We have just returned after gorging ourselves on the largest selection of cheeses in Pattaya, and some of those cheeses came from the largest wheels we have ever seen. Where? The Pullman Pattaya Aisawan, Soi 16, Naklua, and you get there either via Soi 18 or Soi 16 off the Pattaya-Naklua Road. Turn into the soi joining 18 and 16 and the resort is very easily spotted on the beach side of the road and just past the new Centara Grand. The Pullman Pattaya Aisawan resort is also very large, so just go to the reception desk and ask and they will show you how to find the poolside Beach Club restaurant.
Following its total refurbishment last year, this resort is certainly now one of the most stylish in Pattaya, and as far as dining out is concerned, it is a real ‘sleeper’ with some of the cheapest and best promotions you will find anywhere.
Part of the attraction is the location, the fact that the Pullman Pattaya Aisawan is directly on Wongamart beach, and the Beach Club restaurant overlooks both the sea and the large free-form pool. At night it is supremely romantic. You can dine outside, or in the air-conditioned section behind glass. We chose the air-con, and from the point of view of a buffet, we were nearer the buffet offerings, placed around the central horseshoe open kitchen.
We had also come for the Thursday promotion called Feast on Cheese – and the list of cheeses is a long one… try these…
1. Vacherin du Mon’t cheese
2. Saint Maure cheese
3. Gruyere cheese
4. Tete de Moine cheese
5. Camembert cheese
6. Roquefort cheese
7. Ro Camadour cheese
8. Epoisse’ cheese
9. Mont D’or cheese
10. Gouda cheese
11. Emental cheese
12. Roue de Cantal
13. Ligueil Raclette cheese
14. Livalot cheese
15. Munster cheese
16. Brie cheese
17. Tomme de Savoise cheese
18. Goat cheese
19. Beaufort cheese
20. Blue cheese
21. Parmesan cheese
22. Comte cheese
Now even with the best of intentions, it is impossible to eat only cheese in one sitting and so the Beach Club also supplies additional hot food such as mashed potato, lasagna, and coq au vin (as accompaniments to the cheese). Cold food is also available with several cold cuts including Parma ham, salami, Panacetta, Coppa, Chorizo and duck liver pate. Salads too and a selection of bakery items.
Both Madame and myself are self-confessed cheese lovers. However, with the price of cheese in the supermarkets in Thailand we are not really able to indulge our desires as much as we would like. The Feast on Cheese Thursday night was just that – an opportunity for us to feast on so many different cheeses, and to go back to get more of the ones we liked. The house red makes for good quaffing and a good accompaniment for the cheeses. Quite honestly, I could have stayed there all night carving off large chunks of French bread, while eating cheese, cheese and more cheese. A sensational Thursday night.
The Thursday all you can eat Feast on Cheese takes some beating at B. 799. Throw in a bottle of wine (the Chilean Echeverria cabernet sauvignon) and it comes to B. 999, and it is an even greater bargain. The choice in cheese is the best I have seen in Thailand, and I kept going back for the toasted raclette. I did not try the offered desserts, but instead returned for yet more raclette.
It is worthwhile noting the specials on the other nights of the week at the Beach Club restaurant. Mondays are the Brazilian brochettes (B. 799), Tuesdays the ‘KORT’ night with a four course set menu only B. 555 with 75 cl of wine, Wednesdays it is all you can eat Thai cuisine (B. 799), (Thursdays the Feast on Cheese), Fridays an all you can eat BBQ buffet and Saturdays the Seafood Lover all you can eat platter (B. 799). By the way, the restaurant opens in the evening at 6.30 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m.
Pullman Pattaya Aisawan, 445/3 Moo 5, Wongamart Beach, Pattaya-Naklua Road, Soi 16, telephone 038 411 940-8, www.pullman pattayaaisawan.com. Plenty of secure parking within the resort grounds.
