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Tropical Pick

Nothing says love like a bunch of …. lychees.

Thailand is often referred to as the kitchen of the world, and to me this is no more apparent than when I see the fresh fruit and vegetables at the local markets. The abundance of produce throughout the year is truly a bonus for anyone living or visiting here, with each fruit enjoying its own season. During the current season you’ll find a plentiful supply of fruit at amazingly discounted prices and the favourite among many is almost upon us – the lychee season is approaching, starting around late April and lasting till June. It heralds the start of summer, and its cooling properties are welcomed.

The True Tastes of Thailand

Dine at Krua Bophut restaurant – the place for traditional Thai cuisine.

Thailand embraces the modern age like few other countries do. There’s huge curiosity for whatever’s new and interesting. But one of the exceptions to that is the food. The most traditional Thai cuisine is guaranteed to remain popular - no frills needed. And of course the best way to savour it is in a back-to-its-roots location; a mix of cuisine and architecture that will provide total immersion. On Samui, Krua Bophut restaurant offers both the food and the setting. Think amazing feasts in a teak restaurant. Just to see the interior is a delight in itself, but to eat there is even better. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Oral Floral

Flowers are not only beautiful to look at and lovely to smell – they taste great, too!

What do broccoli, cauliflower and artichokes have in common? Well, yes, they’re all vegetables. But there’s something else, too. Something that not too many people know about. I’ll give you a clue. They’re the same as roses, violets and lavender. Got it yet? The answer is – they’re all flowers. The first three fall into the category of ‘inflorescent vegetables’ – that is to say, the flowers or flower buds of plants that are eaten as vegetables. But roses, violets, lavender and many other flowers have another thing in common with these vegetables. And that is – all of them are also edible.

Seek the Exceptional

Broaden your horizons at Anantara Bophut’s Full Moon Char Grill restaurant.

Full Moon Char Grill is Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort’s award-winning signature restaurant, and is located at the west end of the charming Bophut Fisherman’s Village, with access from both the ring-road and the beach. This classy, contemporary and stylish fine-dining restaurant is set in lush, landscaped tropical gardens on an al-fresco deck, overlooking an infinity pool and the twinkling Gulf of Siam. With uninterrupted views by day, bar a few coconut trees, all the way to Koh Phangan, it’s perfect for lunch. After sunset, Full Moon transforms. Clever lighting gives the restaurant an intimate feel, and the sounds of nature are enhanced, lending the venue an irresistible, exotic and romantic charm. The ambience is relaxed, yet elegant, the service impeccable, the food divine.

Food, Faith, Feasts

What the world eats when it comes to religion.

Food, glorious food. If you think that religion’s all about self-denial, then you might think that food and faith are at loggerheads with each other. But it’s thanks to the world’s religions that we have literally hundreds of dishes that might not have otherwise existed. We tend, erroneously, to associate religions with the banning of certain foods whereas every faith, without exception, seems to have a love affair with their favourite foods.

Going Native

Joining the locals at Jum Jee Hot Pot – Hot Pan.

Some deals seem overwhelmingly in favour of the diner. This is definitely one of them - 259 baht for a feast, including soft drinks and a range of desserts. Add a bit more on if you would like to drink beer. And if that’s not enough, there’s usually a monthly promotion of one kind or another. There are few deals this good on Samui, and Jum Jee Hot Pot – Hot Pan is proving very popular. The restaurant opens at 4:00 pm every day, though you’ll find few people there at that time, and wonder why there are so many tables. But soon after, people start turning up, and an hour or so later you’ll find the entire restaurant is almost full.

The Wine Page

Light wines - good for your waistline and possibly the producers' bottom line !

One of the most fascinating things about wine is not only discovering how complex the subject is, but also how one personally interacts with it, especially how our tastes evolve over time. I have noticed a change in how I react to alcohol levels in wines. As I age, my preference has shifted towards wines with less alcohol. And my appreciation for lower percentage wines with more finesse seems to be in line with a more general trend. During the last 20 years, the average strength of wine has been creeping up from around 11%, to 14%. The upward trend started in the New World wine countries, around the end of the last century. And it has gone almost unnoticed, until now. The New York Times recently reported, “…of a shift in taste in the United States and beyond, the proverbial pendulum swing, from heavy wines of power to lighter wines of greater finesse”.

