Black Ginger at the Indigo Pearl Phuket Resort

A vacation with my best friend is not complete without at least one dress up meal.  Setting aside the beach flip flops for the night, we cleaned up and made ourselves presentable for our first and last nights' meals at the resort.

Black Ginger is truly an experience from the moment you enter the restaurants property in the Indigo Pearl Phuket resort.  The blue lit decor against the dark entrance guides you to a wooden porch.  From there, you wait for a floating platform to pull you across a moat.  (Seriously, it's such a cool entrance - it makes a statement for a memorable night ahead.)

You are greeted by the hostess who takes you to the outdoor bar if you wish to start your night there.  Then you are seated outside, in private rooms, or in the main restaurant inside.  I highly recommend the main restaurant because of the impressive decor.  The dark black wood contrasts the blue lights and industrial glass art pieces around and up along the ceiling.  It's modern, rustic, and industrial; and it sets the mood for a fun, yet refined dinner experience.

The menu is quite extensive.  Our choices were narrowed down because of allergies and our focus on Southern Thai cuisine.  My best friend and I have both frequented Bangkok and Chiang Mai.  So we are pretty familiar with the staple dishes and Northern specialties.  This was our chance to try what Phuket is known for.

Everything we ordered was so delicious.  It had that mouth watering blend of spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.  This Thai combination of flavors makes the food come alive.  The southern dishes highlighted more of the sour which really opens up your appetite for more food.  The best dish of our first and last meal was a salad using a local flower.  We were so fascinated with the flower that our server, who was so sweet and gracious to us, brought out the whole flower to show and explain what we were eating.  In our second and last meal, she brought out the chef to our table.  She's a local young-looking older lady who has been working at the resort's property for over 20 years outlasting the changes of ownership and the horrible tsumani in 2004.

The service and hospitality from these ladies and, of course, the remarkable dishes makes the Black Ginger a must dine experience if you come to the resort.  It's truly unforgettabe from the moment you step foot onto that floating platform.

(I mistakenly deleted my food photos on the flight back from Phuket.  It was a painful realization.  The photos below are courtesy of my best friend who has a brilliant artistic eye.)

Entrance into the restaurant property

Waiting for our floating platform

Vacation time in Thailand at the Indigo Pearl Phuket

It's time for another beach getaway!  This time I was in the mood for South East Asia, staying away from crowds, and a guarantee of excellent food.  Destination: Thailand!

There are countless beach resorts all around the country.  After days and weeks of research, my best friend and I finally decided on Phuket.  It has an international airport and our desired resort is just mere minutes away.  Convenient, private, and luxurious - that is what makes for a relaxing vacation.

Indigo Pearl Phuket  is a private resort along the Nai Yang beach in Phuket.  While it is just 5-10 minutes away from the airport, you are tucked away from pollution, crowds, and commercialism.  The resort is set in an industrial chic theme amidst the lush greenery of nature.  The architecture and decoration pays tribute to Phuket's history of tin mining and rubber plantation.

All rooms in the resort are suites.  The base room, the Premium Pearl Bed Suite which we stayed in, is so spacious - especially if you enjoy bathroom space.  The room is modern and warm which feels great coming back to the room after a day under the sun.  And it's even better waking up to the lush views of the resort's greenery.

In the mornings you are treated to the daily breakfast buffet.  It consists of the usual Western selections of eggs, bacon, etc., Chinese dim sum, fruits, breads and pastries, cold cuts, and so on.  There is also a station for freshly made pancakes, waffles, and donuts.  The best part of the morning buffet was the Thai dishes that changed every day.  Curries, braised pork, chicken wings, and freshly made noodles.  That was the most memorable part of every morning.

We stayed in Phuket for 4 nights, so we made the most of the resort by checking out each of the pools and bars.  There are 3 pools around the property.  A main pool for all ages, a quieter and smaller pool for a retreat, and the best pool - with a pool bar and happy hour.  It was hilarious how every afternoon at 4pm sharp, all the habitants of the pool lounges jumped in the water for an afternoon beverage.  Also, you are treated to ice cold waters, fruit sticks, and cold towels to cool down throughout the day.  It soo nice to be pampered.

