Food Review: Baan Kanitha, Benjarong & Som Tum @ Bangkok
For all the foodies out there, I've decided to write a beginner style review for the 3 Thai restaurants we visited in Bangkok. In case you're wondering, I'm trying to create the Lomo effect for the photos so yea, they look much more vibrant in fact. Bear in mind I have an obscene obession with spice and am addicted to intense flavour so don't take my word for it unless you're like me! And what I mean is I chew on chilli padis and I absolutely heart flavour!
So we visited Baan Kanitha and while mulling over what to order, they presented us with some complimentary treats:
I had really no idea what some of the condiments were but when put together, it does taste very interesting! I later found out that there were dried shrimps, chilli padi, lime pieces, nuts, shallots, roasted coconut and most importantly the special chilli sauce blend. You got to wrap it all up in a fresh Chapoo leaf and put it in your mouth! It's called Miang Kam I think. Quite a tummy-opener if you diligently chew on it!
Then, they served up the Spicy Raw Pomelo Salad with Chicken & Shrimp. For the conservative peeps like my hubs, you may find the entree slightly funky with the bitter & sour pomelo mixed with spicy meat. Well, I must say I liked it! I like thai salads in general and if you're craving for something sour, slightly bitter, spicy and savoury, order this!
Next up is my all-time favourite: Tom Yum Goong. I lost count of how many bowls I drank in Bangkok cos I practically drank one bowl every meal. But I digress. So what dignified Thai restaurant would do this dish no justice? Nonetheless I wouldn't say this is the best I've had cos the best is well, found at the next restaurant. Having said that, there is a secret that would blow your mind once you start on this course.
Absolutely right! For all Thai food junkies, you'd recognize this monster. Yes! It's the river prawn! Totally juicy with it's head full of roe, so huge and succulent even a crazed man won't refuse. Ok, if a hungry man is a crazy man I doubt he'd refuse anything at all but I believe you get my drift. Two words, MMM-MMM!!!
We also order stir fried river prawns which, by the way, were recommended by the waitor and stir fried morning glory but I have to say the stir fried river prawns were mighty disappointing. Perhaps you may not be able to tell, but the river prawn was not even whole in it's full glory! What a waste! It's a pity the hubs and I forgot which river prawn dish we ordered 2 years ago cos we'd die to have the same one again! ARGHH!!! Do you comprehend my frustration?
Although we had only ordered a few dishes, paling in comparison with our usual consumption capacity, we started to feel our stomachs full. Therefore, it was no surprise we were not impressed AT ALL with the Phad Thai, especially since they did not sprinkle any chilli flakes at all! Wassup man? I love Thai food in its full authenticity and hotness! Don't give me some mickey mouse version of your fine cuisine!
Well, it really did feel like the night started off with a bang but ended with a whimper. Fortunately, I emailed them in advance informing them of hub's birthday and ordered a 500g chocolate cake. It was really yummy but the best part of it all was that they were kind enough to help me celebrate and not just present the cake and leave me to sing the birthday song alone. So before dinner started I faked a toilet visit and told the waitor to present the cake once we're done. They switched off the lights and the hubs started to panic, wondering if it was a black out. Suddenly, the whole restaurant burst into, 'Happy Birthday... To You!' That was when he realised, HE'S PUNKED!
That's my hubs. Is he not handsome? Act cute!
Ok, on to Benjarong @ Dusit Thani Hotel!
This is it. The best Tom Yum Goong I've ever had. No river prawns though. Maybe it's too hazardous for them to include river prawns inside this 'mind-blarrrsting' aka Russell Peters' style dish. Totally mind-blasting!!! I'd go back there again just to have this soup. Yum!
We always ask for recommendations since the crew knows better. So being the trusting tourists, we ordered the Red Curry Lobster & BBQ River Prawns with chilli & basil leaves. Well, I really love curry so yea you can feed me just curry alone and I'd be a happy girl. Mix it up with some lobster? Anytime! The river prawns, on the other hand, leave more to desire. The hubs pointed out that there's a strange smell about the river prawn. It was slightly unpleasant I suppose.
