by Miss Terry Diner
Late Sunday afternoons, the Amari Orchid Resort holds
their Sunset Cocktail Dinner experience. At the invitation of the
executive chef, Stefan Heller, the Dining Out Team attended last Sunday.
The “experience” begins at 6 p.m. on the first
floor terrace of the Henry J. Bean’s Bar and Grill outlet on Beach Road,
and I suggest you leave your car in their car park, rather than the hotel
one which is closer to Second Road. The upper terrace gets the cooling
breezes from the sea, and on a good afternoon there are some spectacular
sunsets. Unfortunately, on our Sunday it was overcast, but F&B
trainees Tim and Martin went around showing everyone a picture of the
sunset we might have had! Nice touch, boys. While waiting for the sun to
set (or appear) as you look across to Koh Larn, you sip on a fruit
cocktail and nibble on corn chips and spicy salsa. All very civilised, and
romantic.
As the sun disappears and the lights come on, you are
then escorted through the Amari’s beautiful tropical gardens to the
upper levels, where table settings are arranged around the pool. On each
table are the menu and a wine list with wines available from 950 baht (or
by the glass if you ask).
As you approach, it really is wonderland. White linen
covered tables and chairs, soft music, the illuminated waterfall at one
end and candles floating in the pool. If you are hoping to impress the
partner of your dreams, this is the stuff that dreams are made of.
The (sun)set menu begins with kratong thong, a minced
chicken and peanuts in a crispy basket with fresh garden salad with a rice
vinegar honey dressing. This reminded me of a sang choi bao, the minced
pigeon, lettuce wrapping Cantonese dish, but the salad with the dressing
raised it much above that, and Chef Stefan said it was based on the Thai
bai krapow gai.
Next was an iced papaya soup served in half a carved
paw-paw. Different, immaculate presentation and filling. I did ask for a
pepper grinder and for me it just spiced the soup up a little. Chef Stefan
did say that he uses very little condiments in the preparation, allowing
the guests to add to their own taste.
Main course was a choice of stuffed baby squid or saut้ed
pork tenderloin on a light Thai green curry sauce. The rice comes hidden
under a cone of banana leaf, decorated with a carrot ring and frangipani
flowers. Again the presentation was just superb, and the gaeng kiew wahn
sauce and the pork melded together perfectly.
The final dish was a dessert called kanomkrock, those
traditional little Thai pancakes you can see made on large hot plates on
the carts around town, arranged around a scoop of peach ice cream with
strawberries. As sweet as it sounds, the perfect finale to the evening’s
repast, followed by coffee and time to sit back and just enjoy the
atmosphere and the companionship of your dinner partner.
The Sunset Cocktail Dinner Experience is indeed a very
special evening. At 430 baht ++ including the pre-dinner cocktails and
after dinner coffee this is not “over the top” in any way. There are
many restaurants in Pattaya that have single items on the menu more
expensive than the total Amari package. The Amari Orchid Resort is to be
congratulated on an innovative approach to capture a small, but important,
corner of the marketplace. Life is surely for lovers, and this would have
to be the most romantic dinner available.
Being a fusion between Western and Thai cuisines, your
dinner guest will enjoy this as much as you do, no matter where their
origins. The presentation is also without peer. Words such as
“breathtaking” are no hyperbole. Chef Stefan goes creatively in a
spectacular manner. If you are looking for a glamorous and romantic
evening, there is probably none better in Pattaya. Very highly
recommended.
The Amari Orchid Resort, 240 M5, Pattaya-Naklua Road,
telephone 038 428 161. Chef Stefan advises it is advisable to book for
this special dinner experience and it is on Sunday nights only.