In the next posts, I'll be sharing photos and stories from the beach and the beach food, as well as our most excellent eating at the resort's gorgeous Thai restaurant.

Premium Pearl Bed Suite

Balcony 1 of 2

Thai with a golf course view in Hong Kong

A trip to Hong Kong usually involves endless walking and eating around Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.  If there's enough time and stomach space, I usually venture out of Central and into Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.  Basically sticking to the bubble of Hong Kong Island.  So when there's even more time and good company, it's refreshing to explore beyond HK Island.

Hong Kong International Airport proudly has a nine-hole golf course just 10 minutes away from the airport.  A free shuttle takes you there to enjoy the links and the clubhouse.  In the clubhouse sits a Thai restaurant, Erawan, which serves home-cooked Thai cuisine with a relaxing golf course view.  

The restaurant provides indoor seating when it's raining or too hot and outdoor seating when the weather is just right.  It's a peaceful and tasty escape from the bustle of the city.  Whether you're a golfer or an eater, this is a fun option for something completely different.

If you can't see the slide show check out my Flickr album: Thai Golf Course HK

Bo Lan - Sustainable & Seasonal Thai Cuisine

Our last dinner in Thailand.  There's no better way to end the weekend's food tour than with a tasting menu full of Bangkok's seasonal treats.  Bo.lan is a Thai restaurant that boasts of its sustainable and seasonal Thai cooking.  "Sustainable" and "seasonal" - two words that instantly attract me when it comes to local cooking and eating.  Using the freshest and the best of what's available - that's the heart of local cuisine.

Bo.lan offers traditional Thai cuisine presented classically and with modern variations.  You have a choice of the A la Carte menu and the Bo.lan Balance menu (the tasting menu).  If you make the effort to come here, go with the tasting menu.  It's just over $50 USD, soo reasonable compared to tasting menus in the states.

The menu starts the night off properly...with alcohol!.  These guys know how to treat their guests to a good night.  The drink is followed with a generous amuse bouche plate - sort of an introduction to the range of flavors that Thai cuisine offers.  And then the main event is in true Asian fashion, family style.

The tasting menu changes every quarter, and the restaurant even offers Saturday cooking classes for a hands-on demonstration on how to make a range of Thai dishes.  Two incentives to go back!

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Bo Lan

A Traditional Thai Dinner at Jim Thompson's House

While our Bangkok food trip was mostly filled with street eats and markets, we started the weekend with a traditional Thai dinner at Jim Thompson's house by the river, a notable tourist destination.  I briefly stopped by last year to see what the place is about.  Here are some pictures from that visit.

Because of the heavy rains, the restaurant was ours for the night.  Talk about exclusive dining for our first meal in Bangkok!  There is even a Thai dancer who pops in occasionally during the night to perform a traditional dance.  In between the dances, the room is filled with tunes ranging from yodels to Christmas jingles.  Something for everyone.

The meal itself was a great introduction to the different plates of Thai cuisine.  We didn't get the obvious dishes, and I really enjoyed that.  We had a range of appetizing bites to awaken our stomachs.  Thai appetizers are filled with citrus, herbs, and spice that make you want to eat for the whole night.  While I can't get enough of the classic dishes, I love tasting new bites to discover more and more of all that Thai cuisine has to offer.  And there is so much in their cuisine that you'll always be trying something new.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: Jim Thompson Dinner

Local eats around the streets of Bangkok

Touring Bangkok this time around on this food tour was a fun and tasty adventure all around the city.  We ate well at local hidden gems, filling up on some of Bangkok's classic street foods:

~ Thai boat noodle shop is a staple on boat vendors and at food stalls and soup shops.  It's like the Thai's version of Vietnamese pho.

~ Pad Thai, probably one of the best known Thai dishes around the world.  Everyone has their own version and presentation.  From a street vendor, ours was beautifully wrapped in a thin omelet pouch which held together a generous serving of noodles, served with fresh vegetables.  Street food with fresh vegetables - I love it.

