Scenic Restaurants Fine Dining for the Trendy Lifestyle Published in 2010 by JADES Publishing Co., Ltd. 218 Soi Chan 43, Chan Road, Bang Khlo, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120 Thailand. Tel . +66 2 212 4112 ext.110, Fax.+66 2 212 2062, +66 2 674 9774 e-mail : [email protected] www.jades2007.com Project Advisor/ Surakit Tangchaisak Writer/ Vorasarin Tangchaisak Sales Manager/ Chanyapatr Kaewsopaar Graphic Designer, Lay Out & Cover/ Suchard Anmai Sales Executive/ Woraluck Phinthep, Thipsunee Thanawuttipong Administration/ Suravit Pattamasevee Accountants/ Wacharin Satit, Chanakarn Srisongkram Colour Separation & Printed by/ Eastern Printing Public Co., Ltd. Tel. +66 2 551 0533-44 copyright c 2010 by JADES publishing Co.,Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. 5 SERVICES PROMOTION DIVISION TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (HEAD OFFICE) 1600 Phetchaburi Road, Makkasan Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand Tel. +66 2 250 5500 (120 automatic lines). Fax +66 2 250 5511 Call Center 1672 e-mail : [email protected] www.tourismthailand.org 6 6 Contents Scenic Restaurants Scenic Restaurants 7 008-013 Introd u c t i o n 014-081 Scenic Restaurants 082-109 Panoramic Restaurants 110-121 Dinner Cruises 122-146 Theme Restaurants 148-151 Index Scenic Restaurants 152-154 Index TAT Offices 8 Introduction Fine Dining Scenic for the Trendy Restaurants, 8 Lifestyle Scenic Restaurants 9 Since the beginning of humanity, the evolution of our eating habit has progressed tremendously over the course of time. Before, we ate to stay alive as it is one of the basic necessities of life. While that still remains true, it is undeniable that dining has also become a social event, an occasion for romance, a quality time for families to spend together, or even an opportunity for consummating business transactions. Perhaps the reason for this is that there really aren’t many occasions that allow people to come together and enjoy a mutual activity they could participate in. In the world of business, the restaurant a company chooses to take its customers for entertaining speaks many unspoken words. In a way, it symbolizes the company’s status and how much the clients are valued. Often, deals are made based on the success of an impressive dinner which might also be followed by a few drinks and entertainment. With nice scenery, good food, fine services, pleasant music, and interesting company, not much else could go wrong. It is the perfect opportunity to strengthen a business relationship between a company and its client. Even before the trend of corporate dinners began, one of the most popular methods a man chooses to impress his date is by taking her out to a fine restaurant. During the first few dates, the atmosphere plays an even more important role than the food as both parties are most likely to be too busy focusing on the right words to say than relishing the taste of what’s in front of them. Thus, being surrounded by a romantic setting can really make a difference. As for quality family time, having home-cooked meals day after day can become routinely boring. Going out to eat once in a while not only allows the housewife a break from her daily chores, but also provides the whole family time to explore new menus in a fresh surrounding. Scenic Restaurants 10 When going on vacation, most people would incorporate fine dining as part of the perfect holiday. Naturally after months of hard work, it feels right to splurge on life’s little luxuries like fine French cuisine sixty storeys above the streets or a dazzling dinner cruise along the river. Holidays at a seaside town definitely call for beach barbecues and cocktails with live music in the midst of soft white sands and a refreshing sea breeze. With such emphasis placed on the whole dining trend, presenting diners with an unforgettable experience has become a challenge for any competing restaurant establishment. Customer’s expectations have raised the bar so high that every restaurant is faced with bigger challenges as they grow. No longer able to rely on the taste of the food alone, creating a nice atmosphere is one of the most vital parts for any successful restaurant. Maintaining a place in the spotlight means serving the finest, most delicious food combined with unique decoration, convenient location, scenic view, and attentive service as modern diners go out to restaurants for ‘an experience’ rather than just to fill their stomach. Scenic Restaurants 11 Scenic Restaurants 12 Globalization of World Cuisine As the world becomes more universal, demand for international cuisine also grows. The more people travel, the more they are familiarized with food of various cultures and savor tastes they had never experienced before. New experiences bring new