S T A R T E R S
Trio
ALL Thai’d UP
Thai food has become a staple of our local restaurant scene, but here are three eateries which are rethinking this classic Asian grub, and serving menus with a difference… KOH THAI
This group of restaurants (which has wellestablished branches in both Bath and Bristol) combines traditional Thai cookery with a more mordern European dining out experience. Wondering what that might look like? Think Thai, served tapas style. With the group having lately celebrated its seventh birthday, and the Bath and Bristol sites having been around since 2013 and 2014 respectively, it seems that this is a popular concept, too. Speaking of popular, word is that punters can’t get enough of the chicken satay and the crispy beef – just in case you’re a bit overwhelmed by the choice, as the menu is pretty sizeable, after all. And when it comes to the appropriate dinnertime lubrication, the restaurant has just the thing. Its Japanese beer, Asahi, is probably the favourite slurp, with the Bath and Bristol branches getting through a pretty significant 14,000 pints last year. Almost everyone cooking at these restaurants is indigenous Thai too, meaning that they really know those flavour and texture combos that make Thai food so darn appealing. ✱ koh-thai.co.uk
JP DESTINY
Husband and wife John Jeremy and Mantanee Lewis opened JP Destiny in 2014, serving Asian fusion food. Chef Mantanee grew up in Thailand, so that has accounted for the main inspiration behind the cuisine, although this chef is also interested – and very well-versed – in Chinese and Malaysian cooking. This combination of influences makes for an intriguing Asian menu with a strong Thai backbone. In fact, the two most popular dishes on the whole menu are traditional meals from Mantanee’s native country: a creamy massaman chicken curry, punctuated with peanut and cooled with coconut, and the fresh, creamy and aromatic Thai green curry. For Mantanee, there are a few really important secrets to preparing authentic Thai food. Ingredients are, of course, up there, she tells us, but also, less obviously, is precision timing – cook something just that tiniest bit too long and it won’t be right. Thai food is all about being fresh and bright with a good crunch, after all – something that you won’t be short of at this great value joint.
BANGKOK JOE’S
Having launched just under a year ago, this Bristol Thai joint comes from the same team as popular Asian eateries Sticks & Broth and Khao & Bao. Both European and Asian influences are used to create a menu that’s not trying to replicate that amazing bowl of food you had on the roadside in Chiang Mai, but instead to offer a delicious and unique take on it. Pad Thai comes in a couple of different guises: you can have it with confit duck, or try out founder Som Miller’s own variation, made up of fried rice noodles, bean sprouts, spinach, egg, peanuts, tamarind and either grilled prawns or tofu and mushroom. Following the launch of the new lunch and dinner menus, the masaman curry with beef brisket has quickly established itself as a favourite, too. Plenty of inspiration has been taken from other cultures as well, though, so you can expect bao, ramen noodles and even Asian-inspired burgers at this kooky eatery. (Oh, and don’t overlook the impressive selection of craft beer on offer to wash it all down with, too…) ✱ bangkokjoes.co.uk
✱ jpdestinythaicorner.com
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