bubblegum Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 I’m absolutely amazed and a bit disgusted by the standard of Western cooking in Thailand. I cannot understand how some of you give very good reviews on restaurants that would be out of business in no time in your home country. Let me tell you where I’m coming from; I used to own a restaurant in The Netherlands and after 4 years of hard word we finally got ourselves a Michelin star. So I do know a bit about the business. So far I have not eaten a decent meal in any of the Western kind of restaurants. Ok, sure, not all of Phuket has been visited, mainly Rawai and Nai Harn. The most appalling about eating out are the sauces, could this be a old fashioned British influence? Sauce (a good one) is not made out of thick gravy added with whatever you want to call the sauce. To name a few of the mishaps I have encountered (without names); Lasanga is not a blub of pasta Lamb cooked medium will not work if 1 piece is twice thicker than the other T-bone cannot be ½ cm thick Béarnaise sauce is first of all a reduction of white vinegar and tarragon, not mayonnaise. You make that with you egg yolks later in the process. If you make fresh fish with the skin on, do NOT boil it in butter, fry please Steak does not do well if you cook it in the microwave Same goes for pasta, it will only burn your costumers mouth Pasta a dente means just cooked, not mashed Thick gravy barfff……………excuse me Steak need high, direct temperature, turn only once Aux Bain Marie is very good to keep a sauce warm, better than microwave Risotto is patience !!! Undercooked is grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Garlic sauce in NOT oil with garlic clove’s inside Pepper sauce is NOT gravy (here I go again) Burgers may be seasoned Please use good cheese Rant over ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NADTATIDA1 Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 TIT Try a restaurant of your own in Thailand and maybe you will understand it is not as easy as in the west! I think you should try some of the leading hotels in Bangkok,i have enjoyed the Marriots restaurants top notch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted April 5, 2010 Author Share Posted April 5, 2010 TITTry a restaurant of your own in Thailand and maybe you will understand it is not as easy as in the west! I think you should try some of the leading hotels in Bangkok,i have enjoyed the Marriots restaurants top notch! I understand it is not as in the west but then again standards are standers, thanks for the tip I try the Marriots next time I'm in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathanpattaya Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 I tend to agree. Western food is "generally OK" or usually "a bit disappointing" but only on a few occasions have I though it "really good". Consequently, I usually eat Thai food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanaFoods Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 (edited) I would tend to agree as well.... However, one can say similar things about Thai restaurants in the States.... there are a few good ones, but most suck. Edited April 6, 2010 by ChefHeat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxjay Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 (edited) bubblegum wrote: To name a few of the mishaps I have encountered (without names); Lasanga is not a blub of pasta Lamb cooked medium will not work if 1 piece is twice thicker than the other T-bone cannot be ½ cm thick Béarnaise sauce is first of all a reduction of white vinegar and tarragon, not mayonnaise. You make that with you egg yolks later in the process. If you make fresh fish with the skin on, do NOT boil it in butter, fry please Steak does not do well if you cook it in the microwave Same goes for pasta, it will only burn your costumers mouth Pasta a dente means just cooked, not mashed Thick gravy barfff……………excuse me Steak need high, direct temperature, turn only once Aux Bain Marie is very good to keep a sauce warm, better than microwave Risotto is patience !!! Undercooked is grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Garlic sauce in NOT oil with garlic clove’s inside Pepper sauce is NOT gravy (here I go again) Burgers may be seasoned Please use good cheese I think that is why, most of us "foodies" on TV, who have lived here in Thailand for any length of time, cook ourselves. Plus, it is just plain less expensive to cook ourselves. bubblegum wrote: So far I have not eaten a decent meal in any of the Western kind of restaurants. Ok, sure, not all of Phuket has been visited, mainly Rawai and Nai Harn. Try Superburger, DaVinci, and M&M Italian in Nai Harn. Seafood restaurants along Rawai beach. Wine Connection in Chalong. All good, IMO. Edited April 6, 2010 by maxjay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needforspeed Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 (edited) Have some knowledge myself, seems you never went to the right restaurants. Some restaurants in Thailand are on the same level as 1-2 michelin star restaurants in Holland , Belgium and France And if you cant find the right one , just keep cooking for yourself. Good Luck Edited April 6, 2010 by needforspeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2oDunc Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 You are in Thailand not the EU. I have been in many michelin rated restaurants across the EU and UK and found most to be run by chefs / managers so far up their own bottoms the food is CRAP. A minuscule piece of undercooked meat with half a small potato, 3 pieces of mange