S.P. Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh, A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200 Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457 E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th

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Gourmet finds that Things go ZAB at Antique 3

My friend suggested we go out for an early dinner after work the other day, so four of us fell into her old white van and headed off to try somewhere new. We pulled up at ZAB, situated just next to the Waree school out on the Mahidol Road (leading to the airport).

ZAB opened a few months back and is one of a growing family of Antique restaurants in Chiang Mai. Along with Antique 1 and Antique 2, this restaurant, number 3 of the gang, is set in a classic rambling old teakwood-styled house.

"Why is this place called ZAB?" I asked Khun Aek the smiling manager who had come over to join us for a chat. He chuckled, along with my friends who were all Thai.

"It means spicy in our northern dialect. It also means delicious," he told me. This is the core theme to the food at ZAB; deliciously spicy! The menu is a collective of Northern Thai and Northeastern, or Isaan, inspired dishes. I was immediately drawn to an unusual one on the specials list, the ZAB-invented deep fried version of som tam, that infamous spicy Thai green papaya salad. I earmarked it for my next visit.

I wandered up some wooden stairs leading to the restaurant area at the mezzanine level. Table and platform seating combined together to give a nice informal feel. Called back to eat I noticed the band setting up. Four bands play live every night, starting with Lanna folk, progressing to rock, pop and hip-hop

Plaa laam had arrived at our table, a whole river fish steamed in a bamboo tube, garnished with herbs, whole mushrooms, slivers of belle pepper and Chinese spinach. A generous hunk of roast pork knuckle accompanied it with a bowl of tasty salty sour dipping gravy. We tucked in and helped it down with long cold glasses of draught beer.

I thanked Khun Aek as our table was cleared.

"It's all about service, he said. "If we look after our customers and feed them well, they'll come back, won't they?"

I smiled in happy agreement as mellow Lanna guitar tunes escorted us back to the car park.

Text: Matt Demon
Images: Karin