am a couch potato/computer rat, enjoying our suite and a/c.

plan to hang out for afternoon and P&L will take the boat over about sun down for a drink. we plan to take Anantara boat across the river to Asiatique and Baan Khahitha Restaurant for an easy evening.

btw, we had a very good driver this AM, with a med sized SUV who speaks decent english. i made a res with him for the airport on monday (700 B + toll). He also does sightseeing driving---floating mkt/tiger temple--runs to pattaya (2000 B), hua hin (2500B).
Chamnan Wanthana (Ong) 66-081-1163067
really nice guy and very good driver.

ASK PETER HOW HE LIKES ROS....

BTW, SUNNY, HUMID AND HOT TODAY.

Bob, I've been to that Thai craft market at Jasmine, but found it a little bit lacking.

You might want to eat at Asiatique, once you get there and see the vast assortment of options. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Sounds like its all good - yet another Bangkok restaurant? We'll never keep up...

We think the craft show is probably the best priced and best quality venue we have visited in bkk since rasi sayan closed some years ago.

surprised carol that you found it "lacking". What did you think was missing?

Tong called this PM and said she is picking us up at 7AM and taking us to a local floating market.

we have to be back here by 11 to meet billT at the Penn at noon.

After searching places to stay in BKK, I had dreams of BKK last night and I haven't even been there yet. :) So glad to look at the craft website.

Bob, I frankly find better selection at Amarin (the building next to the Erewan Hyatt and shopping plaza. Maybe I did not go at a very good time the ONE time I went to the craft fair at Jasmine. Just my own take on it.

Have fun with Tong.

We loved our visit to the craft fair and the many items purchased there. Some very unique items all hand made. Am anxious to compare with the Amarin in a few days when we are back in Bangkok and staying at the Grand Hyatt Erawan. Will let you know our take on the two, thanks for the tip Carol.

Aloha!

we too will check out amarin...i forget about it...

Smeagol...Gaggan is on our schd, in a week or so. We are looking forward to it.

HT: The Hyatt is my favorite place to stay in central BKK (tho admittedly haven't stayed @ 4 Seasons. Pool area is terrific, location perfect, and staff exceptional. Only off-putting note for me is the very weird entrance to the hotel from street level (SkyTrain level is fine, though). Check out the You & Mee resto in the street/basement level: casual, convenient, decent-quality noodle shop.

Kimballs: In admiration here of your continuing resilience.

Aloha Don,

We were at The GH today waiting to catch the shuttle to the Hyatt Hua Hin and ate lunch at the You and Mee while waiting which was pretty darn good. There is also a small buffet there for 390 baht which includes one main noodle dish along with all on the buffet table. The lobby looked fab and can't wait to get back there to experience the rest of the hotel. Will do a tr whe we return to give my perspective on our places we have encountered. Hope all is well with you.
I personally am in admiration of Karen's continued resilience. ;)

Aloha!