BARGAIN BITES TO REMEMBER IN 2011

by Mick and Di, The Food Lovers

thefoodloverspattayatoday@msn.com

As the continuing credit crunch takes a bite out of the restaurant trade (and our disposable incomes) we look back over the restaurants which we reviewed in 2011 which, in our opinion, offer solutions to the question of where to go to get value for money.  The food at these restaurants will make you smile with enjoyment and the prices won’t make you flinch.   Also, quality has not been sacrificed for cost and this quartet of eclectic restaurants offers the opportunity to experience Thai, Vietnamese, French and International cuisines.
A recommendation that we were very happy to receive was for a Thai restaurant (surprisingly, we don’t get many of those) that is serving culinary creations of times past, known in Thai as “ahaan boran”.  (Boran translates as ancient while ahaan is food; together it means a dish prepared from a recipe that dates back a century or more).  The name of this charming restaurant is Ruen Mae Ying and it is located in a teak Thai house nestled in the countryside about 30 minutes from Pattaya. Proprietor/chef of Ruen Mae Ying is Khun Sirikanjana Chaiyarat.  Prices start at only B.70 with most dishes around B.100, so not only is the environment and the recipes evocative of days gone by -  so are the prices!
We enjoyed a wonderful meal here and the dishes we can thoroughly recommend are the fermented pork spring rolls served with sliced young ginger and fiery prik kee noo, the banana blossom salad (yum hua plee), the chicken green curry accompanied by roti bread (B.100) and the geang som gung (hot sour soup with shrimp, B.120).  We must mention as well the star dish of the evening, nam prik makham (a spicy dip of pork and tamarind) accompanied by deep fried dried fish (pla salit) and vegetables.  If any recipe screamed Bangkok circa a hundred years ago it is this incredible Thai dip.
There are plenty more items on the menu from atypical salads, through braised beef, deep fried fish in fish sauce and a range of Thai desserts featuring cantaloupe or palm fruit in coconut milk (from B.40). Beer is readily available as are soft drinks and Thai whisky, but should you enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, you will need to bring your own.
This restaurant is undoubtedly tucked away and will definitely require a certain amount of enthusiasm to find.   However, if you are a keen foodie who appreciates the finer points of Thai cuisine and are willing to leave your comfort zone and travel the extra mile – Ruen Mae Ying is for you.

Ruen Mae Ying is open daily except Monday from 11.00 am to 11.00 pm.  Drive out on Sukhumvit Highway past Bang Saray until you arrive at the K Junction (“Che” Junction on the blue sign). Turn left on to Rayong Road and take the first available right turn into a small soi.  Continue down this road until the end.  Park on the right hand side and the restaurant is through the arch into the garden.  Tel:  (038) 435 627.
Staying in S.E. Asia cuisine, the next restaurant we want to remind you about is The Saigon Bistro.    It is located on the 6th floor of Central Festival and offers terrific Vietnamese fare (at wallet pleasing prices) from 11.00 am to 11.00 pm.
The interior is contemporary and inviting with cheerful lighting and subtle Asian decor.  The extensive Vietnamese menu is incorporated into the table mats for ease of ordering;   the seating is comfortable or casual on stools at the window counter.   This Asian bistro offers the full gamut of Vietnamese cuisine.  The quality is top notch with exceedingly reasonable prices starting from B.68 and not exceeding B.198.

