Thursday, November 28, 2013

Siam Bakery - coffee and a cake


This was a place which I learnt through working in the Hotel Industry - because he delivers his croissants to a lot of Hotels around Phuket. 



Despite this I did not have a croissant but a chocolate cake and a cappuccino. The cappuccino was smooth and the milk was certainly very frothy and I almost drank it all straight off so I have a feeling that it was not the strongest coffee (for me that day it was perfect).



The chocolate cake was okay but not something that I would rave about.

The beauty of this little place was it's location (and the croissant and breakfast that I have never had) - perfect for a snack or a coffee and a cake.



Website: 
Facebook:  
Phone Number:  076 355 947
Email: siam16hkt@hotmail.com 
Approximate price: $$$$$ 
Address: 13 Yaowarat Road, Muang, Phuket Town 83000 
Hours:


Friday, November 22, 2013

Vegetarian Restaurants in Phuket - a challenge?


"Where are the best Vegetarian Restaurants in Phuket?"


This is a common question that I get at work - I know that at each restaurant where I work gives a selection of Vegetarian dishes to choose from but where do you go in Phuket for a selection?


My first choice would be the selection of noodle shops in the heart of Phuket Old Town - on Ranong Road and close to where Jui Tui Chinese Shrine.



There must be more but I don't know them, so I turned to the Internet - twitter and search engines.


TripAdvisor gave me a very large choice but then again they also included restaurants which served other types of food.
Aol Travel gave me two restaurants 
(which I had not heard of).
Phuket Index gave me a very detailed guide to restaurants in Phuket and even gave examples of the dishes served.


Sorry but the best time to come would be during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (any excuse to upload a photo ;) - not just for the celebrations but for the streets in the heart of Phuket Town full of people selling Vegetarian Food.

I guess that there does not seem to be a great demand - is there?

You tell me where to go...
thisis2tim@yahoo.co.uk 



Saturday, November 16, 2013

Fried Chicken and sticky rice (Street Food)


Gai Tod (ไก่ทอด)



Fried chicken and sticky rice is a favourite of my daughter's and I enjoy it as well.

It is a dish which is served throughout Phuket and is on the side of the road. We usually buy ours in Sapan Hin or Sakdidej Road (on the way home from Phuket Town) but is available in a great many places.


What I find the most fascinating is that the taste is usually the same whichever place you choose to purchase your food so there must be a standard recipe?





This day I was lucky because I managed to be at the stall at about 10 am in the morning and here was a lady with chicken pieces in a big bowl and was turning them over to be covered in the flour mixture.

I think that the secret here is in the marinade - see here for one.




After the chicken pieces were covered in the flour mixture / batter.
This is where I read things can change - I also read that if it is made by a different community it is also different, for example Muslim and Buddhist).



 I watched them being put into the boiling oil (usually palm oil if that makes a difference). I also know that there are differences in the oil that are made by adding pandanus leaves?



The chicken is cooked for a longer time than I initially thought. The second 'nugget' (sorry) of information is this - cook the chicken until it begins to dry up.

This does distinguish it from a Western version (for example: KFC) where there is a degree of moisture left in the chicken meat - there is very little but it does mean that the chicken is moist - Thai Fried Chicken is dry.


It is also served with sticky rice and fried shallots - a wonderful mixture and always a treat for us.





Sunday, November 10, 2013

Tiny Coffee


Despite it's name the Tiny Coffee Shop is not only a coffee shop.


We go in here on a regular basis because they are some outlets in Phuket (see the Map). The App that you are also able to download for free allows you to have a number of discounts as well.

The outlets are almost Western in design - white is the theme and the tables are chairs are mixed. We usually have a quick meal here. The Tiny Coffee has an enormous amount of different selections. The one we visited here is offered Hongsyok House - where the Baba Wedding Ceremonies begin...




The Thai food is really quite good - the dish that I have is almost a fusion food Fried spaghetti with Thai sausage is my choice - delicious.


I usually have the Black Sesame Dumplings in Ginger Tea - sweet for many but also delicious.



In fact download the App now and you are able to look at the whole menu and the number of dishes is very large - certainly worth a visit especially something quick but tasty and no feeling of 'fast food'.


 



Facebook:  
Phone Number:  

Approximate price: $$$$$ 
Address: Thepkrasattri Road, Muang, Phuket 83000 (and more)
Hours: