Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. -
Several years ago, when Douglas Harrison was asked why he opened a Cajun-style restaurant he said, "I got hungry for my food". Ever since, foreign and local diners have been satisfying their hunger for his delicious mix of Cajun and Thai food. Harrison's first eatery, Bourbon Street, opened in 1987 with dark wood furnishings, southern American memorabilia and classic rock tunes. It quickly grew to be more than just a popular eatery - with a well-stocked bar, pool tables and darts, it was the only 'All-American' hang-out in Bangkok. Open from 7am to 1am this eatery offers everything from breakfast to dinner in either Cajun-Creole or Thai style. Favourites on the menu are Jambalaya (B205), gumbo (B150), blackened redfish (B270) as well as pizza, tacos and US Angus (B1,090) or Thai (B660) beef. Upstairs from the restaurant is a reasonably priced 'boutique hotel' run by the same owner.
Kicking it up a notch, The Courtyard was opened in 2003 expanding Harrison's Cajun-Creole cuisine to finer heights. Located in ritzy The Somerset serviced apartments (managed by The Ascott Group), The Courtyard offers much of the same fair as Bourbon Street in an intimately elegant, yet casual setting. This is an ideal venue for a romantic New Orleans dinner or a private party. A local favorite is the Sunday brunch from 11am to 2pm offering up a selection of Thai and Cajun dishes buffet-style, great value at B380.
Now almost 18 years later, co-authors Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton have written a cookbook of Cajun and Thai 'Sledgehammer Cuisines' with detailed information about the history of Cajun and Thai herbs and spices. It's Hot!, published by Bourbon Street Bar and Restaurant, gives long-time fans of these venues all the inside information. Now you can try making all the same dishes served in the restaurants at home. This detailed book outlines all the ingredients used in sauces, seasonings and marinades which make Thai and Cajun food so darn tasty. It even covers brief histories of both Thais and Cajuns and their food. Especially helpful on the recipe pages is the short introduction to the dish with serving suggestions and explanations of ingredients as well as where to find them. Towards the end of the book is an explanation of New Orleans cocktails and popular drink recipes. Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. - Suzi WongBourbon Street Open 7am-1am daily (AE, MC, V; MAINS B200). 29/4-6 Washington Square, Sukhumvit Soi 22 (02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phrom Pong
Bourbon Street Boutique Hotel Rates from B1,100 +ABF (AE, MC, V). Upstairs from Bourbon Street restaurant. (02-259-0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com)
The Courtyard Open 6am-11pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V; MAINS B200). The Somerset Building, Soi Tonson off Ploenchit Road 02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phloen Chit
It's Hot! US$17.95 By Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton. Published by Bourbon St. Bar & Restaurant. Available at: Asia Books Open 9am-9pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V). 221 Sukhumvit Road, between Soi 15 & 17 (02-252 7277, www.asiabooks.com) BTS Asok MRT Sukhumvit and Bookazine Open 10am-11pm daily (AE, MC, V). 1st Fl, CP Tower, Silom Road(02-231 0016) BTS Sala Daeng MRT Si Lom
Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. -
Several years ago, when Douglas Harrison was asked why he opened a Cajun-style restaurant he said, "I got hungry for my food". Ever since, foreign and local diners have been satisfying their hunger for his delicious mix of Cajun and Thai food. Harrison's first eatery, Bourbon Street, opened in 1987 with dark wood furnishings, southern American memorabilia and classic rock tunes. It quickly grew to be more than just a popular eatery - with a well-stocked bar, pool tables and darts, it was the only 'All-American' hang-out in Bangkok. Open from 7am to 1am this eatery offers everything from breakfast to dinner in either Cajun-Creole or Thai style. Favourites on the menu are Jambalaya (B205), gumbo (B150), blackened redfish (B270) as well as pizza, tacos and US Angus (B1,090) or Thai (B660) beef. Upstairs from the restaurant is a reasonably priced 'boutique hotel' run by the same owner.
Kicking it up a notch, The Courtyard was opened in 2003 expanding Harrison's Cajun-Creole cuisine to finer heights. Located in ritzy The Somerset serviced apartments (managed by The Ascott Group), The Courtyard offers much of the same fair as Bourbon Street in an intimately elegant, yet casual setting. This is an ideal venue for a romantic New Orleans dinner or a private party. A local favorite is the Sunday brunch from 11am to 2pm offering up a selection of Thai and Cajun dishes buffet-style, great value at B380.
