Really Tasty British Food In Chiang Mai?

[Ulysses G.]

Most of the British restaurants that I used to like in Chiang Mai have closed or changed hands and I miss tasty British pub food every once in a while. I like Mad Dog, but am looking for something just a little more up-market.

I am not interested in the alcohol selection or how nice the guy is that runs it or owners plugging their own place. I am looking for quality British pub food like Bobby's Arms in Bangkok always had (I have not eaten there for many years). The kind of place that gatorhead would appreciate. Does a place like that exist in Chiang Mai anymore?

Edited June 8, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[IanForbes]

Really tasty British food? Isn't that an oxymoron?

[StevieH]

depends on what you mean by british pub food really. ploughman's lunch, chicken tikka masala and beef stroganoff are often the staples of a british pub menu nowadays. were you meaning more like pies and stews?

[gatorhead333]

Most of the British restaurants that I used to like in Chiang Mai have closed or changed hands and I miss tasty British pub food every once in a while. I like Mad Dog, but am looking for something just a little more up-market.

I am not interested in the alcohol selection or how nice the guy is that runs it or owners plugging their own place. I am looking for quality British pub food like Bobby's Arms in Bangkok always had (I have not eaten there for many years). The kind of place that gatorhead would appreciate. Does a place like that exist in Chiang Mai anymore?

oxymoron ?

some brit food is o.k. right?

Edited June 8, 2009 by gatorhead333

[alant]

i too would love to know of some places that do british pub grub and dont over dress the order with "bistro" sauces and little salads sprinkled with pepers when not a part of what should be a simple meal.

if they do good thai food as well then i would probably frequent more often as the mrs would go also

[IanForbes]

oxymoron ?

some brit food is o.k. right?

Better than Scottish any day. I mean who can honestly say they like haggis, tripe or porridge?

I actually like pasties depending on who does them. Fish and chips can be pretty good as well.

[Sparkles]

Most of the British restaurants that I used to like in Chiang Mai have closed or changed hands and I miss tasty British pub food every once in a while. I like Mad Dog, but am looking for something just a little more up-market.

I am not interested in the alcohol selection or how nice the guy is that runs it or owners plugging their own place. I am looking for quality British pub food like Bobby's Arms in Bangkok always had (I have not eaten there for many years). The kind of place that gatorhead would appreciate. Does a place like that exist in Chiang Mai anymore?

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

[IanForbes]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

[alant]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

whats a "semi expat"? one that can still bend at the waist?

[IanForbes]

Good one, Alant. Unlike the full time residents here who have settled from somewhere else, I have to call myself a semi-expat. I live in Thailand half the year and the other half I spend back in Canada. I live two parallel lives that are totally unalike, but both great in their own way. I wouldn't want to give up either.

[anonymouse]

Really tasty British food? Isn't that an oxymoron?

It's not often I get on my high horse on TV but I am going to have to castigate Mr Forbes for his ignorant views on British Food

In the last ten years or so there has been a huge renaissance in British food, with the rise of the Gastro Pub and media Chef's such as Gordon Ramsey, Rick Stein & Jamie Oliver championing home-grown food.

Here's a sample from a pub that I sometimes frequent

Starter - Morston Mussels with Cider and Cream or Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tart

Main course - Baked Cromer Crab with Apple & Sherry or

Pot Roast Leg of Lamb with Red & White Beans

Dessert - Old Fashioned Treacle Tart or Brown Bread and Butter Pudding

There are hundreds if not thousands of pubs selling similiar home grown local food up and down the country.

rant over

And to answer UG's question - no.... the only two places where you could get decent English food are both closed The Elizabethan rooms and the original laughing leprechaun.

I think the problem would be importing in decent British ingredients and then expecting people to pay premium prices for it. Also a lot of British grub is comfort food and it's not what you really crave in 90 degree temperatures

[alant]

Good one, Alant. Unlike the full time residents here who have settled from somewhere else, I have to call myself a semi-expat. I live in Thailand half the year and the other half I spend back in Canada. I live two parallel lives that are totally unalike, but both great in their own way. I wouldn't want to give up either.

