My Latest Books

I have 3 books out in November 2009 and I would also like to introduce ‘Polar B. Books’ which is my own brainchild and my collaboration with Circle Publishing, one of Thailand’s leading guidebook publishers. Polar B.’s first released title is: 

TITLE:  EAT TRANG & PHUKET

POLAR B. BOOKS, Bt250

Trang is a closed town but their food are heavenly delicious and mostly homemade. I love the fact that recipes of each place are passed own from one generation to the next and that some places selling noodles, curries and Chinese-style seafood, still make their own food.

Phuket is an expensive destination for many Thais, but if choose wisely, it can be affordable and delicious. In fact, Phuket has a long history of being one of Thailand’s oldest port town, making it a food destination of eclectic eating cultures.

TITLE: EASY SAVING MANUAL, A DIARY FROM SUAY RUAY NGOK

CIRCLE PUBLISHING, BT240

Always a hot and confusing issues, saving money should be easy and not confusing. But given today’s complicated financial tools, plannings and terminologies that can easily confuse all of us, this book should list you only the essentials in your life. Easy to read in layman terms, this book is useful, fun and inspirational for those looking for ways to save!  

TITLE: 111 WAYS SUAY RUAY NGOK (2nd EDITION)

CIRCLE PUBLISHING, BT180

Still on saving theme, this is the second edition of my earlier book, presenting 111 easy ways you can do to save yourself money and the world the natural resources. Now that we need to care more than ourselves, saving money is no longer only about the figures in the bank, but your total viewpoints towards how to live your life – just by looking around and see how your actions impact other people, and the Earth!

Duckling Treat

Our two good neighbours came with the news that Prachak Restaurant on Charoenkrung (opposite Robinson where you can park at Bt20/hour) just turns 100 years old and they are celebrating by giving away free ’shopping bag’ for those who shop/eat at their place for more than Bt500 or something (got the bag, and naturally forgot the whole deal). So we rushed there for the samplings.

The brisk business of this place is obvious; the person chopping the ducks is so busy getting the dishes/rice packs ready for customers to pick up that he can chop his own legs anytime. Prachak is a narrow shop house facing the main road with an elongated area down to the end of anothor road – a small soi known as ‘Trok Sung’ (coarsely translated as ‘the alley of the log’ for which the historical record says a big log was found in the area once surrounded by tributary canals off the Chaophraya) . They have upper level seatings, too, in case you find the ground floor already crowded at lunch time.

Prachak is known, obviously among those who read Fodor’s Guide to Thailand, to serve excellent Canton-style egg noodles, wantons, braised duck, grilled ducks, BBQ pork and crispy pork. We found the noodles very good, although you may find it a little bland for salty teeth, and their grilled duck superb especially accompanied with the braised sauce/broth.

But the place also has other menus as if they know who would be able to eat duck/pork/noodles everyday. A friend who once worked in the area frequented Prachak where she also ordered a lot of other things such as clear/milky fish tom yam soup, stir-fried rice noodle with egg and pork or whatever meat or veg you desire (pad see iew), and I particularly liked their rice with krapow crispy pork which can be as spicy as you wish. Their broth of bitter gourd/pork spare ribs is also heavenly done. The prices here are also reasonable. We usually pay about Bt150/person for 3-4 dishes.

To march into its new century, the restaurant keeps a website (Thai, though) and you can enjoy their story in a VDO clip that can not be turned OFF unless you click ‘Contact US’ just to shut them up. The place is open daily for lunch/dinner and close at 8pm. For more information, www.prachakrestaurant.com.

Tucked in with wisdom

I am now ‘between’ projects and thus in the more-than-usual reading mode. Recently, I picked up Jamie from the newstand and loving it. This might be the first magazine ever that I read from cover to cover in a long time.

Jamie just cooked for the G20 leaders at Number 10, Downing Street. Yes, that supposedly simple story of a chef who cooks for leaders. But so many small yet fascinating details made the story so good, from the way he persuaded asparagus growers to give him the first batch of their produce before Harrods and Obama’s man who is an ex-chef, ex-marine, ‘very nice and watched everything like a hawk’ to, for the security reason, when Oliver was the only person there allowed to have his mobile phone with him only because his wife was due to give birth to their third child that very night and the aspiring fact that the man on his team were from 15 and one of them described in his story as a former homeless who now cooks for the G20 leaders!! And the fact that his food was glorious does not hurt a bit.

