Thai in Walmer Castle

In a tiny way, I almost feel responsible. I'm the one who sent him to Thailand in search of low-cost whistles. Filled his head with pseudoerotic tales of my own Opium excursions. Plus, I have him some phone numbers of places he could score near the hotel 

J Peterman (Seinfeld episode “The Bookstore”) 

No I’m not talking about the one built by Henry VIII. I’m talking about the gastropub in Notting Hill. As usual for the area the pub has a Thai restaurant and there is no exception with Walmer Castle, nice laid back traditional pub style downstairs, and upstairs a Thai cuisine world. 

Thai Menu

Keep Calm and Eat Thai

We got a couple starters including the duck spring rolls and crispy squid with salt and pepper. Nice flavours and a good start. For mains we went for Kaeng Kiew Wan the traditional green curry with aubergine and added tiger prawns, and the Pad Kee Mao Talay stir fry noodles with prawns and squid. 

Rolls

Squid

Stir fry noodles

Green curry

The food was good, the curry was better than the noodles, nice flavours but not the best Thai I have had. Probably the Churchill Arms is a bit better. If you’re around and running out of options, or craving Thai give it a go, and the pub is a gem, really lovely with great atmosphere.

Walmer Castle

T: 020 7229 4620

Thai Cuisine / Pub

Approx Damage: £20pp

Area: Notting Hill

Borough: Chelsea & Kensington

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Thai in Sin City [On The Road: Las Vegas]

Away from the hectic strip there is one of the best ethnic restaurants in the USA. Lotus of Siam a Thai heaven in Vegas Nevada. Chef Saipin Chutima took charge of the place in 1999 and based her cuisine with recipes passed down from more than 100 years within the generations in her family. The restaurant has won several awards and accolades including the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2011 for Chef Saipin. 

The place

Some of the accolades and awards

I got there around 11:30 a couple minutes before opening because I had a flight to catch in couple hours later. Already a group of people was waiting for the place to open, and within minutes of being sat at my table the place quickly filled with punters going either for the buffet or the menu. Too many dishes and everything looked amazing, I couldn’t made my mind so I asked for the house specialties to the waiter to get some guidance. 

The menu

He came immediately Pad Thai, my answer was “seriously?” So I rephrase for him, if you had only one chance to eat here what would you eat. So he went immediately, as starter Koong Sarong. Shrimps on a blanket, it was amazing, some sort of filo covering the perfectly cooked shrimp, great recommendation. 

Shrimps

Then I add Nam Kao Tod. Crispy rice deep fried, who would have thought about that! The touch of ginger and coriander brought an explosion of flavours. I loved also the acidity of the dish and the aromas. Be careful the dish is quite aggressive a bit over the edge with the acidity levels, I really like it but might be a deal breaker to others 

Crispy Rice

The main and second recommendation was Khoa Soi with pork noodles. I had my Friends moment “Oh My God!” I heard Janice loud and clear as soon as I took the first bite. I started to look around other tables in disbelief of my happiness, am I overreacting? Is this so good really? Everybody seems to be enjoying. It was superb, great the flavours spot on right level of spiciness. The broth or cream based of the curry amazing. Noodles cooked perfectly, some of them fried giving a crispy touch and different texture. The pork was nice but not the main event, it didn’t stand a chance with the overall composition of that dish. Again the use of coriander and basil just great 

The amazing Khoa Soi

I ended with mango sticky rice, nice a bit different the sticky rice with the yoghurty sweet touch and tender mango played quiet nicely. 

Juicy and tender mango

Amazing food was delicious service everything was great. You won’t regret it. 

Thai welcome

Thai cuisine reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Bottle Deposit” 

Jerry: He pulled an LBJ on you

George: LBJ?

Jerry: Lyndon Johnson, used to do that to his staffers

George: No kidding?

Jerry: Oh yeah. He'd hold national security meetings in there. He planned the Hanoi bombing after a bad Thai meal

Lotus of Siam

T: +1 702 735 3033

Thai Cuisine

Approx Damage: $35pp

Area: East Side

Las Vegas
Twitter: LotusOfSiam

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Follow the White Rabbit [On The Road: Melbourne]

One busy place in Melbourne was no doubt Chin Chin. Hectic restaurant, noisy, quite busy, Asian influence, including Thai and Vietnamese dishes, open every day but Christmas day, walk ins only, actually just one 10-12 people table that you can reserve, modern industrial décor, and the rolling stones trembling the walls. 