OK fair enough, plenty of airmiles then?

Back to the thread, I like haggis, well the spicy good quality ones but I agree porrage should be left to the horses, kippers, are they english or scottish? i see they are listed for breakfast at the old bell...any good?

bye the way bought some of the waitrose ones at tops... wonderful but bolldy expensive at 199b a pack

[zorro1]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

nice pig

[Maccheroncini]

UN Irish pub is good for me. In fact I really like their chicken parmigiana or fish and chips of course.

[zorro1]

does that pig have a boner? too pink to be a tail

[tigerbalm]

Shepherd's pie

Liver bacon & onions

Cornish pasties

Sausage rolls With puff pastry

Steak and Kidney pies

Scotch eggs

all available in my kitchen but as much as i would like to share i don't own a restaurant

Oh i would really like to make Beef stew and Dumplings but i never seen the Suet about so if any body knows where to buy i am all ears.

Toad in the Hole is an other treat but you really need an electric oven to generate the heat needed to get the batter to rise.

I am sure Mr Mad Dog could make any of these for an addition to his menu. his Breakfasts are superb.

[anonymouse]

UN Irish pub is good for me. In fact I really like their chicken parmigiana or fish and chips of course.

I know I'm being trivial but chicken parmigiana is hardly a traditional British Dish, fish & Chips is though I prefer old cheerful Charlie's for mine.

Last time I ate at the Irish pub a cockroach the size of my dinner plate legged it across the table

[gennisis]

Shepherd's pie

Liver bacon & onions

Cornish pasties

Sausage rolls With puff pastry

Steak and Kidney pies

Scotch eggs

all available in my kitchen but as much as i would like to share i don't own a restaurant

Oh i would really like to make Beef stew and Dumplings but i never seen the Suet about so if any body knows where to buy i am all ears.

Toad in the Hole is an other treat but you really need an electric oven to generate the heat needed to get the batter to rise.

I am sure Mr Mad Dog could make any of these for an addition to his menu. his Breakfasts are superb.

Regarding the suet for the dumplings...get a lump of the beef fat from some fatty brisket....and freeze it...,grate it and mix with a little flour to stop it from formiong a lump....use this the same way as 'ATORA'

[anonymouse]

Shepherd's pie

Liver bacon & onions

Cornish pasties

Sausage rolls With puff pastry

Steak and Kidney pies

Scotch eggs

all available in my kitchen but as much as i would like to share i don't own a restaurant

Oh i would really like to make Beef stew and Dumplings but i never seen the Suet about so if any body knows where to buy i am all ears.

Toad in the Hole is an other treat but you really need an electric oven to generate the heat needed to get the batter to rise.

I am sure Mr Mad Dog could make any of these for an addition to his menu. his Breakfasts are superb.

Tried a Toad in the Hole in the oven at home using a recipe of Gordon Ramsey's but the batter didn't rise much and after paying a fortune for some good quality sausages was pretty disappointing.

Can't help you with the suet, I make do using German style Bread Dumplings they are a fairly good substitute.

[CLASBYCLAN]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

Wow, your Grandaughter is beautiful!

[CLASBYCLAN]

does that pig have a boner? too pink to be a tail

LOL LOL LOL LOL STILL LOL!

[zorro1]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

Wow, your Grandaughter is beautiful!

her body language isnt exactly saying I luv this very skinny old man

[tigerbalm]

Good one, Alant. Unlike the full time residents here who have settled from somewhere else, I have to call myself a semi-expat. I live in Thailand half the year and the other half I spend back in Canada. I live two parallel lives that are totally unalike, but both great in their own way. I wouldn't want to give up either.

OK fair enough, plenty of airmiles then?

Back to the thread, I like haggis, well the spicy good quality ones but I agree porrage should be left to the horses, kippers, are they english or scottish? i see they are listed for breakfast at the old bell...any good?

bye the way bought some of the waitrose ones at tops... wonderful but bolldy expensive at 199b a pack

I forgot about kippers or Smokies as the Scots call them , next time i am in Tops i will buy a pack and try them, Kippers toast and a poached egg Yumie 1999 Bht is a little excessive, but i have got to have some

Thanks for reminding me

[Ulysses G.]

depends on what you mean by british pub food really. ploughman's lunch, chicken tikka masala and beef stroganoff are often the staples of a british pub menu nowadays. were you meaning more like pies and stews?