Now almost 18 years later, co-authors Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton have written a cookbook of Cajun and Thai 'Sledgehammer Cuisines' with detailed information about the history of Cajun and Thai herbs and spices. It's Hot!, published by Bourbon Street Bar and Restaurant, gives long-time fans of these venues all the inside information. Now you can try making all the same dishes served in the restaurants at home. This detailed book outlines all the ingredients used in sauces, seasonings and marinades which make Thai and Cajun food so darn tasty. It even covers brief histories of both Thais and Cajuns and their food. Especially helpful on the recipe pages is the short introduction to the dish with serving suggestions and explanations of ingredients as well as where to find them. Towards the end of the book is an explanation of New Orleans cocktails and popular drink recipes. Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. - Suzi Wong
Bourbon Street Open 7am-1am daily (AE, MC, V; MAINS B200). 29/4-6 Washington Square, Sukhumvit Soi 22 (02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phrom Pong
Bourbon Street Boutique Hotel Rates from B1,100 +ABF (AE, MC, V). Upstairs from Bourbon Street restaurant. (02-259-0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com)
The Courtyard Open 6am-11pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V; MAINS B200). The Somerset Building, Soi Tonson off Ploenchit Road 02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phloen Chit
It's Hot! US$17.95 By Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton. Published by Bourbon St. Bar & Restaurant. Available at: Asia Books Open 9am-9pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V). 221 Sukhumvit Road, between Soi 15 & 17 (02-252 7277, www.asiabooks.com) BTS Asok MRT Sukhumvit and Bookazine Open 10am-11pm daily (AE, MC, V). 1st Fl, CP Tower, Silom Road(02-231 0016) BTS Sala Daeng MRT Si Lom
Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. -
Several years ago, when Douglas Harrison was asked why he opened a Cajun-style restaurant he said, "I got hungry for my food". Ever since, foreign and local diners have been satisfying their hunger for his delicious mix of Cajun and Thai food. Harrison's first eatery, Bourbon Street, opened in 1987 with dark wood furnishings, southern American memorabilia and classic rock tunes. It quickly grew to be more than just a popular eatery - with a well-stocked bar, pool tables and darts, it was the only 'All-American' hang-out in Bangkok. Open from 7am to 1am this eatery offers everything from breakfast to dinner in either Cajun-Creole or Thai style. Favourites on the menu are Jambalaya (B205), gumbo (B150), blackened redfish (B270) as well as pizza, tacos and US Angus (B1,090) or Thai (B660) beef. Upstairs from the restaurant is a reasonably priced 'boutique hotel' run by the same owner.
Kicking it up a notch, The Courtyard was opened in 2003 expanding Harrison's Cajun-Creole cuisine to finer heights. Located in ritzy The Somerset serviced apartments (managed by The Ascott Group), The Courtyard offers much of the same fair as Bourbon Street in an intimately elegant, yet casual setting. This is an ideal venue for a romantic New Orleans dinner or a private party. A local favorite is the Sunday brunch from 11am to 2pm offering up a selection of Thai and Cajun dishes buffet-style, great value at B380.