The place

Décor

My first visit was a starter attack, after studying the menu I decided only to eat starters, first the spicy corn and coriander fritters, beyond imagination, crunchy texture created by the iceberg where you wrapped your fritter, good spicy kick from the chilli jam, excellent execution. Moving on to one of my favourites chilli salt chicken wings, one of the best I have had, the battered spot on, chilli, saltiness, and acidity thanks to the lemon, excellent. Then wok fried salt and pepper squid, finally a spot on the white dress, it was good, nice flavour, but the texture wasn't the correct, a bit too chewy. Finally the Pork roll ups, back to top performance delivery, full of flavour, the red braised suckling pig outstanding with the sweet sauce a perfect pair. 

Fritters

Fritters close up

Wings

Squid

Pork

My second visit got the son in law eggs with chilli, the chilli sweet jam was awesome, good combination with the boiled egg. Then moved to scud city, jungle curry, wild boar, pickled garlic and ginger, really spicy, to the point you start to lose the flavour of the dish, the texture put me off a bit, not their finest.

Scud city

Son in law

For drink they have a decent selection of local beers, my choice a dirty granny, you have to love Australian's beer names. 

Dirty granny

The bar

Food is so good that as soon as you tasted you forget all the noise and racket, just get immersed into the strong aromatic flavours. Service a bit inconsistent, good at full throttle then got a bit relaxed. 

Policy

Menu

Granny reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Non-Fat Yogurt” 

Newman: Well, I wouldn't hear of it. I said, nice try, granny! And I sent her to the back of the line! 

Jerry: Hello, Newman 

Newman Hello, Jerry, say, this yogurt is really something, huh? And it's non-fat! I've been waiting for something like this my whole life, and it's finally here!

Chin Chin
T: +61 3 8663 2000
Asian Cuisine
Approx Damage: AU$60pp
Area: CBD
Melbourne
Twitter: chinchinmelb

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Churchill Where are the arms?

One of my favourite watering holes in London is The Churchill Arms. The décor definitely has character, old memorabilia all around, historic pub, opened in 1750, and an excellent Guinness. For that reason I always take visitors there, so they can experience a nice British pub. One thing I’m trying to figure it out is why in that area most of the pubs have a Thai restaurant, it’s like a theme in Kensington/Notting Hill, well Churchill is one of them and actually the first one in London to have a Thai restaurant, so we must blame them for that. 

The pub

Getting in

My friend Maraca came down here to the rainy capital, and stayed nearby the Bayswater area so our first stop was Thai food and a pint. We got a couple lagers I went for my Guinness while we waited for a table in the restaurant, it’s amazing how you cross a door and it’s like getting into Narnia, basically it’s a tropical paradise, they call it butterfly themed conservatory, completely opposite to the pub old memorabilia style. 

Jubilee celebration decor

With Maraca

We got our table, and decided to order a couple dishes to share between the four of us. First prawn crackers and spring rolls, both nice, good spicy kick into the crackers and in the dipping sauce for the spring rolls, probably the spring rolls where the weak point. Then as a main, we shared three dishes, Pad Thai, Kaeng Ped Phed Yang, and Pad Gai Himmaparn. The Pad Thai was traditional, well executed, nice chilli flavour, with the peanuts, the bean sprouts, the onions, and the egg, good start. The Kaeng Ped, lovely, roasted duck red curry, the coconut milk just perfect, a touch of pineapple, and the basil, perfect, best dish of the night. Finally the Pad Gai, stir fried chicken, cashew nuts, onions, peppers, chilli, and soy sauce, it was excellent the combination of flavours. 

Lunch menu

Menu

Crackers

Rolls

Duck

Curry Duck

Pad Gai and Pad Thai

Great dinner, nice beer, and amazing venue. One of our friends that visits Thailand regularly said this is the real deal, he would expect these flavours in Thailand. Think that's a pretty good compliment, for me it's a must stop if you're visiting or just happen to be in the area.

