I described the disappointing lunch on board of the „Grand Pearl“ already (see Day 4 – Ayutthaya) – to quote from the programme: „Superb buffet lunch which includes a delight variety of Oriental and western cuisines will be served“. Yeah, right. To make up for that disappointment we decided to play it safe: we returned to Som Tam (see Day 2) for a Dinner consisting of a Mango Salad (made with dried shrimps, pretty chewy but gave the dish a special flavour), a Beef Salad (repeat from last time – very, very spicy, and very, very delicious), Chiang Mai sausage with pork rinds and green chilli paste (unique and absolutely fabulous) and a spice pork chop soup (also very yummy). A couple of Singha beer helped controlling the heat… I guess since we new what to expect food wise I paid a little more attention to everything else – it’s a very busy place and yet the staff are all in a good mood, messing which with each other in a playful, funny way, and they just seem to enjoy what they are doing. You may have to wait for a dish a little longer or the bill can take a little longer, but I really didn’t mind that since everybody seemed to have a good time. Also quite different is the fact that rather than playing the usual Thai music in the background, they are giving Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Cole Porter and the likes a chance – not bad!! I hope by now you get the picture: this is not the poshest, fanciest place in town, but it sure serves authentic and delicious food that leaves nothing to desire (if you can handle the heat)!
Last minute addition: as I am writing this and my wife is packing her suitcase for our trip to Samui tomorrow, she discovered this when having a closer look at her „antique“ lion statue she bought:
I almost wet myself with laughter…