Montien
flamb้
We met up with the Montien’s Executive Chef, Horst
Reichel, who told us he had added more variety and had themed rotating live
cooking promotions every month. He also added the very wise advice,
“People make the mistake of making their first plate too big!”
With Horst’s words in our ears we toured the buffet
tables first, with Madame choosing some Crab, Mussel and Fish Cioppino from
one of the live cooking stations, while I could not go past the Japanese
station with the wasabi and chose a modest selection of salmon and crab
sticks. The chopsticks are at the station, by the way, not at the table, so
remember to collect a pair then, or you’ll have to make a trip back (as I
did)!
Pascal
brunch
Next up were items from the salad table for me, while
Madame made a beeline for the Japanese section. Following this, I went to
the flamb้ station, loving the theatre as I do. The attentive staff
asked me what I would like, and what sauces to go with it, and after a short
while, a pepper steak was delivered direct to my table. It was excellent.
We both ended up at the desserts station, with Madame
into the “khanom Thai” and Miss Terry into the ice cream, who can resist
chocolate and raisin, with extra chocolate sauce? Keep this International
Buffet in mind next time you are looking for a good spread on a Saturday
evening.
We had enjoyed Saturday evening so much, that a late
lie-in on Sunday morning resulted, and brunch seemed the obvious way to go.
Remembering Sunday Brunch at Casa Pascal, we rang for a table - and were
lucky to get in. It seems that Pattaya had finally discovered the Sunday
Brunch too! At 490 baht (children B. 290) this is still not over the top.
I must admit that a little pampering on Sunday is always
very welcome, and the welcoming glass of champagne certainly sets the mood.
While Pascal’s brunch menu has most of the items you would expect, soups,
Thai and western cuisine items, live cooking of pasta (with the happiest
cook) and a flamb้ meat station, it is the cold tables that attract me
on Sundays at lunchtime.
The seafood items on offer included oysters, scallops,
crab (which Madame visited on more than one occasion), large prawns and rock
lobster and salmon. Of course the expected sauces and accompaniments were
all there too. A most enjoyable time was spent in selection and sampling.
After this we went for some Thai items for Madame, while
I had a very pleasant pepper steak - and it was tender. Another item was the
cheese board, with some interesting cheeses, which got my vote as the finale
for the lunch.
By the time it was approaching evening, the ‘eating
out’ concept was firmly entrenched (or laziness had set in), and
Shenanigans Carvery we knew was another great value for money venue, with
the all-you-can-eat carvery at B. 395 on Saturdays and Sunday.
Items include turkey, beef, ham, chicken, goose, lamb,
pork, 9 vegetables, 3 styles of potatoes, salad bar (including prawns) and
ice cream dessert. This actually runs from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. so you could
spend all day there if you wished. We gorged ourselves and staggered home
completely replete! Yes, a wonderful culinary weekend!
Montien Hotel, Pattaya 2 Road, (50 metres after Pattaya
Central Road intersection), North Pattaya, telephone 038 428 155, email
[email protected]
Casa Pascal, Pattaya 2 Road, in front of Ruen Thai
restaurant, opposite Shenanigans, telephone 038 723 660.
Shenanigans, Pattaya 2 Road, after Marriott Resort and Spa, telephone 038
710 641.
