Category: Travel

Paste – Michelin Star Thai restaurant

Paste is a Michelin-starred restaurant located on the 3rd floor of the Gaysorn Village. The head chef, Bee Satongun, is dedicated to restoring and preserving traditional Thai cuisine while adding a modern touch. The restaurant’s interior features contemporary Thai decor, with a large centerpiece of sinuous strips of silkworm cocoons. The high ceiling, airy dining space, and warm colors create a comfortable dining experience. The staff wore traditional Thai-inspired attire.

Spanner crab on a seaweed sesame cracker

The amuse-bouche was exquisite – rich umami flavor.

Old-style hot & sour soup of crisp pork leg, char-grilled shallots,
jackfruit seeds, and roasted tomatoes in a smoky chicken broth.

The soup was lovely and very appetizing. It was tangy and smokey with a reasonable amount of heat.

Loas-Vieng style sour orange curry, line-caught seabass
with roasted mung bean and drum stick flowers

The fish was very fresh and tender. However, the curry was a bit bland; I preferred a spicier, intense-flavored curry.

Complimentary orange sorbet

The sorbet was a sweet, refreshing ending to the meal.

 

Overall, the service was attentive, and the food was of excellent quality. However, I have mixed feelings about the restaurant. I was not blown away by the food; the dishes did not justify the price for me. I was expecting more from a Michelin-starred restaurant.

 

Still water 80 baht

Hot and sour pork leg soup 750 baht

Sour orange seabass curry 1300 baht

Riceberry 150 baht

 

 

Paste

Website: https://www.pastebangkok.com/

Opening hours:

Daily
Lunch 12:00 pm – 14:00 pm
Dinner 18:30 pm – 23:00 pm

Telephone: +66(0)2 656 1003

Address: 3rd Floor, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok

 

Ibagu, traditional tea house

Tucked away in one of Insadong’s alleyways is a quaint traditional tea house – Ibagu. The tea house is housed in a traditional building. The soft lighting and background music added to the ambiance. Our server was friendly and spoke reasonably good English.

The menu consists of a variety of Korean teas, desserts, coffee, and Western teas. There are also four set menus of different dessert-drink combinations.

We ordered a set menu and a roasted 5-grain smoothie.

The set menu we ordered included a long white rice cake, sweet red bean porridge, and a coffee. The red bean porridge had a smooth consistency and was unexpectedly savory with a hint of sweetness. The rice cake was interesting. Before this, I have only had Tteokbokki (spicy rice cake). The warm rice cakes were covered in soybean powder with a syrup drizzle. If you like the Japanese Kinako mochi, you will like this.

The roasted 5-grain smoothie was the highlight! It was rich, creamy, sweet, and nutty. It was one of those drinks where you have to have another after the first sip. The drink resembles a peanut smoothie but is more fragrant; my most memorable drink here in Seoul.

The prices here are a bit high but worth a visit.

 

Set menu 3 ( 2 desserts and a beverage) 19,500 won

Roasted 5-grain smoothie 8,000 won

Ibagu

Opening hours: Daily 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Telephone: +82 2-730-2088

Address: 5 Insadong 6-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Osulloc Tea House, Myeongdong (permanently closed)

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Osulloc is a famous premium tea brand in Korea that has been selling tea (mainly green tea) from Jeju since 1979. The Osulloc tea house in Myeongdong has a cafe and a store. The contemporary design reminds me of Starbucks. The cafe offers teas, lattes, cakes, and ice creams. You can purchase gift sets or teas from the store. One interesting thing sold at the store is their green tea milk spread.

The hojicha latte was delicious. It’s like a mocha but with tea. It was creamy with a roasted nutty flavor. Jeju tangerine milk tea is one of Osulloc’s popular drinks.  Both teas were not overly sweet.

Osulloc is a must-visit for green tea lovers.

 

Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea 7000 won

Hojicha latte 7000 won

Osulloc Tea House, Myeongdong

Website: https://www.osulloc.com/kr/en

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m

Telephone: +82 2-774-5460

Address: 12 Myeongdong 7-gil, Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Senoji Trobele

 

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Senoji Trobele, a restaurant known for its authentic Lithuanian cuisine, serves traditional Lithuanian favorites such as cold borscht, potato pancakes, and Cepelinai. The rustic decor and furniture and the staff’s folk outfits created an authentic atmosphere. There is also a lovely patio, and the staff was friendly.