~ Crab Omelet at Jay Fai was one of my favorite dishes of the trip.  This seemed so simple, yet so packed with flavor.  Fresh crab meat and some crab fat rolled in batter and fried, paired with a Thai sriracha dipping sauce for a little spicy kick.  I could eat that over rice for days.  Jay Fai was a great dinner place for local seafood dishes.  Each one had its unique flavor of spice or herbs or a classic gravy sauce.  Local street food done so well.

During our tour, we also had a couple moments to unwind with cocktails and mocktails.  In the midst of Bangkok's summer heat, a cold cocktail is a true relief.  Arun Residences by the River is a restaurant and bar by the Chao Phraya River with some fun concoctions to sip on while taking a break from the bustle of the city.  There's always a good reason to relax with a drink.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: Local Eats

Food Tripping in Bangkok

Back in Bangkok!  One of my favorite food cities in the world.  And this time, I'm on a food tour!

Pinoy Eats World has been expanding their global tours, and I was lucky enough to be around to catch this one.  In comparison to my past trips to Thailand, this was mostly casual and filled with markets and local joints.  I love that you can go back to this city multiple times and it can always be a different kind of trip - luxurious and pampered, casual, historical, architectural, Hangover Part II.. take your pick.

In these next two weeks and in these next four updates, I'll be showing you the markets, the local eats, and a couple of the nicer restaurants we were taken to over the course of a weekend trip.

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First up, markets and street eats!

When I was younger, touring cities included museums, churches, department stores, and restaurants.  These days when I travel, I tend to bypass the churches, temples, and pagodas.  If I really need a filler for time, then I'll look into museums.  If I'm in a shopping mood (which doesn't happen frequently), then I'll check out the department stores.

Instead, I love focusing my trips on the local foods and drinks.  Markets, food halls, cooking classes, and local restaurants and bars.  These are my museums and my cultural tours.

On this trip, we were taken to 4 markets, including 2 food markets and a night market.

Jatujak (or Chatuchak) Market.  If you're into outdoor markets full of everything from A-Z, this is your place.  Get ready to bargain!... But for me, I just came from the states where I filled my luggage with clothes from Gilt.com and Zappos.com (shameless plug promoting a couple of my favorite online shopping sites.), so shopping wasn't on my mind for the weekend.

Or Tor Kor Market, one of the cities nicest food markets, right next to Jatujak.  I first went here a couple years ago prior to a cooking class.  I'm so impressed with how this is such a clean dry & wet market.  If I lived in Bangkok, I'd buy a lot of my fruits and produce here for my weekly meals.  You can also stop for a bite, which I highly recommend.  These vendors are using the freshest ingredients straight from this market.

Amphawa Floating Market.  Located near the Gulf of Thailand, it's a bit of a drive from the city.  We enjoyed an afternoon leisurely strolling by each of the vendors, nibbling on local treats, and taking in the sights of locals and tourists.  I love seeing the food boats - that's way cooler than the food trucks in the states!  Each little wooden boat had their own specialty - papaya salad, grilled seafood, fried rice, noodles, etc.  If you have an extra afternoon or night, and you want to visit this afternoon floating market, it stays open through the early morning on weekends as well.  You can also grab a boat at night to enjoy the river and the fireflies whizzing around.

Soi 38 Night Market.  In Thai culture, you have frequent mini meals throughout the day.  That means you have a dinner part 1 followed by a dinner part 2 later in the evening.  So when in Bangkok, eat all the time.  After a big meal, we were taken to Soi 38 for more savory bites and some memorable sticky rice and coconut milk with mango.  I love watching the vendors cook up your orders in high heat, so quickly, and with such passion.

Thais love their food, and it's always such a pleasure to dine with them in their country.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Market/Street Eats

Four Seasons Chiang Mai: Chef's Table. A Dining Experience to Remember.

Chef's Table. Eating dinner while the chef prepares your meal right in front you.

That's pretty much a guaranteed memorable dinner. The perfect way to celebrate a birthday.

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai's Chef Table was one of the most memorable meals and dining experiences I've ever had in the world. First of all, the setting is on the mountainous Chiang Mai. The Four Seasons property highlights the natural beauty and greenery.

