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Gourmet Visits LE SPICE

All Things Spice!

Gourmet readers may already know that I am somewhat of a fan of good South Asian cuisine.

And having a palette for such finely spiced delights, you can imagine my interest when I was asked to dine with friends at one of the cities more recent restaurant additions - Le Spice.

Set down a quiet soi that runs along the right hand side of the Kalare Night Bazaar on Changklan Rd, Le Spice is easy to find. This double fronted halal restaurant with its ochre interior will soon draw you in. No doubt Khun Faris, owner/manager of Le Spice, will also be there to warmly welcome you.

"Good food makes for a good mood" he quipped, bringing us all a fresh mango lassi. We were off to a good start.

"The atmosphere is very fine in Chiang Mai," Faris continued. His family comes from Pakistan, he told us, but has resided on Koh Lanta, S. Thailand, since before Faris was born. As a result the menu at Le Spice is surprisingly varied. Traditional tandoori dishes baked in a charcoal oven are definitely recommended, as well as the seafood, which is flown fresh to CM daily. Some Lebanese and Jordanian items are also available and there is a wide selection of Thai and vegetarian options too.

The food all arrived simultaneously; just as it should.

Holding warm pieces of nan bread, we tucked into a rich bowl of mutton masala. I was particularly taken with this after spooning some fresh mint chutney onto it. A luminous serving of golden pilao rice lit up the table along with a smooth and creamy portion of dhal makhani. The tandoori came into its own by offering a fine, and ever so slightly charred, piece of fiery orange chicken. This was probably the last item to be set down, but certainly the first to be finished. As a surprise treat, the chef also made us some palak paneer; a spinach dish based around cubes of homemade soft cheese. I'd count it as my favourite of the day.

Taking a moment to breathe I looked around a little more. There were some atmospheric pictures around of people and places in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Leading me out to the back of the restaurant, Faris revealed they were taken by his Uncle Phanu, an artist and photo-journalist.

Looking onto an intimate but lush Balinese style garden, I started to understand that this was definitely a family of travelers. "In the middle of the city you want to go back to nature," our host told us. Absolutely! We also want to eat well, join with friends and enjoy new and engaging company. And with dishes priced for the most part between B.60 - 100, Le Spice is no doubt a place we can all afford to enjoy ourselves in. And if you want a quiet night in with a friend, then they'll deliver, at no extra charge!

*Le Spice is open daily from 10 am - midnight, and with its burgeoning Chiang Mai-based clientele, evening reservations are recommended. *