Bangkok - Things to Eat and Siam Paragon Food Hall

5-8 Jun 2011

This blog is about food that I enjoyed in Bangkok. As such, there will be lots of photos on foods and little words in this blog.

Our first meal in Bangkok was at the Food Hall of Siam Paragon. I had Phad Thai and it was yummy. Thereafter, we went to Chatuchak. At night, we had Japanese dinner at Central World that provide complimentary coconut ice-cream as dessert. That ice-cream was yummy and I'm still thinking about it after 3 months.

On our second night, we had Thai food for dinner in a restaurant near our hotel.

Tom Yam Gung

Kailan with crispy pork. 

We wanted to have dessert and "Bread with Thai Custard dipping" was the only one that sound alright and this was what we were served. The dinner cost THB605 for four of us.

Thailand is famous with Japanese food and we had 2 Japanese meals there. Our bento lunch at Fuji at Paragon and cost THB1,425 for four of us.

 2nd Thai food dinner at Manna, Siam Paragon.

Group photo for the album. We had a great time in Bangkok with the good company of Christina and Yuan Hui.

 Spicy raw papaya salad.

Green curry. 

 Thot Man Pla (Fish cake)

Siam Paragon Food Hall is a place of attraction in Bangkok and it is recommended as a place to visit in Bangkok. place Siam Paragon Food Hall lives up to the hype that Siam Paragon as the 'Pride of Bangkok', The Food Hall covers a good half of the mall's huge ground floor and is divided into three different zones: Food Hall Food Court, Food Hall Gallery and Food Hall Take Home. Walking around the Food Hall after heavy dinner was such a good experience.

Lots and lots of macaron.

A more presentable Bread with Thai Custard dipping

Mien Kam 

We first had our coconut ice-cream at Chatuchat market. The 2nd one was at Central World. It was so good that we decided to have it again on our last night in Bangkok. We had this Coconut sorbet ... our 3rd coconut ice-cream during the trip.

After nice, heavy Thai food for dinner at Manna, we walked around Siam Paragon Food Hall and bought dry mango and rice crackers. Thereafter, we had coconut sorbet and this mango glutinous rice for dessert.

On my recent trip to Bangkok, I found this at the Bangkok airport (Thomas and Tonini, towards Gate F)where the staff were cutting mango and packing it. Bought a packet at THB150 each.

I bought these 2 packets of Tom Yam Chili paste and Green Curry paste from the same shop at THB80 each. We just cooked the Green Curry for dinner and we all love it.



Bangkok Loft Inn

5-8 Jun 11

We stayed at Bangkok Loft Inn during our trip to Bangkok. Christina found this hotel from Trip Advisor. The hotel ranked 7th in Bangkok in Trip Advisor ranking and also Travellers' Choice® 2011 Winner.

We took a cab from airport to hotel and paid THB860. The hotel staff told us that they could arrange airport transfer to hotel at half the price, if we informed them earlier of such need.

The hotel is located in the Thonburi section of Bangkok, with 5 minutes walk to Wongwian Yai BTS Skytrain. Bangkok Loft Inn is a boutique hotel with cozy atmosphere and contemporary style, not too big (four-storey) with personalized services, provided by a hospitable and friendly staff.

At the hotel lobby while checking-in, we were served with welcome drink. There are lots of sweets, chocolate bars, etc at the lobby table. The room was nice and very clean. We had a super king size bed. We only paid RM124 per night.

Christina, Yuan Hui, Hubby and I were truly impressed by the services from the hotel. The reception staff, Pat and Noi had been very helpful. They suggested route and means of transport for us to move around in Bangkok and the expected fare to pay.

 

I enjoyed the personal touch of the breakfast too. We ordered our breakfast the night before. There were also table of buns, bread, fruits, coffee and tea on buffet style. Every morning, we will have our breakfast there, chit chatting, relax and discuss our itinerary for the day.

 

Hubby was very happy with the free Internets and computer usage.

On our last day, since we had an early flight back to KL, the hotel staff packed breakfast for us. We had tuna and egg sandwich, fruits, orange juice and mineral water. The hotel also arranged complimentary airport transfer for us.
 

Since our return, we have been promoting the hotel to our family and friends. I had also submitted my review on the hotel to Trip Advisor.

Bangkok - Things to Do

5-8 Jun 11

We did it again!

During our last year wedding anniversary, Hubby and I for the very first time had our holiday without kids. This time round, we went to Bangkok, without kids too but with Christina and Yuan Hui. Yes ... just 2 couples went to Bangkok for 4 days 3 nights and no kids allowed.

Thanks to my sister in-law who helped me to look after my 2 boys during our holiday in Bangkok. I invited her and her 2 kids to have their school holiday in KL. At the same time, her kids could play with my kids (they are cousins), my maid would cook for them while she kept an eye on all of them. Before the holiday, I stocked up food for them.

We flew Air Asia to Bangkok and paid RM818 for return tickets for both of us. Christina booked the Air Asia flight tickets on 31 Dec 10, more than 5 months in advance.

There are lots of reasonably price hotels in Bangkok. Unless you are going to Bangkok for relaxing trip, you will hardly spend time in the hotel as you will leave hotel after morning breakfast for shopping, eating and massage and return to hotel for freshen up and sleep only. Find a clean hotel with good reviews from Trip Advisor with BTS skytrain and MRT nearby.

Honestly, I like Bangkok as a holiday destination. Over the 3 days in Bangkok, we basically shop, eat and massage! The good thing is THB100 is about RM10.20, which we divide (not multiply)  their currency to ours. There were lots of walking and the weather there was humid and hot. As such, do remember to wear some thing light and comfortable, especially walking with a pair of comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water in your bag.