The beef noodle soup (pho ha noi) is sensational.  Tender pieces of rare steak float in an intense and delicious beef stock boosted with spring onions, herbs and rice vermicelli and for B.98 it is the bargain of the year.  Chao tom is another iconic Vietnamese dish and Saigon Bistro executes it to perfection.  The bahn cuon, a fresh spring roll of minced pork with perfumed vegetables and mushrooms wrapped in hand-steamed flour wraps is another winner.  Also we  highly recommend the combo of fried, spicy pork sausage, crab rolls, BBQ marinated beef and pork balls accompanied by a bowl of the green herbs, leaves and vegetables, chopped chilies, garlic, holy basil, betel leaves and Thai parsley.  It is sensational.
Rice plates are served with special cubed sirloin steak, grilled lemon grass pork chops, or BBQ shrimp while the vermicelli bowls are topped with char broiled chicken, quick sautéed beef and onions and much more.  Lots of tempting noodles are listed together with the house signature dish of a sizzling sirloin steak or fried mackerel fish with fresh salad.  Also, fried soft shell crab sautéed with onion and bell peppers and their famous marinated ground beef wrapped in vine leaves comes highly recommended.
This menu just shouts out to be explored and experienced at too-good-to-be-true prices – you’ll be bowled over.
Beverages are diverse from house wine (B.88 by glass), a full contingent of beers, soft drinks, milk and fruit shakes, Vietnamese and Irish coffee, espresso, cappuccino and a selection of specialist teas.
Banana split, fried ice cream, French custard and crepes could put a sweet ending to your Saigon Bistro adventure.
Mick and I heartily recommend this vivacious Vietnamese eatery.
We loved the informal atmosphere, friendly service, delicious food and pleasantly affordable prices.
Whether you are already a fan or an epicurious diner, Saigon Bistro is the spot for tasty, classic Vietnamese cuisine, especially that fantastic pho beef noodle soup.  This place is a find.
Saigon Bistro is located on 6th Floor of Central Festival Pattaya.  Open daily from 11.00 am till 11.00 pm.  Tel:  033 003 609.
A new French bistro that opened this year is aptly named Froggy’s.  Entente cordiale is alive and well with the partnership of the two chefs here:  Gilles is the Froggy toque while Anon pounds and chops to produce his tasty Thai food.    We’d been told about the 3-course set menu but seeing is believing so when we actually sat down to read it we were astounded, not only by the diversity of the choices, but by the quality ingredients.  Hold on to your chapeaux – this extraordinary menu is a bargain B.250!
Appetisers include soup of the day,  moules gratinee, pate maison, stuffed tuna mayonnaise tomatoes, prawn cocktail, a warm salad of chicken livers and more.  From the list of main courses we spotted:  a shell of seafood served in a white wine cream, calamari in American sauce, confit de canard, grilled herbed chicken with lemon, lasagna de boeuf maison, and more (ten in total).   The house wine at B.70 per glass is  very quaffable.   From the a la carte menu, recommended dishes include steamed fresh salmon served with potato galette and tomato coulis (B.380), sea scallops in bisque emulsion (B.185)  beef Wellington, and fisherman’s casserole.   Another steal is the daily special which offers a big bowl of mussels and a desert of crepe suzette for only B.190.  Froggy’s couldn’t be called Froggy’s without cooking up those jumping amphibians and Gilles prepares them in four ways including the famous Provencal recipe.  They are served in the half or full dozen for B.170 and B.260 respectively.

Froggy’s is a gem of a neighbourhood bistro.  It is the sort of brasserie that you would stumble across in every town in France, but here in Pattaya – not so often.  Chef Gilles draws inspiration from his native Picardy and his culinary globe trotting.  During a recession that is making other restaurateurs wince, Froggy’s is doing well.  Prices, le bons plates de France and Thailand, coupled with the happy ambiance all contribute to make you want to come back here again and again.
Located  on Paniac Chang 2 (the same soi as Luk Tod – about 200 mts further on the right side heading for Super C).  Open 7 days a week from 11.30 to 14.30 and then 17.30 until 21.30.  Tel: 086 150 3481.

Derek and Sue Bryant, the charismatic husband and wife team are at the helm of this popular international restaurant/bar/resort and bowling green.     It is called Coco Club Resort and is located out in the Banglamung countryside near to Phoenix Golf Club.  Just 20 minutes out of Pattaya it is truly a breath of fresh air.  The surprising structure of Coco Club vaults into the sky with its Romanesque columns, sweeping staircase and colourful décor – think Tara Plantation house meets Belle Epoque in Thailand.
The décor is totally atypical; it is plush and lavish with extravagant cerise wallpaper and rich red napery.  The menu is a surprising combination of mostly European and Thai but with favourite Indian dishes as well.   The prices here are a joy to read:  duo duck liver pate at B.135, smoked salmon roll with chili dressing and rocket salad and Sue’s famous prawns in sizzling garlic butter at only B.125.  Having regaled you with the low pricing – rest assured quality has not been eschewed for low pricing.   The duck liver was as succulent as we have eaten anywhere.
All 15 main courses are between B 210 to B.220.    The most expensive being the lamb rogan gosh with saffron rice and roti at B.235.  We ordered pan fried scallops in lemon grass apple salad and white wine sauce plus Mick’s absolute favourite venison sausages with mashed potatoes, fried red cabbage and garlic sauce.    Both were terrific and clean plates were returned to the kitchen.
Indian dishes are very popular and we saw many a plate of butter chicken and chicken tikka leaving the kitchen.    Pizzas plus Italian-inspired spaghetti come highly recommended by regulars.
Dishes such as spaghetii beef stroganoff or lasagna with spinach and ham are big sellers here.   Over a dozen Thai fusion options conclude the menu and include tom yam kung, beef, pork, chicken or prawns in Penang curry and other favourites.   Sunday lunch (from 12.00 noon to 16.00) is from B.345 which includes Sue’s famous sizzling prawns to start, roast of the week and always a decadent dessert.
Coco Club is a find.  Whether you pop in for a glass of wine and snack after golf, drive out for coffee and pastries or join the regulars for one of Sue’s fine dining experiences you will enjoy good food without the expensive price tag.  It only tastes expensive!
How to get there:  drive out on Sukhumvit Highway towards Sattahip and take the turn to Phoenix Golf Club.

Follow the road to the right and you will see signs for Coco Club Resort.  Tel:  084 867 7299 or 087 135 8357 or visit www.cococlub.biz Free pick up available for six persons or more.  Call for details.

Wishing all our readers a happy, healthy New Year and good eating in 2012