I had a borscht soup followed by a chicken breast stuffed with cheese and apple pie.

The borscht soup had a hint of smoky flavor with a touch of tang. It was a comforting soup with well-balanced flavors. The chicken breast was juicy and tender, but in my opinion, the taste was a little muted. The Lithuanian apple pie is more like a cake. The texture was soft, spongy, and not too sweet, which paired nicely with the ice cream.

 

Borscht soup €5

Chicken breast stuffed with cheese and broccoli served with steamed asparagus, potatoes, and white wine sauce €12

Apple pie €5

Senoji Trobele

Website: https://senojitrobele.lt/en/

Opening hours: 

Monday to Friday    11:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday  12:00 p.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 609 99002

Address: Naugarduko g. 36, Vilnius

Georg Ots Spa hotel restaurant

The Georg Ots Spa Hotel (GOSPA) is a stone’s throw from the Kuressaare castle. The restaurant serves spa cuisine with fresh, locally grown ingredients in a spacious contemporary setting overlooking the harbor and castle.

The menu at GOSPA is simple yet delicious. The dishes are characteristic of the island. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are available, including gluten-free.

I ordered vegan vegetable soup and lamb pasta. While waiting for the food, I was served fresh bread with Saaremaa butter. I love the big glass windows. It was a beautiful day, and I was mesmerized by the view outside.

The pasta was beautifully cooked in a rich and smooth sauce. The soup was a brightly colored delight with different red, yellow, green, white, and brown hues. It was not only healthy and hearty but also delicious with bright acidity.

 

Vegan Ramen: Seasonal vegetables in vegetable broth  €9
(carrots, roasted bell pepper, and zucchini, parsley, snap pea, champignon, marinated red and yellow pepper, sprouts)

Lamb bolognese €12
(Casarecca pasta, Muhu minced lamb, Saaremaa smoked bacon, Rautsi Farm’s carrots, onion, garlic, basil, tomato sauce, parmesan)
Georg Ots Spa Hotel
Opening hours:
Sun-Thu 12:00 p.m. – 22:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat 12:00 p.m.  – 23.00 p.m.
Breakfast
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Sat-Sun 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Telephone: + 372 45 50 000
Address: Georg Ots Spa hotel ,Tori 2, Kuressaare, 93810, Saaremaa

Khua Kling Pak Sod

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Khua Kling Pak Sod is a family-owned restaurant specializing in authentic Southern Thai cuisine. One of my favorite YouTubers, Marion Grasby, a Thai-Australian cook, highly recommended this restaurant.

One difference between Southern and Northern Thai cuisine is that the spices and herbs are more prominent in Southern dishes.

I ordered a spicy and sour soup with sea bass, stir-fried lump crab meat, and stir-fried morning glory with shrimp paste.

The tanginess makes this soup very appetizing. The sea bass was fresh, and there was a fair amount of herb in the broth. The herbs eaten on their own are quite pungent, but it gives the soup a lovely aroma.

My favorite dish was the stir-fried crab meat. The herbs and chili did not overpower the crab meat’s natural flavors and sweetness. It was a great accompaniment to rice.

A great place to try Southern Thai cuisine.

Tom Yum Pla Grapong 280 baht

Nua Pu Pad Cha  580 baht

Pak Boong Pad Kapi 180 baht

Tom Yum Pla Grapong
Nua Pu Pad Cha
Pak Boong Pad Kapi

Khua Kling Pak Sod

Website: http://www.khuaklingpaksod.com/

Opening hours: Open Daily

Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 14:30 p.m.

Dinner 17:30 p.m. – 21:30 p.m.

Telephone: 02- 185-3977

Address: 21, 32 Soi Sukhumvit 23, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok

Samurai ramen

Samurai Ramen serves pork and fish broth ramen as well as Tokyo-style ramen (ramen served in chicken broth). They also offer sushi and a variety of stir-fried noodles. All the noodles are handmade.