A Heartfelt Time

Want to celebrate? On Samui you don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day.

Romance is paramount this month, and with a vast array of Valentine’s Day treats on offer, it’s easy to find somewhere to go to celebrate with your beloved. Whether you’re looking for a simple dinner together at a beachside restaurant or wish to dine in a decorated gazebo on the sand, you’ll find it on Samui. You may even be getting married here – Samui hosts many weddings, with February being the most popular month. This time of the year may seem to be a little heady, but whether or not you’re here to celebrate romance, the message is the same: this island is a place of enjoyment and somewhere to indulge yourself when it comes to excellent food and drink.

Epicurean Essence

Essence Koh Samui packs a punch when it comes to casual fine dining.

There aren’t many restaurants like this on Samui. For a start it’s set on a beautiful coastline in the south of the island, that’s decidedly at one with nature. Mangrove trees grow out of the water to the left of the bay where Essence is situated, and meanwhile you can also dine out on the charming little sand beach. Jungle foliage adds a dense green to the blue of the sea, making this spot a colourful yet always relaxing place to come and eat. Essence is located at Avani+ Samui, a recent addition to the island’s prestige places to eat and stay. The restaurant is contemporary and very much open-air, and offers everything from breakfast onwards. Parties can even be hosted here, and there are some excellent options for romantic dining.

The Spice of Life

A look at one of the most important ingredients in Thai cuisine – the chilli.

Thailand is a paradise for lovers of all things spicy. You'll find spicy soups, salads, stir fries and there's even spice in fruit dishes; ask any fruit vendor on the island for ‘yam saparot’ and you’ll get a spicy pineapple salad complete with peanuts, small shrimp and of course chillies. There’s really no getting away from the Thai love affair with chillies.

A Slice of Heaven on Earth

Poppies Boutique Resort Restaurant, the perfect place for romance.

TripAdvisor rates Poppies Boutique Resort as number one on Koh Samui, and number 15 in the whole of Thailand for romance. With these ratings and online comments such as “A slice of heaven on earth” and “an unforgettable evening”, Poppies Restaurant is definitely a firm favourite. It is, in fact, something totally unique, providing outstanding and mesmerising dining, with guest experience at the fore. Established 24 years ago, Poppies is still one of the most distinctive and memorable beachside restaurants offering fine-dining on our beautiful tropical island. The perfect place to woo your Valentine this February!

Feasting on Symbols

A guide to Chinese New Year foods.

China has a lot of amazing dishes up its sleeves, but when it comes to Chinese New Year, feasting is the order of the day. Special dishes are eaten that are not only delicious, they’re symbolic, bringing health, fortune, success and more to the diners. How did these foods come to be regarded as so auspicious? It’s chiefly because the names of the dishes may sound very close to other phrases denoting good luck, prosperity, longevity, and so on, and that’s why the particular dish is considered lucky. What’s in a name? A lot, according to the Chinese. Often the New Year is the only time for Chinese to reunite; many may travel thousands of miles to be with their loved ones. Food is at the heart of the celebrations. So in the spirit of the festivities, we've selected some of the favourite Chinese New Year dishes along with the luck that they hopefully bring.

A Long Tradition

Samui’s longest-running seafood restaurant, Sabienglae goes from strength to strength!

Samui has changed. It was only a generation ago that most of the roads were rolling muddy tracks, and Fisherman’s Village had real fishermen. Back then, social media meant newspapers with pages, those few mobile phones you saw had names like Motorola or Nokia, and cameras needed rolls of film. But one thing we had plenty of was restaurants. There were hundreds of small Thai eateries everywhere around the island. And one of the best went by the name of Sabienglae.

A Vile Delight

We look at the two sides of the durian, king of fruits.

Thai people eat a lot. It’s not that they consume vast quantities. But it’s that they are always snacking on something or other. They don’t really have set mealtimes, as we know it – although they’ll usually eat something in the morning and then, often as a family, again in the evening. But, as well as that, every couple of hours they get the nibbles.