Hoi-Tod Chaw-Lae Restaurant, Bangkok…..oyster omelette. Mmmm. Double mmmm.

I have found it!!! I have found my new favourite restaurant!

This small, humble Thai eatery does have indoor seating, but it still qualifies as street food.  They proudly display a sign proclaiming them to make the 5^th best pad Thai in the world.

Anyway, I really love, LOVE, thai food. That being said, my expectations are high [when are they ever low?] but I was seriously impressed by the food here. The Or-suan (oyster, fried eggs, rice flour) was fresh and well-prepared…one portion at a time. The egg and starch batter in is perfectly crunchy, crispy outside and soft, moist and gummy inside studded with plump, briny taste of the ocean. I love Pad Thai! Pad Thai is one of Thailand’s more famous dishes. A-OK on the pat-thai-sea-food (seafood, and rice noodles wrapped in egg)here, good texture and it is a piping hot amalgamation of crispy and gooey ecstasy.

Never judge a book by its cover nor a restaurant by its outlook either.  Hoi Tod Chaw Lae is no exception. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Club Feather Boa, Hong Kong…two thumbs up for the chocolate martini with maltesers

Small, funky, intimate venues are my favourite. They invite the patron to truly be part of the experience. Club Feather Boa is one such magical space.

A hidden gem in the heart of SOHO – this place is something you have to know about. For the first time visitor, don’t blink, or you’ll miss this little club, tucked at the end of Staunton Street and because there’s no sign out front , it can easily be missed. As soon as you walk in the door – you can feel the warmth and vaudeville vibe of the candle-lit place envelope you. There are a handful of antique chairs – which are plush, somehow strikes the perfect mix of classy and hole in the wall.

The cocktail master’s delicious  martinis complete with floating maltesers truly show the power that chocolate has as a stunning garnish. And as much as I enjoy drinking (clearly), cocktails can be as much about the ritual, the flavour, and the friends you’re with as they are about getting sloshed

An ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL room!  SO much character & charm. This place is totally what Hong Kong is all about. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Ratchanonsee Seafood, Bangkok…..the suckling pig is a work of art. This is the mona lisa right here

“And on the Seventh Day, before God rested…He made Ratchanonsee Seafood and asked them to create barbeque suckling pig – Honggong style.”

Okay, so maybe it REALLY didn’t exactly happen like that in the big book; maybe that’s hovering my foot over that invisible line that we all love to cross every now and then.  BUT!  I can tell you that this was really a heavenly experience from beginning to end.  This place is the Alpha and Omega of what is defined as REAL suckling pig. It is INSANELY good. INSANELY. It’s sweet, the crispy skin was roasted perfectly, covering a surprisingly generous portion of tender porcine goodness and super juicy. Very little fat too. Love it.

To be honest, I haven’t tried many of their other dishes. Their suckling pig is all I need. I’ve sampled the deep fried pastry prawn fish, garoupa fish deep fried with chilli sauce and oyster omelette. All three were tasty but not nearly as mind-blowing, life-changing, paradigm shift causing as their suckling pig.

One word of caution…don’t expect a restaurant environment. It’s far from it. And oh yes, CASH ONLY. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…