knowledge which inevitably opens doors to the use of new and exotic spices, better and rarer ingredients, at the same time challenging chefs to raise their standard of cooking even higher. Secret recipes passed on for generations are diversified to make way for more varieties, and food from different cultures are combined to create a new breed of fusion cuisine. Scenic Restaurants 13 Every culture’s food has its own main stars which pretty much dominate the flavor and set the tone. In Italian cooking, we often see the use of tomatoes in combination with cheese. Indian food, however, is dictated by strong-scented spices like cumin, turmeric, saffron, etc. Thai food, on the other hand, usually consists of many different herbs to create a burst of different flavors. Let’s take a look at some of the herbs and spices most often found in Thai cooking. Starting with ‘Phrik Khi Nu’ or small fresh chilies, these tiny but powerful pods are found in over half of all Thai menus as Thai people enjoy their food spicy. They also contain capsaisin, an active ingredient beneficial to the blood pressure and heart. The next most popular item must be ‘Manao’ or lime as its citric sour juice is used in the various ‘Yams’ and ‘Tom Yams’. Lime is high in vitamin C, an excellent source for anti-oxidant. Also a favorite ingredient is ‘Bai Kaphrao’ or holy basil leaves that go well with stir-fried meats. The green and purple leaves contain 0.5% volatile oil which exhibits antimicrobial activity. ‘Saranae’ (mint), ‘Hom Daeng’ (shallots), ‘Ton Hom’ (spring onions) are often used as a set for ‘Nam Tok’ dishes. They also have volatile oils which contain anti-flu agents. Also found in all Thai kitchens is ‘Phak Chi’ or cilantro which provides decoration as well as refreshing scent to food. It offers many benefits such as aiding digestion. Not to be forgotten is another star of Thai cooking, ‘Krathiam’ or garlic. Health benefits of garlic are so numerous they range from preventing colds and flu to managing cholesterol levels. These pungent cloves give meat a full flavor and make any dish tastier. ‘Kha’ (galangal), ‘Takhrai’ (lemongrass) and ‘Bai Makrut’ (kaffir lime leaves) are the basic herbs that give Tom Yam its distinct flavor and aroma. Apart from providing a zesty tang to food, studies have shown that they actually contain anti-cancer properties. Recently started by health spas, fresh stalks of lemongrass or ‘Takhrai’ and ‘Bai Toei’ (pandan leaves) are used for making herbal tea. Moreover, lemon grass is great as a natural mosquito repellent while pandan leaves are used as a diuretic. Apart from giving Thai food its distinctive flavors, these herbs and spices are absolutely beneficial to health. As a completion to any fine dining experience, drinking wine has become such a phenomenon around the world that any restaurant catering to the more refined groups of clientele is automatically expected to carry an extensive selection of wine. With new world wine from Australia, Chile, the United States or even Thailand out in the market, old world wine from France and Italy must make room for their young competition. This gives an opportunity for connoisseurs to enjoy a wider range of wine at more reasonable prices and a better chance of matching the right wine to specific food. Scenic Restaurants 14 Thailand is a country blessed with picture-perfect natural scenery from the North to the South. In the North and Northeast, the misty mountains are covered with fertile green forests and natural flowers growing wild. There is nothing like enjoying a meal in the midst of the valleys that wind along the descending foothills and the sounds of waterfalls trickling in the background. The mountain range that runs in a maze provides a majestic backdrop for some of the most picturesque sunsets ever seen. Cool air envelopes the surrounding for an enhanced atmosphere of alfresco dining. A timeless romantic setting, dining by the river has always been a popular choice for decades. There is something alluring about the river and its history that many find magical. Watching life along the river and boats passing by is much like watching a play on stage. It makes one reminisce about the good old days in the past when things were simple. As night falls, the glittering water sparkles with lights reflected from houses and buildings along the banks. Passing boats that make little ripples in the water even helps to create magic. The most inspiring scenery known to draw travelers from around the world to Thailand are the heavenly beaches. The vast open sky that blends with the clear blue ocean makes the kind of picture that lasts forever in the memory. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing into the sand and the cries of seagulls making their way back to the nest is music to the ears.