Thailand

For many people, Bangkok is a shopping destination. There are so many expansive and extensive malls like Emporium, Siam Paragon, Gaysorn and CentralWorld selling everything from high street, mainstream brands to Prada, Gucci, LV and the usual suspects...

There is nothing ordinary about Chef McDang and his rise to become one of the world experts on Thai cooking. Born into the Thai royal family, Chef McDang followed in the family tradition to go overseas to boarding school at 12 years old. Later he enro...

A guide to one of the most relaxing and chill islands in Thailand If you are looking for an island in Thailand where you can enjoy some of the best of the Thai beach scene, here’s why Koh Lanta should be on the short list. Lesser known than its oth...

I never go on group tours, I hate having others show me around, and I can’t stand being spoon-fed culture. So what am I doing perched atop a borrowed bike with a group of European tourist zipping along the busy streets of Bangkok? It all started wi...

My favourite thin-crust pizza in Bangkok The first week I was in Bangkok a friend took me to Limoncello. Having just moved from New York, I was impressed by the authenticity of the thin crust pizza being served. I hadn’t expected to find this in Ba...

A wonderful little cooking course in a Thai-style outdoor kitchen Thai food has become one of my favourite international cuisines. And unlike French or Italian where there are many competent executions in various cities around the world, I find Thai fo...

We got on a plane and flew to get our ass kicked military style. Was it worth it? You bet! I used to do a bootcamp workout when I lived in Bangkok through Fit Corp Asia. A friend at work told me about it…in retrospect I am not even sure why I was inter...

If you ever find yourself shopping for bootlegs computer accessories at Pantip Plaza in Bangkok, do yourself a favor and skip out on the foreigner friendly fast food chains and S&P (I'm not knocking S&P) found on the ground level. Instead walk...

Healthy Spa Recipes from our favourite holistic spa As part of our Health & Wellness 2010 Series From the age of 5, Kai had a passion for cooking. He started early with his first job in the kitchen at an Austrian ski resort at the age of 16 and ...

A very special New Year’s Eve at Amantee We decided to spend Christmas and New Year’s in Thailand this year. It was time to totally chill out and honestly I have yet to find a better place than Thailand for complete relaxation. But we still wanted to d...

An endless array of holistic therapies at this tranquil island spa I generally have a rule of not visiting the same place twice. I prefer to expand my horizons and challenge myself to see and do new things. However, I recently returned to Kamalaya in ...

A modern oasis of calm on bustling Petchaburi Road I have said it before, but will say it again….I believe spa treatments are not a luxury, but rather an integral part of taking care of oneself. Not only do they promote relaxation, but depending on the...

Signature dish "Surf & Turf Indiana" recipe after the jump. When working for Lookeast Magazine I had the chance to sit and talk with many Bangkok chefs. One of these was Arijit Ghosh, then new Executive Chef at Café 11. He’s a soft-spoken, gen...

Like HCMC today, the Bangkok foreigner scene of old thrived close to the river. These days, however, I never really think to set foot down there. It’s the kind of place you visit once, the first time you come to the city… King’s Palace, check. Emerald &...

Anyone who's ever talked to me about dining in Bangkok knows my passion for spreading the word of Soi Polo Chicken. You'd think that's the only chicken I ever eat in Bangkok. As much as I'd love their beautiful fried garlic encrusted chicken every day o...

An unlikely place for breakfast on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road I first discovered The Robinhood Pub when I lived across the street at Emporium Suites. For me it was a go to place for a beer with friends or to watch a game. It’s just your typical unpretent...

Homestyle, satisfying Italian served alfresco on a cozy Silom rooftop terrace Vicolo 4 opened in 2008…however, unless you know Silom Soi 4 well, it’s not really the kind of place one stumbles upon. It’s tucked away on the second floor over top of a bar...

Everyone who lives in Bangkok has a stable of restaurants from which they choose their meals throughout the day. First there's the fruit stand where one will grab some fresh pineapple or mamuang on the way to the office. Then there's the street stall near...

Royal Thai Cuisine from the recipes of the Sukhothai Palace kitchen Paul had been telling me about this place for ages…the former soap opera star owner and the recipes from the Sukhothai Palace. He raved about the pure and traditional preparation and p...

Consistent high quality at this laid-back, Aussie-style Bangkok institution keeps everyone coming back When I lived in Bangkok, I lived on Sukhumvit Soi 16. I moved into a new construction apartment building and so had to wait for the finishing touches...

Thai food favourites in a lovely and classic Thai setting overlooking the Erawan shrine I discovered the Erawan Tea Room when a Thai friend suggested it. I had been in Thailand about 3 months and was still feeling my way around, everything was new to m...

Transplanted from the younger, more modern, and hipper Siam Square, It's Happened to be a Closet brings its kitschy style and cozy cafe environment to the luxury malls of Bangkok. Can something so artsy, design oriented, and in your face work in a mal...

Tacos and Salsa joins Sunrise Tacos and Coyote Sukhumvit on foreigner friendly Sukhumvit road. I've only visited once, but already I'm thinking this could be the best (authentic) Mexican food in Bangkok. The restaurant isn't much to look at. In fact, i...

