REASONS TO RELAX

As we settle down for the long hot summer, it's a good time to take stock of the changing trends in town which affect we residents - maybe even more than those invaluable tourists.

TRENDING TOWARDS QUALITY

With almost no exceptions the main trend is towards quality and good value in catering. Khun Anand of JJ's fame is most certainly in expansionist mood and I almost lost track of how many new JJ's sprang up so fast. Sad that he has moved out of the Montri Hotel after so many successful years, but the upside is that his quite exceptional knack of appealing equally to Thais and farangs is now available to us in air-con comfort in Thapae Road (one on each side of the road!) as well as at Chiang Inn Plaza. Best wishes to Zest, the new name for the Montri coffee shop - you've quite an act to follow…..

The imaginative Western Food Fair on the 27th of last month at Rimping Chotana supermarket near the Novotel came too late for our deadline, but threw a well deserved spotlight on the many local producers of fine comestibles. If you missed it, take a trip around their fridges right away and revel in the rich variety! A self confessed carnivore (surely Thai pork must be amongst the best tasting in the world?) I lament now and then about the lack of a good Indian meat curry in town. Places advertising 'goat' meat are being so frank they deserve pats on the backs, but of course it's a world away from the tender, subtle-flavoured, bone and fat free lamb which some of us were privileged to be brought up on. Hitherto, I had to save up to go to the Regent Resort & Spa, Mae Rim, for good lamb chops. Lovely, but childhood memories of massive roasts still haunted my better dreams.

Then, suddenly as is his style, Alan Solomon launched Sunday roast leg of lamb at Mango Tree Café, Loi Kroh, imported all the way from his native New Zealand. In a trial run on April 21st people were actually hanging around outside in the burning heat waiting for a seat as the lovely ladies served a total of (wait for it) ELEVEN whole legs of lamb at one mealtime! Amazingly, it was still available in the evening and we know of at least 2 people who came back asking for a few cold slices in sandwiches!

Together with roast potatoes and sweet pumpkin, dark gravy, beautiful green peas and mint sauce, it was a generous, memorable, mouth-watering plateful for just 190b. With comments in the guest book like "BETTER than my Grandmother made!" it just makes me wonder why no-one ever did it before??

Last for now, one more expanding local chain is Ban Rai, whose 3rd restaurant opened in Rachamanka Road with 50% discounts on their super-tender steaks last month. Ban Rai No 1 (behind THAI International) and No 2 (almost opposite The Brasserie near the river) established their reputation for top value beef and fish steaks, so check out any one of them!

Rachamanka's on the up and up, by the way, with at least 2 more places opening soon. Watch this space!

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Reasons to Relax

With almost no exceptions the main trend is towards quality and good value in catering.

Ric Klein

Letters

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