Then, the cooking school setting makes your jaw drop with how amazing the school is set up with huge exhaust systems, cooking stations, and wooden structures.

There's also the chefs who make you feel so special and welcomed.

Finally, the Thai food is so delicious that weeks (and I'm sure months and years later) I'm still remembering the flavors playing on my tongue and warming my stomach. Great Thai food does that to you. What a night.

10 courses, an open bar, and an exclusive private dinner. All for 2500 baht (~$80USD). I've spent hundreds of US Dollars on meals in the US for great meals from highly reputable celebrity chefs. This night blows them all away.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Four Seasons Chefs Table

A Casual Meal, Poolside at the Mandarin Oriental Chiang Mai

After an early morning of touring the city of Chiang Mai (and visiting all the celadon and bronze factories), it was already past lunch time. We were left with only a couple choices of where to dine in the resort. Poolside at the Loy Kham Bar. There's something about dining outside by a pool that makes you want to eat light, eat healthy, and enjoy a tropical drink...


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: MO Chiang Mai Pool Bar

Northern Thai Lunch in Chiang Mai

If you only have a few days in Chiang Mai and you stay at a resort like the Mandarin, it's so easy to just stay in the resort and enjoy all they have to offer. The resort is huge.. like Disneyland huge. Along with all the sights and activities, there's also a great variety of dining throughout the property.

One of my favorite Thai restaurants is here at the resort. Lanna offers traditional Thai cuisine and traditional Northern Thai cuisine of the Chiang Mai area. Northern cuisine offers lots of fresh flavors and vegetables, as well as deep flavored curries. The tables are spacious to accomodate for family style dining - perfect for Thai cuisine to enjoy tastes of all the dishes.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Lanna

Back at the Mandarin Oriental Chiang Mai

In my years of traveling, I have a growing list of favorite resorts around the world. Resorts are more special than hotels because they tend to have a unique theme or architecture. Shangri-la Boracay and Grand Hyatt Kauai are two of my favorite beach resorts. It's more than the room, it's the whole resort hotel experience.

The first on my list of favorite resorts around the world is the Mandarin Oriental Chiang Mai. Since I visited last year, I still can't stop talking about it. To celebrate my mom's birthday, we went back to our favorite place, and back to the Mandarin Oriental. Now this is the way to celebrate a birthday!

My post of last year has more pictures and videos of the property. These pictures from this year's visit contain more views of our villa and other shots that I may not have taken last time.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: MO Chiang Mai

Thiptara at The Peninsula Bangkok

Aside from Sala Rim Naam at the Mandarin Oriental, Thiptara at The Peninsula is another stand out Thai restaurant. The setting is also by the river, with beautiful open air dining areas. Even during rainy season, you can still enjoy a great meal.

I can't emphasize enough how I enjoy some of these hotel restaurants. Plus, it's really a convenience after a long day to dine in the hotel. At restaurants like this, the hotel hospitality service is still present and the quality of all the food is excellent. Thiptara is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok because of the overall experience.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Thiptara

4 x 4 = 16 Thai Dishes for Dinner

High end hotels around the world are known for hiring some of the best chefs. Years and outstanding skill make an executive hotel chef. Outside of the US, many Michelin rated chefs are from the league of these hotels.

In every city we travel, my family makes a point to eat in at least one of these hotel restaurants. In Bangkok, we are repeat customers of both Mandarin Oriental and The Peninsula's Thai restaurants. They are completely authentic and high quality with the most beautiful riverside settings.

At the Mandarin Oriental, Sala Rim Naam is a must-try. You have a choice of the Thai lunch buffet, a la carte dinner out by the river, or a set dinner while watching traditional Thai dances. Or, if you don't want to choose, you totally can go back and do all three. The lunch buffet is my favorite buffet from around the world right now. It's such a fun and extensive spread.

On my most recent trip back to Bangkok, the four of us enjoyed 16 dishes, 18 including dessert. 4 salads, 4 appetizers, 4 dips, 4 curries, and 2 desserts. Sala Rim Naam's menu lets you have these assortments of 4 dishes and you get to choose the 4 in each category. I love variety during meals, and this was totally the way to go. It's also a great way to try out new dishes to learn more and more about this amazing Thai cuisine.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Sala Rim Naam

Back at The Oriental Thai Cooking School!

