The French Touch

A new chef is shaking things up at Chef’s Table, Sareeraya Villas & Suites

Look carefully at the high grey wall right opposite the Samui International Hospital in north Chaweng, and you will see the discrete gold lettering announcing Sareeraya. Beyond this wall are 49 carefully hidden villas and suites as well as Chef’s Table, the Thai style, beachside restaurant that now has a new French touch of ‘Ooh la la’. Open on two sides with views of the ocean, beach, sky and pool and with plenty of ceiling fans to keep the sea breeze circulating, the atmosphere is instantly relaxing and genteel. The décor and furniture are minimal, natural and strong, with dark wood, rattan, stone and metal mixes which are bang on trend.

Christophe Maillard is the new French executive chef, and he is working hard to mix things up a bit for you, adding a French touch to his all-new menu. Christophe has been a certified ‘Master Companion of French Gastronomy’ since 2004, and is also a member of the French Culinary Academy Association Paris, the oldest culinary association in existence, where membership is extremely selective, and is by invite only. Having spent the last 12 years in Thailand, opening restaurants in four and five star hotels, he brings a wealth of experience to Chef’s Table at Sareeraya. Christophe likes speaking with his customers, to better understand their gastronomic likes and dislikes. He works hard to deliver the perfect dining experience for you, understanding that it will be unique for everyone.

At Chef’s Table, Christophe promises good, classic western food, with a French touch and authentic Thai dishes. The restaurant is open from 11:00 am, and last orders are at 10:30 pm. From 6:00 pm onwards, you can dine on the beach - get there early and catch the sky as the day turns to night over the mesmerising ocean. The a la carte menu offers appetizers such as Mexican Tortillas or Tuna Tataki with tobiko (flying fish) caviar, salads, soups, pasta, pizza, burgers and sandwiches. Top of the list for many is the Sareeraya Burger, an Australian beef burger with camembert, cheddar cheese, onion mash and tomatoes, served with French fries or potato wedges. Or try the Seafood Platter for one or two people, including rock lobster, tiger prawns, mussels, sea bass fillet and king squid, all served with a spicy seafood sauce with crab fried rice. Meat lovers might choose the American Spare Ribs, Grilled Lamb Loin or Australian Beef Tenderloin. And don’t worry if you are vegetarian, vegan or have any other food allergies or sensitivities. Chef Christophe is more than happy to amend any dish to suit.

If you have a hankering for Thai food, there is plenty to whet your appetite; Stir-fried clams with chilli paste and sweet basil, red coconut curry with Thai French beef tenderloin or the Sareeraya signature curry; massaman lamb shank and of course all the favourite Thai dishes such as stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts and pad Thai.

There are also two ‘set menus’, one Western fare, the other Thai. Both have two choices of starters, mains and desserts, with extremely good value price tags from 1,000 baht plus tax and service charge. And new from July, a twice-weekly Thai buffet and beach barbeque evening complete with live music, every Monday and Thursday from 6.30 pm until 10.30pm. Choose from a range of Thai appetizers, salads, snacks, main dishes and desserts, plus fresh from the barbeque, a range of seafood and meat including; blue crab, prawns, squid, sea bass, pork ribs, chicken and Australian beef steak. The price is also 1,000 baht plus tax and service, and children aged six to 12 get a 50% discount, with children below six years old eating for free.

Want to learn to cook Thai style? No problem, just choose your two-hour class time between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm, decide which two dishes you would like to cook from the Thai menu, take a trip to the market with one of the chefs to buy the ingredients and then learn how to cook your chosen dishes. Then the proof is in the tasting! The class includes complimentary mineral water for the cooking session and a choice of soft drink, beer or wine for the tasting. Plus, you get to take away a CD with recipes and photos, your own Sareeraya apron, hat, recipe booklet and certificate.

Are you on Samui with a loved one? What could be more romantic than sharing a candlelit dinner under a star-studded moonlit sky in a secluded area of pristine beach, with your personal waiter serving you as if you are the only two people in the world. Discuss your dining requirements with Chef Christophe, and be welcomed and treated to an exquisite dinner menu designed just for you.

Seek out Chef’s Table at Sareeraya, the menus are available in English, French and Chinese, but whichever is best for you, you will always be served with good, honest, fresh food, with a slight French touch!

 

Karan Ladd