Who here knows what my absolute favorite cuisine is? It’s ok, you don’t need to keep (another) journal on me, I’ll refresh your memory and drone on about me myself and I. I love Thai food. Love, love, LOVE. Therefore, it was only natural that I would allocate my prized weekend lunch spot to a tasting at Benjarong Royal Thai Dining in Dusit Thani.
Benjarong is as old as Dusit Thani itself, and has been around since 2001. It it’s age alone doesn’t impress you, then you should know that their head chef is a 65 year old lady who used to cook for the Thai Royal Family– hence the “Royal Dining”.
The ambience was truly regal, with Thai accents generously sprawled all over the royal blue restaurant. I’m nuts about pretty plates, and it was a breath of fresh air to eat off of simple white plates with beautifully vibrant and colorful gold plated borders. I cannot stress enough on how pretty these pates were. The food was clearly made with love by a lady who knows her stuff, and the only area that could really use improvement is the presentation of the food. Carrot flowers and capsicum baskets were impressive no later than the 80s, so some attention paid to the plating would really go a long way– especially since the prices being charged are those of fine dining.
Here’s what we had today:
Tom Yum Goong, because of course.
Tom Kha. This was unlike the Tom Kha I’m used to, as it was super thick and viscous, but that just made it all the more creamier and indulgent.
Appetizer platter comprising of fish cakes, rice crackers, shrimp money bags, vegetable spring rolls, and chicken pandanus.
Assortment of really delicious sauces.
Som Tam Khao Niew Gai Yang: spicy, refreshing som tam, with a side of grilled chicken and sticky rice. According to the manager, this is a common street food in Thialand, and a good way to make a complete meal out of the salad that’s loved by all.
Goong Phad Nam Prig Pao: lightly battered prawns with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, sweet basil leaves and chili paste. This was a good stir-fry.
The chili paste that reminded M of home way too much and he couldn’t get enough of.
Green curry with chicken. Not the best green curry I’ve had. It could have been more fragrant, and M found it to be too coconutty (I don’t think there’s any such thing as “too coconutty”, but it was a tad too sweet).
Sticky rice, because duh.
This. This was my favorite thing on the table today and truly spectacular. Grilled seabass fillet with my favorite tangy lemon sauce that I learnt how to make first from Busaba Eathai and now from the kind folks at Benjarong. I’ll be posting my own version of it’s recipe soon 🙂
Pandan infused sticky rice with mango, because of course. I hate to say this, but the last Mango and sticky rice I had (at Fuchsia), was better.
Homemade coconut icecream with roasted peanuts and a view of the expanse from the 24th floor? Yuhm.
Overall , the meal was delicious. thanks for having us, Benjarong.