Not knowing our limits again, we over-ordered. We really have this problem about estimating how much food we are able to finish and 9 out of 10 times we order too much. The 1 time we don't, is when the food sucks. Ok, back to the review. We ordered Phad Thai as well but it was also disappointing due to the lack of chilli and we suspect it is because we've tasted the best in Singapore. It's at erm Golden Mile Tower? Shucks, I can't remember the name but I know exactly how to get there. The Phad Thai is soooo Q and yummy we always can't get enough of it. Not even when we order 'Extra, extra large please!'. Ah, I keep digressing. So being a sucker for mango and sticky rice, I ordered the dessert. Yes, even after overloading my tummy I went ahead for dessert.
Guys, we ladies have an extra pouch for sweet stuff. That's why we can never get enough of your sweet-nothings! HAHA! Not! I hate mushy shit! Get out of here!
Haha. This monkey face is for you! Hubs likes my monkey face, he probably has some ape-fetish or something. Oops. Alrighteys, lastly we head for Som Tum Nua. Som Tum Paradie! Not Para-dise ok.
Apart from the Tom Yum Goong @ Benjarong, this has got to be IT! It's pork neck, otherwise known as Kor Moo Yang. Hubs loves this and tried to find it at both the previous fine dining restaurants but couldn't find it. Ah, I can still remember the taste of this dish, the soft and juicy pork neck seasoned with their special spices and bbq-ed to perfection. So yummy we ordered 2! Being me, I ordered their Spicy Pork Broth which really is 'sam-sam', similar to, clear Tom Yum.
In conclusion, I really prefer Som Tum's spread since they do not spare their chilli like the expensive fine dining restaurants. But their menu is quite limited as compared to the 2 atas restaurants. Personally, I wouldn't go back to both restaurants unless there is some compelling reason for me to, like a craving for Tom Yum Goong then I'd head back to Benjarong, but I'd definitely visit Som Tum again! And you're right, it's for the pork neck!
Alright, it's really late. I ought to be sleeping.
So we visited Baan Kanitha and while mulling over what to order, they presented us with some complimentary treats:
I had really no idea what some of the condiments were but when put together, it does taste very interesting! I later found out that there were dried shrimps, chilli padi, lime pieces, nuts, shallots, roasted coconut and most importantly the special chilli sauce blend. You got to wrap it all up in a fresh Chapoo leaf and put it in your mouth! It's called Miang Kam I think. Quite a tummy-opener if you diligently chew on it!
Then, they served up the Spicy Raw Pomelo Salad with Chicken & Shrimp. For the conservative peeps like my hubs, you may find the entree slightly funky with the bitter & sour pomelo mixed with spicy meat. Well, I must say I liked it! I like thai salads in general and if you're craving for something sour, slightly bitter, spicy and savoury, order this!
Next up is my all-time favourite: Tom Yum Goong. I lost count of how many bowls I drank in Bangkok cos I practically drank one bowl every meal. But I digress. So what dignified Thai restaurant would do this dish no justice? Nonetheless I wouldn't say this is the best I've had cos the best is well, found at the next restaurant. Having said that, there is a secret that would blow your mind once you start on this course.
Absolutely right! For all Thai food junkies, you'd recognize this monster. Yes! It's the river prawn! Totally juicy with it's head full of roe, so huge and succulent even a crazed man won't refuse. Ok, if a hungry man is a crazy man I doubt he'd refuse anything at all but I believe you get my drift. Two words, MMM-MMM!!!
We also order stir fried river prawns which, by the way, were recommended by the waitor and stir fried morning glory but I have to say the stir fried river prawns were mighty disappointing. Perhaps you may not be able to tell, but the river prawn was not even whole in it's full glory! What a waste! It's a pity the hubs and I forgot which river prawn dish we ordered 2 years ago cos we'd die to have the same one again! ARGHH!!! Do you comprehend my frustration?