Here are some other books that I had finished and enjoyed.

CHINA UNDERGROUND by Zachary Mexico. LOVE THIS BOOK! I love the fast-paced reading and this book makes me want to read a Thai version of it. I mean Thailand Underground.. A must read for those looking for an alternative travel stories.

 

NEVER an adventure, I always enjoy accounts of those who are. The first book compiles 13 stories of 13 adventurers to places like Kirimanjaro, Canadian Rockies Range, Kinabalu and much more. The next book is the second book I read about OSHO and this one, translated by Mr. Tomorn Sukpreecha, serves as a slow read. You just cannot skim through these proses for every word carries deep meaning and that’s the experience one should get when enjoying a wonderful time-off.

I love all James Bond book and this is the latest I savoured weeks ago… Mr. Faulks writing as Ian Flemming did a wonderful job that makes me wonder how fun would it be if Mr. Bond eats something else and not the usual martini and his favorite breakfast. What about a shabu shabu meal with warmed sake while on a mission espionaging.

Street Comforts

So true that market is the window of a town’s soul. Trang’s small community misleads the fact that this place is a gastronomic heaven. Take a tour to their morning fresh market and you’ll know it. In fact, writing this makes me nervous for I am afraid that by revealing it, even just a little bit on my blog, would result in the lost of local charms that are now hard to find even in remote towns of Thailand.

Trang people really love to eat. And their foods are as fastinating as their lives and the way they conceal this plentiful fact from the thin surface of tourism. Compared to other Southern provinces boasting as beautiful seaside and islands, Trang is low-keyed and most of the people I met are proud of the greenery they can still preserve from the severe encroaching of the hotel constructions. The result is that Trang locals can still roam their beautiful beaches, bringing their picnic basket and roll out their mats enjoying the shady afternoon naps on any beach they want. So far, there is just one hotel that can make its existence right on the beach, but other than that, we still have to wait and see.

Trang’s morning food market is packed with, well, what else, since dawn. We could wake up as early as 6am and still managed to catch the gastro beats of the town. I was so lucky that day when I found a place where seller just chopped fresh young coconuts right out from its trucks, handed them over to buyers who slurped the juice and flesh down for just Bt10. This is the place you will love if you want to try anything Trang, from kanom cheen to the province’s famous roast pork, to the simple yet hard-to-find delicacies like guichai which is still my favorite. Also, shops open early to serve morning coffee, dim sum and something so exclusively local as kanom pak mo and pork intestine ladled with their ’somjeung’ sauce.

This market is called ‘Talad Kao’ and it is right on the main Rama 6 Road not far from Trang Train station. A tuk tuk should take you there for may be Bt30. The market runs out at around 9am and is especially crowded during weekends, but it is when you’ll bump into your local acquaintances and take up some friendly chats.

Heaven on Earth

View at Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi is breathtaking and even distracting. I couldn’t concentrate on my work with this gorgeous view in front of me. But this is the view you’ll see if you go to this resort and now they’re offering a summer fare for Thai residents.

We went there during our last trip to Phuket and immensely loved the place; it was just like staying at the luxurious tarzan abode with hifi, fridge, flatscreen and all, amidst a thick forest where we could go about walking or cruising on golf cart. And the fact that this resort is environmental friendly is a big plus for us. They recycle the water bottles and give us just a silky, thin duvet instead of the usual thick other hotels tend to use, so we can turn the air-con just enough. And their service was just exceptional! You are their guest and they give you a personal butler!

This is their breakfast line, complete with homemade bread selections, jams, fresh coffee of your choice and set entre..

Koh Yao Noi is the model for many things. This small, fishing village is closely united to wade off industrial fishing. They also have homestay facilities and tour packages. But to my recommendation, we should all go there and take the opportunity of Six Senses’ summer fare and experience the local people’s food… and even some touring, if you want. Here are the local food prepared by Ja Nee, one of the villagers in the homestay network.

Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi’s room is now Bt14,200 net per room (min 2 nights) for 2 people with fress breakfast and 50% discount on their transfers from Phuket Airport. Koh Yao Noi’s homestay network is www.kohyao-cbt.com.

The disappearing heritage

Chinpracha Resident used to be a glory of Phuket for its owner, the late Prapitak Chinpracha – a successful Chinese clan – built it gloriously to meet the prospering ‘Chino-Portugese’ fashion which during those days represented the heyday of the tin-mining town. But now the house, lived and upkept single-handedly by the 4th generation Aunty Dang, is on the brink of being consumed by a construction that is threatening its very being. 

Located right on Krabi Road, which is the center of Phuket Town, Chinpracha Resident made headlines last few years when the three of the four owners (4 siblings who co-inherited the heirloom) decided to sell the front lawn space to a local businessman who, so tastefully, decided to built 2 rows of shophouses which will eventually destroy the house itself. Now the front row of the shophouse is done and they are working day and night to begin the second row which, according to the drawn-up construction plan, will cut right pass the front door of the precious Chinpracha home and many huge trees are in the lawn, including the ancient lamud tree the late owners used to climb to play.

The Chinpracha home is 106 years old. It was built back in 1903 and the house was once received a royal reception for the King Rama 6. This is the first ‘Angmor Lounge’ – a style of a Chino-Portugese resident in Phuket and still it is the place filled with histories of Phuket and a perfect place for those loving the ancient cultures for the furnitures in there are all the real pieces the late owners used and left behind. This is such a sad situation that reflects larger image of how we just value the old and beautiful things less and less and less. It also bewildered me to imagine why the three owners decided to sell it at the first place.. and they sold it for practically nothing, too!

The construction of the shophouse has already destroyed a precious historical heritage of Phuket. On the first day that the crane came, the first thing they did was knocking off the ancient, elaborate wall that surrounded the house! It was then that the whole thing began to raised attentions from some locals and now a lawsuit has been filed for ‘destroying the invaluable historical piece.’ But for all of us who know how most of Thailand works, let’s wait and see how this case is going to end.

Pa Daeng, the wife of the late Khun Pracha who was the only one among the four siblings (3 others wanted to sell off the house & land) is now pleading for help. All she wants is someone strong enough to be able to keep this place for the next generations to come. The home is for public view daily (with small entrance fee) or you can call to ask for details at T: 076-211-281. More pictures of the house can be viewed at Tae’s flickr.

A reverse side of my memory

Wonderful things always happen when we travel, especially to the place we thought we knew and then found out that we knew nothing at all. We went to Trang several years back and thought, to ourselves while driving pass the sleepy roads and partly run-down areas, that the place had just nothing. There was no signs of life bubbling at their local restaurants  like there were in other touristy spots. And when there’s no big sign, how could we choose which place to eat?

So we just ended up in starvation, knowing that there MUST be some places that I’ve heard of, such as Trang’s world famous grilled pork, arrays of dim sum breakfast, seafood and home-cooked Chinese meals hidden… somewhere!! But how could they be found? Luck was on my side when a good friend of mine introduced me to her Trang friend whose boundless hospitality opened up to me the hidden gems of Trang!!

My two weeks in Trang and Phuket reversed my ideas about both provinces. Since we were traveling with the local people, we saw different sides of everything. No signage at restaurants? No problem! This is because I knew through our wonderful guide(s) that the place was wonderful and because the local people there know exactly what you’re talking about by just mentioning the most popular dish they serve!

Our new eating saga started in Trang. And you know, there will be whole book about it with my new small venture launch along with it. Will definitely keep you posted!

And for some excerpts of many breathtaking pictures we took throughout those days, visit Tae’s flickr.

Dining with the downturn

With the downturn, we hopefully dine with more conscience. Prices in many restaurants are rolling down to the point that they are offering us delicious food for practically nothing. Remember the time when people have to literally break their banks when dining in one of the five-star establishments or dread the bills then the check finally comes?

That is no longer the case now that even the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is offering super deals in many of their fabulous outlets. We recently had a feast at the China House where, on Sundays, scrumptious Chinese buffet brunch, is served at Bt1,100 per person (net) with free-flow iced tea, coffee and desserts.  Plus, they super cozy interior adds on to the atmosphere, too.

