Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide


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Gourmet Visits

Ratanakosin Hotel
Buffet Bonanza

I love buffet dining. Budget, mid-range, and posh 5-star hotels: I�ve tried my fair share. Many a happy bloated moment has been spent, about to fall off my chair, feeling that I really couldn�t eat another mouthful; and it�s only then I know that its time to visit the dessert trolley!

�I love to eat too. Especially at lunchtime when there is so much variety,� Khun Amnart of the Ratanakosin Hotel exclaimed playfully as I piled my plate high. Four of us had decided to go there on a recommendation. Khun Amnart gestured to me to dig in as I quickly shoveled a forkful of spicy chicken and pumpkin curry into my mouth. Mmmm�unexpectedly delicious!

The 40 or so tables in the dining room were starting to fill up nicely. We took a comfortable booth over by the window. Directly ahead of us a karaoke singer started to warm up, but I wasn�t ready to grab the mic just yet and tucked into deep fried hed nang fah, or �angel mushrooms�, dressed in a sweet chili sauce with hua plee toort, Thai tempura style banana flowers that were warm and melted in the mouth.

Heading out for round 2, I neglected the still enticing train of Thai dishes and went to investigate the Western food section. Spooning fresh fish with mushrooms in a white sauce, and steamed cauliflower onto my plate I noticed some sushi rolls too. Time to really buffet it up and mix genres I thought. The Ratanakosin hot-dog sushi (wasabi optional), is quite �distinctive� it has to be said! Round 3 and I was at the Northern Thai food demonstration table, getting sumptuous bowls of kao soi, the tasty traditional thick curry soup that mixes soft and crispy noodles. The serving ladies were artfully making kao kriab pak mo, a sticky peanut sweetmeat that comes in a glutinous rice casing. It�s colored using the blue Anchan flower, and steamed over a cotton cloth, then finally drizzled with a sweet coconut sauce.

Round 4? OK, I gave in and skipped on the ruamitr, �many friends� in a bowl dessert. But no question about the stand out dish of the day - choice! And at an amazing 59 baht for everything, including tea and coffee, you will find me there frequently I�m sure, eating, eating again, and then eating some more.