just_Elaine

Here it is

Very nice. Thanks.

I agree with jingthing. Try a pad krapow. Here is a link to a Thai woman's website. She wrote a cookbook something like "It Rains Fishes". I can't remember the name of it, but I don't have it with me. Anyway, she also teaches classes out of Oakland, CA (or at least she did). http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/recipes/basil-chicken-recipe.html Notes: The kaffir lime leaves and the holy basil might be hard to get. If you can't get them, use some kind of basil and leave out the kaffir lime leaves and try to make the dish.

The other dish I like to do is lahb (or laab or laap), but it requires some grinding - making the rice powder. However, it is pretty flexible and if I have rice powder, chili flakes/powder, green onions, shallots, lime, fish sauce and ground meat, it comes out good. Oh and it is good to have mint or cilantro or basil. It comes out even better with kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass. Stateside I have used hamburger meat and it is amazing how good that comes out.

If it's the same road, it is a winding road. Thinking about Pai... I wonder if that good pizza place is still there...

I miss that first taste; the foamy white moustache.............lets say the beer prayer together:

Our lager,

Which art in barrels,

Hallowed be thy drink.

Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk),

At home as it is in the pub.

Give us this day our foamy head,

And forgive us our spillage's,

As we forgive those who spill against us.

And lead us not to incarceration,

But deliver us from hangovers.

For thine is the beer, The bitter, The lager.

BARMEN.

Ummmm. How many have you had already and is there a tune to go with this? (nice.. thank you).

One year, we did the shopping for banana leaves, trunks, flowers, candles and was shown how to make kratongs. So, of course, we had to go to the river to let them float. It was a bit crowded going through the crowds and even getting a songthaew to drop us off close enough to the river. It was kind of fun.

Regarding the lanterns, we've never seen the masses light them, but around a moo baan that we once lived in, we got to see our neighbors light them and let it go. It was kind of neat. Other than that, we just enjoy just looking up in the sky this time of year and seeing the lights up in the sky.

You make it sound like beer is a drink to be treated like the more expensive wines.

Do you pour a little in a glass and swish it around smell it and then take a small sip?

Not being a wine conosour (obviously not a speller either) I might have missed a step or put them out of order. Sorry about that.

You'd have to be a Brit to understand our love affair with real ales, in an inherited/upbringing thing.

I'm not sure about having to be a Brit. Go brewery hopping in Portland, Oregon. One place had a chocolate cake with some stout and that stout was delicious with the cake!

Not American but was at Dukes that night, very American menu isn't it? Food pretty ordinary and bill bloody expensive, ripped off once was enough, plenty of better and cheaper options around. Before the loyal bite that is just our honest opinion.

Well I am a regular at Dukes but I did not go there as I was to late to reserve two seats. Being as my boy was here I thought may be I would go out for one usually I don't bother.

I had looked at many different places with a Thanksgiving diner and I fail to see where the price was high. Care to share your opinion only of where the plenty of better and cheaper options for a Thanksgiving diner are,

We wound up going to the River Market and had a good diner it of course it was not a Thanksgiving diner it was Thai fusion,

Perhaps next year I will reserve for one. I do not have the facilities to prepare a full course Thanksgiving one so it will have to be out.

Sorry just_Elaine

While your diner sounds delicious it was just a fancy diner on Thanksgiving. Not a Thanksgiving diner, Even in Canada where we copied the day at a different time of the year a turkey is the mainstay of a Thanksgiving diner.

I guess it is all how you look at it. For us, we spent a few minutes talking about what we are thankful for and celebrated with a nice meal. We are missing the other elements of Thanksgiving, like the turkey and being with family, but one can still celebrate and take time to think about things. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Had Sai Uuah, Sticky Rice & naam prig nuum

Kinda missed the pumpkin pie though

Yes, I know what you mean. I am thinking about turkey now!

I heard this was very nice, but we aren't crazy about crowds. Love your pictures..

