Mille-feuille DIY set.
The Iron Chef brand is not without its loyal followers. From the TV show alone, countless restaurants have drawn in plenty of clientele from the mere fact that one of the starring chefs has either helped design the menu, happens to be one of the many partners or — in the rare cases — actually mans the kitchen.
Thananya Kaikaew (aka Chef Gai), as you may recall, is the only woman competitor and dessert specialist on the show. Now usually right about here is where we’d get pretty worked up about the lack of gender equality. But we’ve decided to save it for later (possibly in a future cover story) because her new restaurant has completely blown us away and is much more worthy for us to go on about.
Tucked away in a quiet soi of Narathiwas Road stands a white-washed classic house in lush verdant surroundings. It’s an ideal setting that impresses even upon first glance and is made memorable by the intricate details and decorations inside that evoke the charm of provincial France. With soft-pop, chanson tunes from the likes of Juliette Gréco and Edith Piaf playing in the background, it’s incredibly hard to leave this restaurant without wanting to lounge around for a tiny bit longer.
Roasted barramundi with fondue of leeks.
THE MENU
Although sweets may be her forte, Chef Gai is no amateur when it comes to the savoury side of things either.
Start with the Onsen egg and ebiko salad (B180++) that’ll add a spritely zing to your meal. Green leaves are topped with Japanese seaweed, ebiko, caviar, olives, red onion and an onsen egg which you can crack open and prop on top. It’s a light and refreshing salad that’ll prep your taste buds ready for what’s to come.
The restaurant is called Soufflé and Me for a reason and to fully understand it, you would have to try more than one of its puffed-up delights. The Truffle soufflé with mushroom cream sauce (B360++) arrived on our table piping hot and is best eaten quickly if you want to experience the real flufflyness and lightness of a perfect soufflé. It’s creamy, aromatic, earthy and blows any mushroom soup we’ve ever had out the window.
On the more substantial side of things, the Roasted barramundi with fondue of leeks (B340++) is a fantastic dish that left us wanting more. The fish is cooked to perfection; with the meat still nice and firm while the skin is golden brown and crisped. The wilted spinach sautéed with capers also brought all the flavours together nicely. The only bone we had to pick was the gnocchi which was bland and didn’t add any excitement to the dish.
Those with a sweet tooth should really get excited about the desserts menu because it’s like flicking through a whole book of everything you’ve ever wanted to eat. Not to be missed are the Nutella soufflé with grilled caramelised banana (B260++) and the Mille-feuille DIY set (B320++) where you get to construct your own layers with fresh fruits and various sauces.
Drinks-wise, coffee, tea, wines and cocktails are available. If you’re a gin fan do opt for Bael with me (B240++) which is a revitalising concoction comprised of bael infused gin, bael syrup, apple juice, lemon juice and mint leaves.
Truffle soufflé with mushroom cream sauce.
INSIDER’S TIP
The saying “the best things are worth waiting for” is proven true with all the soufflé dishes here. Taking around 20 minutes to bake, it may leave you twiddling your thumbs with a grumbling stomachs but once it arrives on your table, you’ll certainly see (and taste) the reason why you had to wait that long.
Free parking is available inside Wat Pho Man Khunaram, which is only about 100 metres away from the restaurant. A golf cart is provided for all guests for pick up and drop offs.
VALUE & VERDICT
It’s been a while since we’ve found a place such as this; where the food is fantastic, the desserts are spot on and the setting is perfect for all occasions, be it a romantic date or a family get-together. The prices are reasonable too, so don’t be afraid to order lots and share the love. g
Nutella soufflé with grilled caramelized banana.
SOUFFLÉ AND ME
BISTRO, DESSERT HOUSE, Daily 11am-10pm, Narathiwas Soi 24, www.souffleandme.com, 02-674-0442
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.