Although we had only ordered a few dishes, paling in comparison with our usual consumption capacity, we started to feel our stomachs full. Therefore, it was no surprise we were not impressed AT ALL with the Phad Thai, especially since they did not sprinkle any chilli flakes at all! Wassup man? I love Thai food in its full authenticity and hotness! Don't give me some mickey mouse version of your fine cuisine!
Well, it really did feel like the night started off with a bang but ended with a whimper. Fortunately, I emailed them in advance informing them of hub's birthday and ordered a 500g chocolate cake. It was really yummy but the best part of it all was that they were kind enough to help me celebrate and not just present the cake and leave me to sing the birthday song alone. So before dinner started I faked a toilet visit and told the waitor to present the cake once we're done. They switched off the lights and the hubs started to panic, wondering if it was a black out. Suddenly, the whole restaurant burst into, 'Happy Birthday... To You!' That was when he realised, HE'S PUNKED!
That's my hubs. Is he not handsome? Act cute!
Ok, on to Benjarong @ Dusit Thani Hotel!
This is it. The best Tom Yum Goong I've ever had. No river prawns though. Maybe it's too hazardous for them to include river prawns inside this 'mind-blarrrsting' aka Russell Peters' style dish. Totally mind-blasting!!! I'd go back there again just to have this soup. Yum!
We always ask for recommendations since the crew knows better. So being the trusting tourists, we ordered the Red Curry Lobster & BBQ River Prawns with chilli & basil leaves. Well, I really love curry so yea you can feed me just curry alone and I'd be a happy girl. Mix it up with some lobster? Anytime! The river prawns, on the other hand, leave more to desire. The hubs pointed out that there's a strange smell about the river prawn. It was slightly unpleasant I suppose.
Not knowing our limits again, we over-ordered. We really have this problem about estimating how much food we are able to finish and 9 out of 10 times we order too much. The 1 time we don't, is when the food sucks. Ok, back to the review. We ordered Phad Thai as well but it was also disappointing due to the lack of chilli and we suspect it is because we've tasted the best in Singapore. It's at erm Golden Mile Tower? Shucks, I can't remember the name but I know exactly how to get there. The Phad Thai is soooo Q and yummy we always can't get enough of it. Not even when we order 'Extra, extra large please!'. Ah, I keep digressing. So being a sucker for mango and sticky rice, I ordered the dessert. Yes, even after overloading my tummy I went ahead for dessert.
Guys, we ladies have an extra pouch for sweet stuff. That's why we can never get enough of your sweet-nothings! HAHA! Not! I hate mushy shit! Get out of here!
Haha. This monkey face is for you! Hubs likes my monkey face, he probably has some ape-fetish or something. Oops. Alrighteys, lastly we head for Som Tum Nua. Som Tum Paradie! Not Para-dise ok.
Apart from the Tom Yum Goong @ Benjarong, this has got to be IT! It's pork neck, otherwise known as Kor Moo Yang. Hubs loves this and tried to find it at both the previous fine dining restaurants but couldn't find it. Ah, I can still remember the taste of this dish, the soft and juicy pork neck seasoned with their special spices and bbq-ed to perfection. So yummy we ordered 2! Being me, I ordered their Spicy Pork Broth which really is 'sam-sam', similar to, clear Tom Yum.
In conclusion, I really prefer Som Tum's spread since they do not spare their chilli like the expensive fine dining restaurants. But their menu is quite limited as compared to the 2 atas restaurants. Personally, I wouldn't go back to both restaurants unless there is some compelling reason for me to, like a craving for Tom Yum Goong then I'd head back to Benjarong, but I'd definitely visit Som Tum again! And you're right, it's for the pork neck!
Alright, it's really late. I ought to be sleeping.