O-Positive, long ago in the USA they refused to take my blood as I had traveled extensively in malaria regions

so I quit trying to donate. Don't know if that is still the policy there but obviously it couldn't be here.

O-positive. I too had the same experience. The only thing I remember is that I had traveled somewhere or taken some medication within 6 months of when I was trying to give.

Where did you have Thanksgiving? What did you eat? Would you do this again? Why or why not?

For us:

We had Thanksgiving at home and cooked.

Duck breasts in a Cointreau, shallot, wine sauce, potato and leek pancakes, sauteed shitake mushrooms, sauteed Chinese broccoli and Passion Fruit Gelee Cheesecake.

Yes, if someone else does the cleaning. It was delicious, but there was such a mess made!

Thank you for posting this!

Thanks guys, i was hoping for a couple of recommendations but i got way more and some great in depth answers. I tried Le Crystal, i don't really have anything to compare it against and ive never done fine dining before but the service was amazing, went with a set menu cant remember the price but i think it was in the 1800-2400 range per person, one was with a glass of champagne and 2 glasses of wine.

Some of the stuff i wasnt crazy about but that was more because i was trying something i didnt even know what it was, like the black truffle soup, came in a tiny tea cup, just not my thing but everything else was beautiful. Fois Gras was one of the things on the set menu and i believe that can be expensive, not sure if i love the texture but it was tasty, hadnt a clue what i was eating until i googled it after. hell i had trouble figuring out if i should drink the soup like a drink or use a tiny spoon as they were served in a martini glass and a tiny tea cup, well out of my depth lol but nice experience.

Its probably pretty standard in these types of places but it felt like everytime i wanted something they were there immediately, everytime i finished a course the time waiting for the next course was only minutes, which was great because all the portions were small so i was never too full until i got to the final dessert, the sorbet the amouche bouche or whatever you call it are a nice touch to break up the courses and after the dessert they done like an assortment of mini cakes. Spoiled i tell ya.

What do you guys normally tip at these places, i possibly well overtipped at 10%, im not sure if there was a service charge but they actually charged less than what the set menu was advertised and everything was so nice. I normally just tip 20-40 baht at a standard cafe/restaurant but had no idea what to tip in this scenario.

I, also, think that 10% is a good tip if no service was added.

Thanks for the feedback. Your description of your soup experience brings to mind my trying to eat escargot (snails) at a nice restaurant. They had given me a tool which was good at grasping the snails so you can use the fork to get them out, but I'm a bit on the clumsy side and I kind of missed and one snail got away from me. I laughed, but maybe they weren't so happy with me because they had to get that white tablecloth clean!

So now that you went there, would you consider going to the "World Buffet" that someone else mentioned that they have once a month for 1200 baht? Le Crystal's website says that this month's is tomorrow (24th).

Does anyone know if Bake and Bite is doing a Thanksgiving this year? If so, any details?

Thanks,

-Mestizo

I saw this information on a couple of other site, but I don't personally know this is true so call for Reservations *Gai 0818829545" and confirm:

Bake & Bite Thanksgiving buffet

5- 7pm or 8 - 10pm 520 bht per person

House wine 120bht per glass or 100bht corkage fee.

You may be able to get some of the stuff you need in the bulk section of your grocery store. Also, if you have a Mexican/Hispanic store, you can get stuff like coriander seed, cumin seed and I think cinnamon stick. Oh, and that is where I pick up fresh chilis and lime...

Definitely add black mustard seeds (they actually are reddish brown) to your list. I really like dal, so I usually try to keep the orange lentils in my cupboard.

If you are thinking about making a biriyani, you will need stuff like cardamon pods (I ended up with cardamon seed from the bulk section of my grocery store the last time I tried to find some) and cloves.

That's all i can think of off the top of my head..

i like to take the time and make my own!!! Used own mix of nuts and get it just the way you like it.

Mmm... The last one I had (last month) wasn't very good. Where do you get the phyllo? Do you use honey or a sugar water/rose water? Does it take a long time? I haven't tried to make it because it seems like it takes a long time and my husband doesn't like it. I like to have baklava with a nice strong cup of coffee..... Has anyone found this here?