Back in Bangkok.. and back to The Oriental Thai Cooking School! This is my third time in Bangkok, and this is my third time taking a class at the cooking school.

I love the format and the detailed explanations from Chef Narain. It's not just the menu or the atmosphere of the school, it's really the chef/teacher that keeps bringing me back. I learn so many new things about cooking techniques and Thai cuisine every time.

Aside from learning about the dishes, you also discover new ingredients that you can use in other cuisines, aside from Thai. Plus, after the class, we make a list to shop for ingredients and certain brands at Paragon to take home.

Thai food has instantly become one of my favorite cuisines. The flavors are really exciting to the palate, especially with the combinations of salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy packed in every bite. I can eat it multiple times during the week. Thanks to all these lessons, I have a growing list of recipes to make at home. I can't wait to go back to learn more!


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: MO Bangkok Cooking Class

Home Style Thai Cooking

When it comes to Thai food here in Manila, we typically go to our favorite restaurant, People's Palace. I love the atmosphere, the service, and the consistency of the food. It's always a great meal.

But every once in a while, I want something different. So in search of that, we tried out Benjarong. The Thai restaurant of the Dusit Thani Hotel, a Thai hotel. The chef is a Thai lady who specializes in Royal Thai home style cuisine.

We have another go-to place for Thai food! The food is excellent, authentic, and comforting. From appetizers to desserts, the dishes make you feel like you're back in Bangkok.

For an added plus, go there on the last Saturday of the month. Your whole bill with be 30% off thanks to Earth Hour!


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Benjarong

Home Cooked Asian Meals

After traveling so much, it's so comforting to eat home cooked food at home. Even though I've been traveling around Asia, I still always find myself craving for Asian food. Here are a couple meals that I made and my mom also made during our down time at home.

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Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

Salathip at the Shangri-la Bangkok Hotel

Taking a quick boat ride across the Chao Phraya River, my parents and I ventured to the Shangri-la Hotel. After walking around the hotel grounds, we saw the beautiful setting of their Thai restaurant, Salathip. It's nicely set with both indoor and outdoor dining. It was another great dinner and meal in Bangkok. It always seems like all our Thai meals are so memorable and delicious.

The dishes, especially, the appetizer are all so fun to look at and eat. Eating is not just about sustenance, but about enjoying life and what's given to us.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about the pictures.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

Thiptara at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok

Whenever I travel I really enjoy eating at our hotel's restaurant, especially if they have a restaurant with their local cuisine. These hotel restaurants (while a bit pricey) are so authentic and with a most beautiful setting. So, really, the price becomes worth it because of the whole experience.

The Thiptara restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok is one of our favorite Thai restaurants. The setting is by the river with an all outdoor setting. The menu has a great variety for everyone to be satisfied. It's always a great experience eating here.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about some of the pictures.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

The Oriental Thai Cooking School

For my family, any trip to Thailand must include at least one day of a cooking class. I was so excited to go back to Bangkok with my parents. After looking through the various menus, we decided to go back to The Oriental Thai Cooking School in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

My first experience last year was so enjoyable. I learned so much more about Thai cuisine. And by learning so much more, it made me enjoy the cuisine even more! In fact, after last year's trip Thai cuisine became one of my favorite cuisines (probably right after Japanese and Spanish).

This year's cooking class was just as enjoyable! And actually because of the lessons it made Thai cuisine more approachable and easier to make at home. All the recipes we learned were comfort dishes and really easy to make. I can't wait to try these recipes soon!

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about some of the pictures.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.

Fresh Thai Ingredients and Herbs

If you're into food and cooking, you must try out a cooking class in Thailand! It totally heightened my appreciation and love of Thai cuisine. Before getting into our cooking class, here's a little sneak into basic Thai ingredients and Thai herbs.

Place your cursor above "Notes" as some of the pictures have a little caption.

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slide show here.