No Idea Café Gastropub, Bangkok…. pub with something special on the menu

Pubs only used to care about serving up the perfect pint, but now a good number of them are creating gourmet menus that go above and beyond your basic pub grub.

No Idea Café presents modern and inventive takes on traditional European fare. There’s the tasting board – salami, parma ham, cheese, chorizo, caper berries, olives, baguette, roasted garlic aioli which is comforting and satisfying. The twice cooked pork belly – fennel apple slaw, braised red cabbage- worked surprisingly well. Although parts of the meat was a little tough and the dish would have benefited from a little balanced cooking. The atmosphere is casual and the beer flows fast. Naturally, as a gastropub, most of No Idea’s interesting drinks are alcoholic.

This is not a trendy spot. Rather, it’s inviting and unpretentious. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Cut & Curl, Bangkok…you can trust with them your tresses

Haircuts are just like jeans. Whether you pay $10 or $100, you need to find the right fit.

Centralworld is well-served by swish salons. Cut & Curl is a narrow salon which is sleek and simple. The whole vibe is comfortable and relaxed, the young, super-friendly, down-to-earth team is without any airs or graces and the clientele is an eclectic mix reflective of Bangkok dwellers. The cut trim itself, by Khun On, is frills-free, which includes a thorough scrub at the washing station and a simple blow dry, that showcase my newly snipped style perfectly.

Happily, my locks were in very safe hands indeed. Added bonus: Cut & Curl takes walk-ins. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

 

Urban Retreat, Bangkok…Save your money and go elsewhere

Thai massage isn’t for everyone, especially when it’s done traditionally (read: aggressively). You’re not there to be pampered. You’re there to be worked on. And walked on.

Smack dab a stone’s throw from the Asok BTS station, this urban oasis offers a full menu of spa services from massages and body scrubs to body mask and waxing. Sadly, their traditional massage here was  no-ecstasy, all-exorcism. The masseur – Khun Waew – resorted to simply ‘brute’ strength more than correct technique. She ignored everything I asked for, which was to focus on my lower back. I really think this woman has no clue on the proper technique of Thai massage and started making things up.

Save your money and go elsewhere. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Calypso, Bangkok…burlesque, or rather more appropriately boylesque

Bangkok is, without question, the world capital of gender-bending performing arts.

At Calypso, the ladyboys take the stage for a 75-minute-long splashy show that features dancers, lavish costumes, musical interludes and comedy. Some of the boys-as-babes try their best to impersonate and lip-sync some of the most well-known female musicians.

Yes, everything is opulent and over the top. But the prices are steep and the bar staff can be snooty.

My advice? If you’ve seen this kind of cabaret before, there won’t be a lot of surprises here. But if you never have — or if you’re a fan — it’s probably worth the coin to take in Calypso. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

 

Asia Tour MICE and Leisure Co, Bangkok…fixer – par excellence

The popularity of escorted tours is on the rise.

Asia Tour MICE and Leisure Co, led by Panyawat Peter Tongprasert (CEO – Chief Entertainment Officer) has proven itself to my evident satisfaction. Its portfolio is wide-ranging: from Fototastic Challenges and party vehicles to team building activities and golf tournaments and police escort services. They customize sophisticated itineraries which cater for every type of traveler. With excellent planning, good contacts on the ground and close attention to detail, they set extremely high standards of customer service and his staff have consistently delivered.

If you are looking to book anywhere in Thailand – either a detailed itinerary or a fairly straightforward trip – you won’t do better than to get quotes from Peter and Asia Tour MICE. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

The Terrace Restaurant, Bangkok…Fried noodles with crab paste and black tiger shrimp. Good stuff, period.

Set in every Central mall, the cheerful, informal The Terrace is far from the capital’s best eatery, but the food is as vivid and bright-flavoured as it comes.

I’m smitten with  fresh spring roll “The Terrace”, chinese pancake wrapped with pressed pork, omelette, Chinese sausage served with sauce and pickled chilli mustard. Equally renowned is the fried noodles with crab paste and black tiger shrimp. Delicious is the only word fitting to describe the combination tangy, sour and salty flavor of crab paste. Yes, really, this is one of the most astonishing, delicious food available anywhere

Good stuff, period. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Greyhound Cafe, Bangkok…the complicated noodle is almost incomparable

“Simple with a creative twist.” The stylish chic design Greyhound Cafe is a delicious den of Thai classics with a contemporary twist, going all-out with a truly unique menu offering.

Greyhound famous fried chicken wings – deep fried marinated mini chicken wings in fish sauce were a tad too salty for me but the Complicated Noodle…..noodle sheet + fresh lettuce leaves +minced pork sauce + chilli sauce is the absolute must-try. You need to do a bit of work but every bite is well worth your effort. You’ll enjoy a taste sensation that is a party on your palate. No kidding.

A wonderfully innovative approach to authentic Thai cuisine. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

White Flower Factory, Bangkok…I walked away pleasantly surprised.

I wasn’t expecting much from this innocuously named Siam Square One outpost, but I walked away pleasantly surprised.

I opted for the Thai tea crepe was reasonably pleased with the layers of paper thin crepes, each separated with a brush of light thai tea flavour. A simple, effective conversation stopper unless conservation could be construed as a series of affirmative grunts. The chocolate fudge looks and tastes great. It’s a plate which calms the senses like the orderly simplicity of a Japanese garden.The lemongrass juice was sweet and refreshing with a clean aftertaste.

Taken on its own merit, this is a fun, casual cafe you’d definitely use if you were in the area. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Taling Pling, Bangkok…one of Bangkok’s very best

Taling Pling is the real deal: there’s plenty of substance to back-up the style. No, really: This is some of the most astonishing, delicious food available anywhere.

Dig into reasonably priced specialties like crispy pork lardons omelette – deep fried omelette that’s filled with crispy golden pork belly bits which gives a good, salty depth of flavour to this robust dish . And it is pretty damn great. The spicy Thai fish cake with cucumber salad is delicious and will ensure a palate-obliterating assault of spice, and the  tom yum river prawns with young coconut, lemongrass and lime is a must-order. If you’re after next-level pad Thai, get the one here. No sickly sweet stuff here – just a plate of excellent fried rice noodle with prawns, beansprout and peanuts. Infinitely better than your average pad Thai slingers everywhere else in Bangkok.

This is no hole-in-the-wall joint—go here for a rare mix of downtown cool and credible, funky Thai cooking. And the predominance of local Thai customers is a reliably good sign. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Sing Thang Yeng, Bangkok…totally gaga on these aroi mak mak crunchy Thai snacks

“Aroi mak mak”. That’s delicious in Thai. Thailand does not need any introduction when it comes to its food and snacks. It is loved by many of us.

I am a kid in a candy (or Thai snacks) store when I’m here!! It’s a tiny place in MBK. But the crammed racks heavy with imported Thai crackers, cookies, and other goods reveal just the beginning of its epic selection of Thai snacks and sweets. You would be familiar with the flavors here:  coconut, taro, savory/sweet/salt/tart dried fruit, the fragile and luscious texture of the coconut cakes.

My personal favourites are the pork floss egg rolls and the rice cracker with pork floss. Dry, subtly sweet and satisfyingly crunchy. You get that crispy oomph!

Go totally gaga on these aroi mak mak crunchy Thai snacks. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…