One interesting thing that caught my attention on the menu was the hot sushi. I had not heard of hot sushi until I came here. It is basically deep-fried sushi. To indulge my curiosity, I got the rabbit crunch consisting of crabsticks, cucumber, and Philadelphia cream cheese. Deep frying the sushi, in my opinion, did not alter the taste too much. It adds warmth to the dish, and the crunchy crust gives it extra texture. I absolutely loved it! It should be available everywhere – who does not enjoy deep-fried food!

I ordered the red samurai ramen, which is noodles in a spicy pork broth topped with egg, baby corn, pork slices, asparagus, and scallions. The bright red color of the broth gives the impression that the soup is quite spicy, but on the contrary. The heat level was mild. The ramen broth was flavorful and heartwarming.

Red samurai ramen € 8.90

Rabbit crunch € 3.49

 

Samurai Ramen

Website: https://samurairamen.lt/

Opening hours:

Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m – 21:00 p.m

Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 630 73822

Address: H. Manto g. 1, Klaipėda 92127, Lithuania

10 tiltų cafe

10 tiltų cafe is located in the heart of the Old Town. It is a cozy, spacious, and stylish cafe with artistic decor. There is no menu per se; you order from what you see on the menu board and display case.  It is just drinks, cakes, and sandwiches.

The coffee and cake were excellent. It’s a lovely place to chill and hang out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 tiltų cafe

Website: https://www.facebook.com/10tiltukavine/

Opening hours: 

Telephone: +370 698 80216

Address: Turgaus g. 19 Klaipeda, Lithuania 91249

Thong Smith Siamese Boat Noodles

Thong Smith is well-known for its authentic boat noodles. Boat noodles are one of Thailand’s famous noodle dishes served in a thick, aromatic broth. I stumbled upon this restaurant while looking for a place to have dinner at the EmQuartier Mall.

At Thong Smith, you can choose between pork, beef, and chicken boat noodles, as well as three different noodles: original rice noodles, vermicelli, and egg noodles. For those who prefer non-spicy, the chicken boat noodles are served in a clear soup. You can also choose your preferred level of spiciness.

The restaurant’s menu was attractive, with enticing pictures of each dish well presented and reasonable food prices.

I love spicy food, so I ordered beef boat noodles topped with beef slices and beef balls with medium heat (quite spicy). The broth was thick with a great balance of tangy, sweet, spicy, and savory flavors.

The wontons were fried to a crispy golden brown perfection. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Scrumptious!

The pandan noodles with coconut milk is very similar to a dessert back home  (Malaysia) called Cendol, which is one of my favorite Malaysian desserts. I was overjoyed when I saw this on the menu. It was the perfect dessert to soothe the tongue after the spicy bowl of noodles.

Roselle juice 69THB

Crispy pork and shrimp wontons 100THB

Beef boat noodles with beef slices and beef balls 149THB

Pandan noodles with coconut milk 79THB

 

Thong Smith Siamese Boat Noodles

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 a.m – 22:00 p.m

Telephone: 02-003-6226

Address: Seventh floor of the Helix Building at EmQuartier

Višta Puode

“Vista puode” means chicken in the pot.”  The owner of the restaurant serves food that he enjoyed during his childhood days. The restaurant is separated into three areas but connected by one kitchen. Svetainė (the living room) serves breakfast, Traktierius (the tavern) serves lunch and snacks, and Restoranas (the restaurant) is a space dedicated to special occasions and dinners.

I dined in the living room as the tavern was full during lunch. The place had an inviting, bright, and rustic interior with interesting decorations.

The table mat has the history of the restaurant’s name and some local food, so you can have a read while waiting for the food.

I had just arrived in Kaunas, and it was a chilly day. The soup was perfect; it tasted like grandmother’s homemade chicken soup. The chicken cutlet was tender and juicy, and the potato puree was very flavorful.

Other than the slow service, the food was delicious. This is a restaurant worth checking out if you are in the area.

Lemonade €2.90

Slow-cooked chicken broth €2.50

Chicken cutlet with soft cheese served with potato puree €6. 40

 

Višta Puode

Website: https://xn--vitapuode-m3b.lt/

Opening hours: Daily 8:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 693 63777

Address: S. Daukanto g. 23, Kaunas