Three years ago Casa Pascal opened its doors. The sages muttered, “Pattaya can’t take another fine dining restaurant,” and other similar sentiments. However, the savants suggested that one should wait and see. After all, it is market acceptance or otherwise that decides the fate of any business, and restaurants in particular. If the customers don’t like your food, they won’t come back.

They came, they tried and they returned, with many of the regular diners attending the 3rd anniversary celebration, MC’d by the redoubtable and intensely energetic Kim Schnyder, while husband and culinary authority, Pascal Schnyder spent his time flitting between guests and the kitchen, as all professional chefs should do these days.

The Dining Out team had been invited and we were looking forward to some of Pascal’s different offerings. Amongst those I spotted with similar expectations (it was a full house) were Chaine des Rotisseurs stalwarts Hugh Millar and Jan Olav Aamlid, Axel Borsdorf the travel guru, the colorful couple Erika and Bruno Keller, and a formidable trio of Dieter Precourt, Dietrich Sarx and Peter Thorand.

To add that little something to the event, the Schnyders arranged for musical accompaniment, with a talented young male singer stolen from the Cafe Royale for the evening, who appeared to know the words to every song request.

However, they did not really need ‘that little something’, as I believe the anniversary menu itself was more than enough to be considered special. This was evident right from the Amuse Bouche which was imported French Fine de Claire Number 1 oysters. Being an oyster lover, my ‘bouche’ was much more than amused - it was delighted!

To get everyone in the correct festive mood, Casa Pascal eschewed party hats, but supplied the best party starter - their eminently drinkable House Champagne, which we enjoyed while perusing the menu.

The menu choices for the 3rd anniversary were interesting. I had time to sit with Pascal and discuss the items on offer, and I asked him which course was his favourite. This turned out to be the soup, Pascal having been a great lover of soups since childhood, though I doubt that a basil cream soup with Japanese sea scallop would have been common fare in Schnyder senior’s household! Let me assure you that it was superb with just the right amount of freshly ground black pepper, supplied by Jessica, our charming waitress for the evening.

However, before the soup we were treated to a roulade of smoked salmon and herbed cheese mousse, with smoked tuna salad on spring lettuce and lemon olive oil dressing. This was certainly very well presented, and very well accepted by everyone on our table, including one who is an authoritative connoisseur of Norwegian salmon. To go with these first courses, Pascal had chosen an Australian Chalk Hill Colombard Chardonnay, 2002 vintage, which was an excellent selection.

After the soup (I keep on coming back to this item - it was brilliant) we had an interesting dish containing green and white asparagus (from Chiang Mai) with saut้ed mixed mushrooms in a puff pastry cup dressed on creamy baby onion stew. It is difficult to envisage this dish from the description, but it was one of those delicately flavoured items that everyone thoroughly enjoyed, with no dissents on our table.

After the wine flavoured raspberry sherbet there was a choice of oven roasted pork loin or Chinese style steamed snapper fillets. I had chosen the pork with an apple Calvados sauce, and the wine, another Australian - Butterfly Ridge Shiraz Cabernet 2002, went with it very well.

For those with space left there were cheese platters or Creme Brulee, but Miss Terry was more than satiated. All I can do now is wait for Casa Pascal’s 4th anniversary!

For those who have not been to Casa Pascal, it can only be described as supremely elegant. It is an accredited fine dining restaurant and has an ambience that makes one want to sit back, relax and savour the flavour, and enjoy perhaps another cognac. Very highly recommended.

Casa Pascal, Second Road (almost opposite Shenanigans and next to Ruen Thai), telephone 038 723 660. Open for lunch and dinner. Secure parking.