This will be the last of my recipes from the Blue Elephant Cooking School in Bangkok, Thailand. This recipe blew me away, and completing this dish gave me new confidence in the kitchen. It seems difficult due to the number of steps and for some reason f...

People are never on the fence about Bubble Tea. They either love it or hate it. Usually those that have a distaste for mixing textures don't appreciate the gummy tapioca balls surprising them during a sip of Thai tea. For those of us that love bubble tea...

For Italian food in Bangkok, most Bangkok expats have a few options top of mind - L'Opera, Zanotti, Spasso, etc. For some reason Giusto is not necessarily first recalled as an option for most... a shame as this modern Italian restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi...

I just got the OK from Blue Elephant Cooking School to share some recipes with you. This first recipe was a bit of a surprise for me and also my favorite. Before moving to Thailand I had tried numerous incarnations of Penang, Red Curry, and Green Curry ...

Before the day I discovered Sunrise Tacos, my intake of Mexican food was limited to two places in Bangkok - Coyote (Silom) and Charlie Browns. Both were decent, but a bit higher in price... and none did what I was craving most, the Mexican Breakfast. Th...

I realized once I moved to Singapore that I had squandered a great opportunity to learn Thai cooking while living in Thailand. With the prospect of many years living there I lacked the urgency one has on a shorter trip to get out and sample the various ex...

Sometimes even though you're surrounded by the freshest ingredients, some very talented cooks, and one of the most interesting cuisines in the world (Thai food) you just need something that reminds you of home. Since I grew up in Texas and New Mexico my...

A couple years back I met with a group of guys every Sunday for breakfast. We'd pick a different spot around town (usually Irish Pubs) every week. After our first visit here, the Dubliner became the standard for all the other Irish breakfasts around tow...

Is investing in regular massage really worth it? For me, massage has been part of my anti-stress and wellness routine for several years now. Rather than an indulgence, I treat it as another tool to take care of myself. After having some shoulder and n...

Are healthy and delicious oxymorons? I imagine I am not alone in my struggle. I love food and eating out. I am always thinking about, planning and strategizing my next meal – it’s part passion…and maybe part obsession. And while I would like to piousl...

A well-priced day spa in the heart of Sukhumvit In Bangkok massage spas / salons are like 7 Eleven convenience stores….there’s one (or five) on every street and the offerings are typically inexpensive and fairly consistent. Now of course I am speaking a...

Don’t miss this Italian gem in Silom On recent visit back to Bangkok, we decided to visit a favorite of many expats, Vino di Zanotti. Located in the junction of Sathorn and Silom, Vino di Zanotti serves up a more casual bistro-style experience than its...

Imagine Jim Thompson house. Now strip away the legend, crappy silk (I'll give you that it looks good, but Thai silk is the least comfy silk I've ever had the displeasure of touching), over inflated prices, and throngs of farangs decked out in sandals ...

When we last visited Thailand, I read a review of a new Bangkok brunch spot for those in the know. With it's location close to where we were staying, undiscovered vibe, and our intense love of brunches how could we not try it out? Was it worth the hype?...

On our recent trip back to Bangkok we had to visit an old favorite breakfast spot - Crepes & Co on Sukhumvit Soi 12. They claim to be the best Creperie in Bangkok and who am I to say they're not... I don't think I can name a single other Creperie in B...

Hey all, If stationed in or around Bangkok and tired of faux Balinese teak furniture shops check out Hemisphere Home Furnishing. Formerly part of the Casa Pagoda group in Bangkok, Hemisphere decided to set off on their own path. The store divides th...

Here are three healthy recipes from Kamalaya, Koh Samui. Chef Kai Mueller, the Executive Chef of Kamalaya, taught Joanna these recipes on her Holiday stay. I'm so thankful, the Maki Roll seems to have opened Joanna's mind to rolls and sushi - no small fea...

I needed some time-off. Time off from the world, from long work days followed by longer dinners, from my computer(s), from my cell phone, from happy hour cocktails… I wanted a real break where I could nourish my body and empty my mind. I did a lot of rese...

A sea-side pampering spa experience (main photo by Joanna, others from Anantara Web Site). I am typically a little suspect about high end spas in Thailand simply because you can go anywhere and get a quality massage for $8USD. However, being a spa junkie...

Soi Polo Chicken is really beyond words, but since I can’t hand you chicken through the monitor I’ll give it a try. Soi Polo Chicken is a northeastern style Thai food restaurant located on “Wireless” Road in Bangkok, Thailand. They serve a variety of r...

I typically favour simpler brunches – something kitchy and cool, with homemade yoghurt and pancakes and endless mugs of coffee. You know the kind of place?...the one with braided rugs and probably a cat sleeping on the window sill, where I can  turn up in...

For a special Thai food experience, Maha Naga will not disappoint. One may wonder why pay more, when you can get Thai dishes on the street for 30-80THB (USD / SGD). But for me, it is the equivalent of a topic of heated debate among most Westerners ...