Thank you for letting us know where it is located. Does anyone have updates about the new place?

Just fyi.. Tahini is used to make baba ghanoush (spelling?) which is a dip similar to hummus, but made with grilled eggplant. Also, tahini sauce is sometimes used in shwarmas.

I think that the kabocha squash that they use here is supposed to be really tasty.

Here is a review for 'The House' 199 Moon Maung Road. I occasionally use it, never been disappointed.

This wonderful supper-only bistro was established by a resident Dane who immediately upped the culinary standards in Chiang Mai. Set in an old 1960s edifice that's been lovingly restored, the main dining room has large windows with gorgeous drapes, silk cushions, and candlelit tables; upstairs there are two rooms that are even cozier. An internationally trained Thai chef works his magic on a constantly evolving menu of regionally influenced classical dishes, a medley of grilled items and imported steaks, and lamb and seafood when available -- there are fabulous desserts to boot. For good value, order the four-course set dinner (with a free glass of wine) for 900B. Outside is a Moorish souk-styled lounge bar with lights in the trees, and a separate tapas bar for snacks. This refined dining spot, with its romantic nooks and funky furnishings, caters to the discerning traveler.

Read more: http://www.frommers....l#ixzz2BsietbmB

Trip Advisor link

http://www.tripadvis...i_Province.html

Truthfully, I was totally distracted by how dark it was in the restaurant. I think that they gave us flashlights to read the menu the time I was there. I haven't been there in awhile so maybe that has changed. I did go back again to sit outside and have the "House Martini" again though... Delicious drink with passion fruit, pineapple, rum and I don't remember what else...

I was told that "Santi Music School" was very good a couple of years ago. If you do a search (google), you'll find their website and it looks like citylife did a couple of articles about them.

I would recommend a French restaurant with a set menu. I'm saying this because a set "menu" is a standard thing in France and it takes you through the whole dining experience which sounds like what you want. I tried to find websites and menus for the French restaurants here without a lot of success. However, I did find Le Crystal's menu and they have a couple of set menus that have amuse boche, choice of appetizer, choice of soup, sorbet (palette cleanser), choice of main course, choice of dessert, coffee and petit fours. Now that is what I would call treating myself! I have never eaten here yet, but it was on my list of places to try. We went to Le Coq d'Or many years ago and I cannot remember what we had. More recent, we have eaten at Chez Marco which is pretty good, but it has a more relaxed atmosphere and I don't know if they have set menus. We also have eaten at La Terrasse which is down the street from Chez Marco. The dining area is more formal and quiet and we thought the food was pretty good. I don't think we went with the set menu when we were there. We tried La Forchette when they were pretty new. We thought it was just okay.

One other place that has great food presentation is W by Wanlamun. It is fusion (Thai/French) food. The first time we went was terrific. We liked our food Thai food spicy and got it. The second time we went was just okay. We tried to tell them to make it spicy, but they didn't listen so it went from great to not so great. I don't think they have a set menu.

Have fun treating yourself! Let us know if you find something good...

Thank you for letting us know. We did it too late last year!

The Brasserie has closed and is moving to a new place near Sompet Market. They're going to spend some time renovating the new place, then opening. It will still have live music but it's not clear if Took will play there or not.

The story about Took's ma dying is correct, although he got back a few weeks ago. He played at the closing party, which was fantastic.

Thamks for the info. Please post updates as you hear them...

P1p's place, yes. Was called Mango Tree (not to be confused with Lemon Tree, which is still around and is an excellend place).

Of course Phil is no longer with us either. Living in Chiang Mai you get a bit of the same experience old people get, when a relatively high number of friends and acquaintances die with some regularity. And it's not just because there just happen to be many older people around in Chiang Mai, it's also because Thailand remains a fairly risky place. (Traffic, mostly, and riskier lifestyles)

Mango Tree later turned into a bar.

Yes, that was it - Mango Tree... I guess that was quite awhile ago... Thanks you.