by Miss Terry Diner
Mata
Hari is well worth a visit.
Another 52 weeks have gone by, and another group of
restaurants has been reviewed. Some excellent ones amongst them, some new
ones well worth your patronage one evening and some very different venues.
Let’s start with the most outstanding new restaurant, and
that has to be Zico’s Brazilian. Great food on skewers and the energetic
samba dancers makes for a different night out.
Waitress, please shake mine just a little - Zico’s.
A different evening can be had at the Pullman Aisawan
Pattaya and the cheese night was superb. If you like cheese, you will not
get a better selection.
Amongst the new restaurants are the Levantini in The
Village shopping center (corner Chaiyapruek 1 and Sukhumvit Road) with
interesting Mediterranean/North African food and Cafe le Mar is another on
Jomtien Beach Road. Both of these venues rate highly. Another pair of very
new restaurants are in the just opened Hilton Hotel. The Sunday Brunch at
The Edge is B. 1,200, children under 12 free and they have two nannies
there, a balloonist and a magician to keep the children occupied. Oysters
and caviar to keep the parents occupied! The up-market dining venue at the
Hilton is called Flare and again well worth a visit.
Casa
Pascal, now nine years old, comes highly recommended.
Jameson’s Irish Pub is hardly new, but their weekly
special menu is, and with Jameson’s being a most convivial pub, it’s a great
place for an evening. A similar restaurant is Greg’s Kitchen, good honest
food and huge portions. I do not know anyone who ever made it through to
desserts! Don’t forget the rebranded Amari Tavern by the Sea, either, for
good solid food.
The
Pullman Aisawan Pattaya cheese night is superb.
There are so many top class restaurants in Pattaya, and
we did not manage to get to them all in the course of 12 months, so if you
feel that your favorite restaurant is missing, don’t fret. During the year
we had memorable evenings at the Royal Cliff’s Grill Room and Wine Cellar,
Casa Pascal now nine years old (and its close relative Poseidon), Mata Hari,
Gians and Manhattans.
Royal
Cliff’s Grill Room and Wine Cellar’s crepes are exquisite.
We did not get to try all of the cheap and cheerfuls
either, I’m afraid, but Kunpong Restaurant/Pizza House on the Huay Yai road
was very good and the B. 129 pizzas unbeatable value.
The disappointment of the year was the Dusit’s Sunday
Brunch, which was simply superb, but was not continued. A great shame. It
was the ultimate indulgence, but perhaps Pattaya is not ready yet for
unfettered hedonism.
Oysters Kilpatrick
Oysters are thought of as a somewhat up-market and
expensive item, but Oysters Kilpatrick is another way to eat oysters. You
can offer your guests oysters, but very cheaply from the local markets.
Cooking the oysters gives the flavor, not the oysters themselves. With local
oysters less than 100 baht a bag, here’s a way to the high life - on the
cheap! All you have to do is save the oyster shells from a previous dinner!
|
Ingredients Serves 4
Oysters
48
Oyster shells
24
Worcestershire sauce
1 tspn
Cream
1 cup
Pepper and salt to taste
Bacon rashers, chopped finely 250 gm
Breadcrumbs |
Cooking Method
Put cleaned shells on a baking tray and heat in a
moderate oven. Mix Worcestershire sauce and cream. When shells are hot,
place two oysters on each shell. Use tongs to handle the shells, as they
get very hot. Add a little of the cream mixture to each shell; sprinkle
with pepper and salt.
Top the oysters with chopped bacon and fine
breadcrumbs. Place baking tray under a hot griller and grill until bacon
is crisp but not burnt and oysters are warmed through.