Themed pub

Where is the Thai restaurant? © Fuller's

Thailand reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Bookstore” 

Peterman: Elaine, do you have a moment? It's about your lover 

Elaine: Oh yes. I know all about his little performance in the break room 

Peterman: Elaine, who among us hasn't snuck into the break room to nibble on a love newton? 

Elaine: Love newton? 

Peterman: I'm afraid the problem with Zach is more serious. He's back on the horse, Elaine. Smack. White palace. The Chinaman's nightcap 

Elaine: An addict? Well, it just keeps getting better! 

Peterman: And, in a tiny way, I almost feel responsible. I'm the one who sent him to Thailand in search of low-cost whistles. Filled his head with pseudo erotic tales of my own Opium excursions. Plus, I have him some phone numbers of places he could score near the hotel. 

Elaine: Look, uh, Mr. Peterman, the fact is that I was planning on breaking up with Zach anyway. He was cheating on me! 

Peterman: Damn it, Elaine. That wasn't Zach, that was the yam-yam. Now, he is going cold turkey, and you will be at his side

The Churchill Arms

T: 020 7727 4242

Pub / Thai Cuisine

Approx Damage: £18pp

Area: Kensington

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

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Coco Thai a lounge with a view

A good thing about Caracas is that you can find any type of cuisine you want, and the execution is quite good. So one of my stops this time was for Thai cuisine, Mary’s favourite have to say Coco Thai & Lounge. The place is in the Tolon Fashion Mall, quite famous for the gastronomic movement due to a dedicated floor to restaurants (5th floor). Typical Asian decoration and a terrace with an excellent view of the Avila. Menu is basically Thai with some additions of other Asian cuisines, mainly Japanese rolls, and a good cocktail list. 

Coco

We decided to share different dishes and mainly sushi rolls, so we went for a tempura salmon (Coquitos de Salmon), an special wakame salad, and then three different sushi  rolls Alaska special, Spicy Tuna, and a Tempura one. 

An overcast view of the Avila

The food was excellent, the coquitos were great, salmon with cream cheese tempura was superb, with a drizzle of a sweet mustard sauce just excellent, the wakame special salad was the best dish of the night, light and tasty, with tempura shrimp and octopus, just awesome. Sushi rolls were perfectly executed, which is pretty standard for Caracas, but this ones where definitely spot on. Alaska special, quite good, salmon, avocado, and cream cheese, with salmon eggs, excellent, then the spicy tuna quite good, and finally a shrimp tempura with cream cheese and crab, nice flavours. 

Salmon tempura

Wakame salad

Shrimp roll

Spicy Tuna roll

Alaska roll

Excellent food, nice ambience, superb view, a place to relax and enjoy a couple drinks. 

Thailand remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Bookstore” 

Peterman: Elaine, do you have a moment? It's about your lover 

Elaine: Oh yes. I know all about his little performance in the break room 

Peterman: Elaine, who among us hasn't snuck into the break room to nibble on a love Newton? 

Elaine: Love newton? 

Peterman: I'm afraid the problem with Zach is more serious. He's back on the horse, Elaine. Smack. White palace. The Chinaman's nightcap 

Elaine: An addict? Well, it just keeps getting better! 

Peterman: And, in a tiny way, I almost feel responsible. I'm the one who sent him to Thailand in search of low-cost whistles. Filled his head with pseudoerotic tales of my own Opium excursions. Plus, I have him some phone numbers of places he could score near the hotel 

Elaine: Look, uh, Mr. Peterman, the fact is that I was planning on breaking up with Zach anyway. He was cheating on me! 

Peterman: Damn it, Elaine. That wasn't Zach. That was the yam-yam. Now, he is going cold turkey, and you will be at his side 

Elaine: Oh. Well, you know, I had planned to uh… 

Peterman: No buts, Elaine. Or I will strip you of your associate status. Uh, P.S., the first twenty-four hours are the worst, better bring a poncho

Coco Thai & Lounge

T: +58 212 300 8562

Aprox Damage: BsF 200pp

Area: Las Mercedes

Caracas
Twitter: CocoThaiRest

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