Now almost 18 years later, co-authors Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton have written a cookbook of Cajun and Thai 'Sledgehammer Cuisines' with detailed information about the history of Cajun and Thai herbs and spices. It's Hot!, published by Bourbon Street Bar and Restaurant, gives long-time fans of these venues all the inside information. Now you can try making all the same dishes served in the restaurants at home. This detailed book outlines all the ingredients used in sauces, seasonings and marinades which make Thai and Cajun food so darn tasty. It even covers brief histories of both Thais and Cajuns and their food. Especially helpful on the recipe pages is the short introduction to the dish with serving suggestions and explanations of ingredients as well as where to find them. Towards the end of the book is an explanation of New Orleans cocktails and popular drink recipes. Highly recommended for all lovers of spicy foods. - Suzi Wong
Bourbon Street Open 7am-1am daily (AE, MC, V; MAINS B200). 29/4-6 Washington Square, Sukhumvit Soi 22 (02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phrom Pong
Bourbon Street Boutique Hotel Rates from B1,100 +ABF (AE, MC, V). Upstairs from Bourbon Street restaurant. (02-259-0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com)
The Courtyard Open 6am-11pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V; MAINS B200). The Somerset Building, Soi Tonson off Ploenchit Road 02-259 0328/9, www.bourbonstbkk.com) BTS Phloen Chit
It's Hot! US$17.95 By Douglas Harrison and Lowell Barton. Published by Bourbon St. Bar & Restaurant. Available at: Asia Books Open 9am-9pm daily (AE, DC, MC, V). 221 Sukhumvit Road, between Soi 15 & 17 (02-252 7277, www.asiabooks.com) BTS Asok MRT Sukhumvit and Bookazine Open 10am-11pm daily (AE, MC, V). 1st Fl, CP Tower, Silom Road(02-231 0016) BTS Sala Daeng MRT Si Lom
Fit For Tea
A touch of class with a sprinkling of nostalgia, characterise the Erawan Tea Room, a recently opened meeting spot with a timeless look and feel. Settled neatly on the 2nd floor of the new 'boutique' Erawan Bangkok shopping mall, this graceful eatery offers time-honoured Thai fare with an impressive selection of teas from around the world. Carefully designed with casual elegance - dark chocolate coloured opium mat tables and Cambodian chairs - Erawan Tea Room is a perfect venue for a business lunch or a leisurely dinner. The enchanting backdrop is furthermore enhanced by a tasteful selection of 1950s & 60s American-pop classics.
Operated by the prestigious Grand Hyatt Erawan, the Tea Room continues the traditional Hyatt excellence in cuisine with a fine selection of sweets and desserts. A simple banana pancake transforms into so much more when accompanied with sapodilla compote and revamped Thai street-food classics, like kanom krok [coconut pudding] pairs perfectly with a cup of crushed lemongrass tea. - Chris Otchy
Erawan Tea Room Open 10am-10pm daily (AE, DC, MC, Visa users receive 10% off; MAINS B150-340). 2nd Fl, Erawan Bangkok shopping mall, Ploenchit Road(02-254 1234) BTS Chitlom
Historical Shopping
Behind the Oriental Hotel, near what may be one of the most pleasant piers in Bangkok, is a spectacular 'boutique' antique shopping centre, O.P. Place. An Asian heritage shopping centre, O.P. Place is a historic showpiece itself with added vintage touches such as a manually operated elevator.
Specialising in Asian handicrafts, antiques, jewellery, carpets and textiles, connoisseurs will find just about anything and everything here. O.P. Place is a good starting point for amateur collectors of art and antiques. Of particular interest is the Ashwood Gallery on the 1st and 3rd floor, which specialises in Thai and Asian antiques, with works ranging from 19th century Burmese alabaster sculptures to Chinese and Japanese prints, as well as handcrafted antique furniture.
O.P. Place Asian Heritage Shopping Centre Open 10.30am-6.30pm daily. 30/1 Soi Charoen Krung 38 (02-266 0186) BTS Saphan Taksin
Well Rounded
From quantum mechanics to the chanting of monks, everything moves in cycles. That theme is at the heart of Eclipse, a drumming and dance performance at Patravadi Theatre, staged every weekend until the 29th of May. Playing on ancient beliefs that eclipses brings dramatic change, both positive and negative, the production makes contemporary use of classic Thai drumming. Out of this new rhythm, a dance is born bringing together classic Thai and contemporary western, exploring the orbits and cycles of existence. - Stirling Silliphant
Eclipse Every Sat and Sun until 29th May, 7.30pm at Patravadi Theatre (ADMN B1,000, B600, B400 available at Ticketmaster outlets; AE, MC, V). 69/1 Soi Wat Rakhang, Arun Amarin Road, Thonburi
Koh Si Chang
A weekend retreat is on offer from The Tide Resort in Chonburi's other beachside town of Bangsaen. Comprising 2 days and one night's stay at the beautiful resort with a full day trip to nearby Koh Si Chang for 2 people. Si Chang is a small rocky island with a glut of natural beauty and striking rock formations. On the southern end of the island is Phra Judhathut Palace, used by King Rama V for royal home-stay. - Chris Otchy
Koh Si Chang Package B4,000/Room 2 Days/1 Night, buffet breakfast included. Full day trip to Ko Si Chang for 2 people. Late check-out at 3pm. Until April 30, 2005. The Tide Resort 44/1 Th Hat Bangsaen 1, Chonburi. (03-839 9222,www.thetide-resort.com)