I really meant a combination of traditional British fare and the more modern stuff that you have mentioned - the best Indian food in the world is done in England - hopefully done in a British Style.

When I first came to Thailand, some of the best farang restaurants around were British - like Bobby's Arms - and they were excellent in every regard.

anonymouse - who is a pretty handy cook himself - mentioned two of my favorite places from the past and the immortal Escape will probably go down in Chiang Mai history.

[haybilly]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

Wow, your Grandaughter is beautiful!

She used to be his Grandson!

[elektrified]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

Wow, your Grandaughter is beautiful!

She used to be his Grandson!

That's a low blow!

[zorro1]

With the number of food threads on this forum I can only surmise that most posters must look like they have just eaten half a sheep. How do you do it ? I put on weight just reading them !!

Yah, we're all real fatsos with big beer bellies after we finish stuffing ourselves. Isn't that what everyone thinks of the typical farang semi-expat?

Wow, your Grandaughter is beautiful!

She used to be his Grandson!

As a body language expert there are several factors of note here.

1. mr sexy skinny grandad is leaning into the subject

2. she is as as rigid as the boner on the pig

3. her hands are crossed over a vulnerable area = no entry

4. just noticed gramps has a base ball cap covering his but probably due to lingering affects of Viagra popped at 7am

Hope he has a sense of humor but seriously how many of us would post a pic on T.V with a young girl

[anonymouse]

depends on what you mean by british pub food really. ploughman's lunch, chicken tikka masala and beef stroganoff are often the staples of a british pub menu nowadays. were you meaning more like pies and stews?

I really meant a combination of traditional British fare and the more modern stuff that you have mentioned - the best Indian food in the world is done in England - hopefully done in a British Style.

When I first came to Thailand, some of the best farang restaurants around were British - like Bobby's Arms - and they were excellent in every regard.

anonymouse - who is a pretty handy cook himself - mentioned two of my favorite places from the past and the immortal Escape will probably go down in Chiang Mai history.

som nam na to Mr Forbes for hijacking the British food post

But back on topic

Forgot about the Escape, loved there Sunday Roast.......... don't get me started on the state of Indian restaurants in Chiang Mai

[tigerbalm]

With reference to the picture posted here my Mr Forbes of the Pig (Over the BBQ)

I remember when living inn Pattaya a few years back and it was not uncommon to see this when ever a new bar opened and the landlord was giving a opening party. you paid for a pig and usually a Thai would come along to cut it up as part of the package.

Just wondering where and how much for a porker in CM

Just to add, some realy good humerous replies by you all had me in stitches

I was just wondering what body language the pig was might have been giving out

Edited June 8, 2009 by tigerbalm

[IanForbes]

As a body language expert there are several factors of note here.

1. mr sexy skinny grandad is leaning into the subject

2. she is as as rigid as the boner on the pig

3. her hands are crossed over a vulnerable area = no entry

4. just noticed gramps has a base ball cap covering his but probably due to lingering affects of Viagra popped at 7am

Hope he has a sense of humor but seriously how many of us would post a pic on T.V with a young girl

I only post stuff to give you guys a laugh. I was obviously successful. I find it better to make fun of myself than make fun of others. I don't worry too much about body language in a single photo. I've got enough photos of all expressions to portray anything I like.

I do find it helpful to go out with a Thai woman when choosing a place to eat. They can explain to the Thai chef how I like my food prepared.

And, to get back on topic I believe the quality of pastry on some British pub meals makes a huge difference. Too many pastries taste like carboard. But, a light, flakey pastry that is slightly browned over a nice concoction of meat and veggies is as tasty as a fine T-bone steak. My mother taught me how to make pastry and I can do a pretty good job of it when I want to. But, it takes time to do it well and being single I usually don't bother unless I have guests. It's the same with making pizza dough. I usually set aside one day and make a bunch of pizza shells which I freeze for later.