The transportation in Bangkok is convenient and cheap too, except for the bad traffic. Taking taxi is convenient, comfortable and bring you to your destination, but you will be spending too much time on the road, caught in massive jam. There are Tut Tut, a good alternative to taxi especially during traffic jam. Otherwise, take BTS skytrain, just be prepared for the long walk along the station itself. A day pass, unlimited ride is for sales at THB120. 

Place to Shop





Chatuchak weekend market - Go early morning, spare at least half a day ... way too much things to see and buy.

Platinum Fashion Mall (2 blocks - old and new) at Pratunam - wholesale market with cheaper, nicer design and quality clothing compared to other Bangkok markets. These 2 dresses cost less than RM30 each.



NaRaYa ... All from fabrics



Siam Paragon Food Hall - must visit, just like this happy couple, with lots of food choices

... and not forgetting Central World.

Things to Eat

1. Japanese Food - lots of Japanese restaurants at reasonable price
2. Thai Food
3. Thai dessert - mango sticky rice, coconut ice-cream
4. Thai fruits - pomelo dip with plum powder
5. Thai delicacies - dry fruits (mango, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, etc), rice crackers, coconut rolls, etc

We had 2 Thai meals and 2 Japanese meals during over trip in Bangkok and the food there was very reasonably priced.

Things to Do

1. Massage (very soothing after whole day walking) - We had foot reflexology (THB250 for an hour) at Health Land Spa & Massage  (look like hotel with few branches in Bangkok) on our first night in Bangkok and another foot reflexology (THB200 for an hour) at local massage place near our hotel at the 2nd night, both after our dinner.
2. Clubbing, Pub with life band

Things to Buy

I bought this Osaki iPad 2 cover at THB2,100 for Hubby from Central World that came with a very nice packaging.

1. Leather stuff - Handbag, shoes, belt, Ipad 2 cover, etc
2. Clothings - Get them from Platinum Fashion Mall
3. Spices to cook Green curry, Tom Yam Guong, etc

We brought one medium bag (for our clothing and toiletries) and we brought another empty, big bag for storing our shopping. The above picture was taken at Bangkok airport on our return trip ... lots of bags!

Thank You, Nuffnang. Shoutout to TGV Cinemas. Happy 3rd Birthday to treasure memories

27 Aug 11

As usual, I check my personal emails on daily basis. I've got a mail ... and it's from Nuffnang that sounds like this.

Dear Nuffnanger,

Happy birthday from all of us at Nuffnang and the good people at TGV Cinemas!

As part of the TGV Birthday Surprise for Nuffnangers, you've been selected to receive FOUR (4) complimentary passes for any movie* at TGV Cinemas outlets nationwide, which we hope will make your birthday a special one indeed :)

It was a pleasant surprise. Hubby dropped me at Nuffnang office located at Heritage House, Jalan Yap Ah Shak. It was awesome to receive these 4 complimentary passes from TGV Cinemas.

During the Nuzul Quran public holiday on 17 Aug, we decided to take the kids out for movie. Jared wanted to watch Transformer. We checked on the Internet and KLCC TGV has Transformer movie showing on the suitable time slot for us.

We had lunch at KLCC food court.

Magnificent view from KLCC food court.

We watched the 12.30pm show of Transformer. It was a 2.5 hours show. Hubby and Jared enjoyed the movie but it was too long for Jaden.

Thank you TGV Cinemas and Thank you Nuffnang for the birthday surprise.

August 2011 also mark the 3rd year anniversary for treasure memories. I intend to keep this blog going to capture and treasure those special memories with my love ones.

Happy 3rd Birthday to treasure memories!

Cake Pop - 2nd Attempt

14 Aug 11

I've tried cake pop once and it was not a successful one. I was disappointed. I admire those cake pops by Bakerella. Her cake pops are so cute, in so many designs, shapes and colours. It looks simple too.

After browsing through website and Bakerella's posts on cake pop, I am determine to try it again ... one day. 

The one day came faster than I expected when 2/3 of my mocha cupcakes did not turn out nice. Rather than throwing them away, which is very wasteful as those cupcakes actually taste very nice, I decided to make cake pops out of the cake crumbs.

I crumble those cupcakes into a fine crumbs form into a large bowl. If the texture is too coarse, run it through a food processor.

Then, I make cream cheese frosting from the following ingredients:

• 250g cream cheese, at room temperature
• 113g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 200g icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add the cream cheese frosting into cake crumbs and blend together using the back of a large spoon until well combined.

Roll mixture into 1.25″ – 1.5″ size balls and lay on baking sheet. Luckily, I have my maid to help me out and she actually did a better job than me.

Prepare chocolate for dipping. I used this dark chocolate buttons and melt them using the double boiler method.

Dip the tip of lollipop stick in a little of the melted chocolate coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)

Cover with aluminum foil or cling wrap and chill in refrigerator for several hours to firm up or place in freezer for about 15 minutes or leave them covered in the refrigerator overnight if the dipping is to be done on the following day.

Once firm, carefully insert cake ball into the chocolate coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered, remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.

Place in a styrofoam block (preferably), or mug to dry.

I wrap each of the cake pop with a small plastic and tie them up.

Honestly, making these cake pop require lots of work and patience. The cake ball will start melting and drop on table. The result from this 2nd attempt is better than the first one. I am more prepare and have done quite a bit of reading from Bakerella's blog.

Brought a few cake pops to office for my colleagues. Wendy said its yummillicious and I brought two more for her the following day for her to share with her 2 sons.