tou to decorate the plate and a drizzle of cranberry or some other irrelevant JUZ leaves one not only a lot lighter in the wallet but still hungry. I am more than happy here with good well cooked food at a very reasonable price. Maybe the fact that there is a dearth of michelin class restaurants here is they are not wanted ? Sorry but if I want to eat crap I go back to the UK. I for one quite like the different varieties on offer here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 You can't even get good Western-style bread here without really going out of your way to find it. It is odd.....there are lots of foreigners here, but most restaurants that cater to them are crap. I have actually had better Western food in nearby Cambodia! There is actually only one thing that I think keeps Westerners here and most of you know what that is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needforspeed Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 You can't even get good Western-style bread here without really going out of your way to find it.It is odd.....there are lots of foreigners here, but most restaurants that cater to them are crap. I have actually had better Western food in nearby Cambodia! There is actually only one thing that I think keeps Westerners here and most of you know what that is Not agree, Many 5 star hotels have very good western restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted April 6, 2010 Author Share Posted April 6, 2010 Have some knowledge myself, seems you never went to the right restaurants.Some restaurants in Thailand are on the same level as 1-2 michelin star restaurants in Holland , Belgium and France And if you cant find the right one , just keep cooking for yourself. Good Luck So how about pointing me in the good direction? But please do not mention M&M, Da Vinci, Amalfi, Ellis ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted April 6, 2010 Author Share Posted April 6, 2010 You are in Thailand not the EU. I have been in many michelin rated restaurants across the EU and UK and found most to be run by chefs / managers so far up their own bottoms the food is CRAP. A minuscule piece of undercooked meat with half a small potato, 3 pieces of mange tou to decorate the plate and a drizzle of cranberry or some other irrelevant JUZ leaves one not only a lot lighter in the wallet but still hungry. I am more than happy here with good well cooked food at a very reasonable price. Maybe the fact that there is a dearth of michelin class restaurants here is they are not wanted ? Sorry but if I want to eat crap I go back to the UK. I for one quite like the different varieties on offer here Different varieties ??? Pizza, burgers, bad steak and the same menue in every thai eatery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDRIDER Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 After 9 years in Thailand and only been back in Europe once, a lot of the Farang food taste good enough for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi/Thai Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Go try the Rum Jungle. Down past Don's cafe on the same side, opposite the bright yellow bank that houses western union. Post back your thoughts on Tony's food. I think it's one of the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdmtdm Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 your restaurant must have been the only one in holland to have a michelin star , in my opinion of all the countries i have been to and thats many , holland has the most boring and overpriced food , if you are happy to name the bad places you have eaten at here in phuket , then tell us the name and details of the so called business you had , so we have a level playing field. When you do come across a good establishment here in phuket, if your ego allows , please tell us ..... i am intrigued as to which place does it for you..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ping Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 The expectations of the day... The OP should have tried dining in Phuket around 25 years ago. Believe me, things have improved incredibly over the past few decades. I, for one, enjoy the variety of food on offer. Sure, there are plenty of places that get it wrong, but the variety and value are just fine for me. Indeed, there is some bargain dining to be done of very good quality cuisine. Like most regulars and expats, I have a small list of places of varying international cuisines that I tend to stick with (but I also enjoy my own cooking). But then again, I'm not a food snob either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needforspeed Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 So how about pointing me in the good direction? But please do not mention M&M, Da Vinci, Amalfi, Ellis ! As i posted before many 5 star hotels have good restaurants, Hilton Phuket(Italian restaurant), next to the water, not looking at the layout not happy with that, but the food and wines are very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 For good western food IMO Le Celtique is excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillR Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 9th floor + floyds for 5 star super burgers for excellent burgers and wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjie Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Strange that the OP has such knowledge of food yet is simply unable to choose a restaurant where the food is nice, Plenty of them around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredob43 Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Strange that the OP has such knowledge of food yet is simply unable to choose a restaurant where the food is nice, Plenty of them around.The OP is not asking for nice food but good food, Fish and meat cooked well with a good sauce. Should not be hard to find. But it seem's it is. When I go to a Thai restaurant new to me, the first thing I order is a omelette. Thai style, And I can tell you only 2 out of 10 Thai chef's can do that well, so what chance the rest of the meal. And bar none if the omelette crap so the rest of the food. Western food good, no chance. You must have seen it. Gravy made with Bisto.!!! the best thing since sliced bread. As said before cook it your self. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capex Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Try Chu's in Chalong in the same soi as the infamous Mr. India and on the opposite side. Zero for ambiance and 9 fot the food. The best western food outside of a 5 star establishment on this island - and the price is right too! Chu has been trained in France and in 5 star restaurants and it shows! Bon appetit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2oDunc Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Different varieties ???Pizza, burgers, bad steak and the same menue in every thai eatery? No I eat at Thai restaurants not up your own arse expensive farang ones so the variety I have is excellent. You obviously eat at very different places to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyoldman Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Have some knowledge myself, seems you never went to the right restaurants.Some restaurants in Thailand are on the same level as 1-2 michelin star restaurants in Holland , Belgium and France And if you cant find the right one , just keep cooking for yourself. Good Luck So how about pointing me in the good direction? But please do not mention M&M, Da Vinci, Amalfi, Ellis ! Give The Family a go, nice mediterranean food, chicken pita excellent. It's at the entrance of the little Tesco Lotus on Viset in Chalong. Fatties in Chalong has some good food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenBravo Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 No I eat at Thai restaurants not up your own arse expensive farang ones so the variety I have is excellent. You obviously eat at very different places to me You maybe surprised at this, but, many "Thai" restaurants actually serve pretty good western food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadman Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 The only times I've had what might be politely termed 'tummy problems' in LOS is when eating western food, so I avoid it, but why would you expect the western food to be great in LOS? It's a different part of the world with access to different ingredients and with chefs having a different expertise. I guess if you picked up a western chef and dropped him in Phuket with his chosen ingredients, you'd get the same as he'd cook in the west - but that's not the way it is. Similar to previous posts, I've eaten Thai food all over the world and not found many places worth going to (I know only 3 good ones in London - there must be more but I've knocked my brains out looking). My wife ran a restaurant in Paris and is a great cook (check my waistline for evidence), but she and I both eat very well in LOS. Not western food, though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblegum Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 Go try the Rum Jungle. Down past Don's cafe on the same side, opposite the bright yellow bank that houses western union. Post back your thoughts on Tony's food. I think it's one of the best. Thank you for directing me this way. Tonight I had the most beautifull meal since I've been here. Fish fresh, rabbit cooked very tender, pork absolute tender! A few foot notes: Calimari was very tender but the crispy ring were a little soppy. Maybe put up the heat on the oil just a little bit. Tuna Carpaccio very good but ( and this is my own taste... I like it with a little heat, same as salmon, just to counter balance the soft, butter like taste of the fish). All in all thank you Tony !! And thank you, whoever you are to tipping me! Food Critic, PS The Bill was very reasonable !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needforspeed Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 BG, if you have the knowledge and there is a huge market and no competition, why not open your own restaurant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 BG, if you have the knowledge and there is a huge market and no competition, why not open your own restaurant I was thinking the same but I'm sure the OP doesn't want the headache, grief and stress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlehead Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 When in Thailand.................. I probably eat Thai food 80% of the time. It is usually awesome. Now, getting Thai people to cook western food does not go over well IMO. Probably the same problems if you would try to cook their food. I've been trying to teach my wife how to make "eggs over easy" for 6 years now. She gets it right about 10% of the time. But she can make a dam_n good Larb Moo! I live in Rawai and if I want to, can have Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, Italian, French, German, Swedish, foods all within 2 kms from my house. And a 15 baht banana shake too! I'm appreciating the food here. Sorry you are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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