Their brunch buffet are in 2 main sections: buffet line brimmed with mouthwatering dishes such as drunken chicken (my favorite, for they are tender and aromatic with the skin on), soups of prawn wanton, fresh shrimp in chinese herbs and spicy sichuan style. My favorite is the wanton soup with a dash of chili sauce on the table.  There are also typical Chinese grills of suckling pig, pekking duck, roasted duck and BBQ pork, cold slices of pork knuckle served with spicy sauce, salad of soy chicken, mushroom salad and much more.

The feast is completed with their dim sum and main course selections that you can order from the menu as much as you like and they will be freshly cooked for you.  I liked their snow fish steamed/deep-fried with soy sauce, their super crunch wasabi prawns, stir-fried noodle with seafood and for desserts, do not miss the red tea ice cream and seseme dumplings. The China House is also open for dinner daily and their Sunday Brunch opens from 11.30-15.00, T: 02-659-9000. Also, for those looking for fabulous French deal, Le Normandie is now serving set lunch at Bt1,000 net/person. Good chance for those looking to experience Le Normandie’s lengedary cuisine, plus their wonderful breads/butter    

Another deal that I found quite nice is at Indian Host where we last week tried their set lunch for 2 (minimum) at Bt199 net per person. The set comes with one appetizer, main and dessert. But see what we have got on our table when ordering 2 sets. They have nans, rice and salad too. I wish we had known that the amount would be this much before ordering another fish tikka, which was also good, on the side.

However, despite the whining, we still cleaned the plates. The chef should be proud. Indian Host cooks their food fresh and I particularly like their Bhindi Masala and chicken tikka masala. So good.

 

As it always happens with me and Indian food, one dish is always more than enough. May be this is the reason why I have to go back there often to try more dishes soon.

Never a Summer Without…

This is my family’s fetish – the ultra sweet ok-rong mangoes. Unlike the bigger, fleshier nam dok mai counterpart, this ok-rong type is smaller and contains fibre that can annoy those who bother some aftermeal threads between their teeth. Anyway, every summer that we grew up, my mother always hoarded these fruits that gave out a super sweet aroma in our kitchen. (In the first pix, the green ones below are not ok-rong, but something that my sis gave me which are also nice, but of course not as nice as the ok rong).

Well, even though now that I am not living with my mother, she still dominates my kitchen. Last week, a call from her darted me to her favorite salon whose owner has an ok-rong mango farm. I wish I had a camera with me when I saw the scene of floor-to-bed-full of these sweet sensation. Mae Waree shop on Thong Lor that opens year-round usually sells nam dok mai, but according to my mom, old-school Thais never had that type of mango with the sticky rice. You must, she says, have only ok-rong with the sticky rice if you want to really taste the Thai summer.

I really wish the Internet can send out the sweet scent of this fruit…

A Hidden Pekking

Friends can always be a good resource in a food-race. Recently, Ploy Mallikamas of Tokyo Miyage told me that she found ‘A Hidden Pekking’ restaurant that once you slip inside, the ambience will suddenly make you feel like you are somewhere in China. Most of customers there speak Chinese (or something else unrecognizable to our ears, but surely Chinese) and the food there is strictly Chinese.

Here are some excerpts (from top: stir-fried beans, pot stickers of pork and garlic shoots, eggplant in spicy sauce, and stir-fried potato), which we pretty much enjoyed. But somehow I think may be we are too mono-taste in our orderings. For most of the dishes we had was either salty or salty+spicy. After many be 4-5 dishes, we can just guess the taste from the look. But all in all, a nice excursion.

This place is called ‘Tong Lai Chun Pekking Food’ and it is in Sukhumvit 41, in a very small alley on the right just behind Jumbo Mall (or something that replaces Jumbo Mall in name). There is no parking facility, so if you drive, you need to park curbside in the soi. They are open daily from noon to 22.30. For enquiry, T: 02-259-0765.

This place reminds me of Ta Yang on Soi Ngam Du Plee off Rama 4 that serves quite similar dishes of pot stickers, stir-fried green beans and best of all french fries aubergine. Tong Lai Chun does not have the french fries aubergine, which happens to me my favorite in such restaurant. But the place seems to be much cleaner than Ta Yang, so…