The way to an Asian heart is through the stomach. The joy of food lives larger in the Asian psyche than it does in other cultures, and awareness of this can make life easier for an outsider whilst simultaneously playing havoc with the waistline.
When I worked in Bangkok I had five Thai managers who worked for me. They were all good people in different ways, and they were an essential buffer between the realities of the Thai workplace and the little oasis of caffeinated calm that was my office on a good day. So I had to keep them happy, and the best way to do that was to feed them regularly.
We would have “away-day” meetings on a monthly basis; booking a room in one of the big hotels in order to discuss topics that were irrelevant even then, and totally wiped from my memory now. But I do remember the lunches.
The hotel was chosen not for the quality of their meeting rooms, but for the expanse of their lunchtime buffets. This is somewhat of a tradition in Bangkok and most big hotels put on a spread for a not unreasonable price (although the cost was somewhat irrelevant as I charged it to expenses). I let the Thais chose the location and we ended up cycling between the Dusit Thani and the Plaza Athene; both of which provided enough excellent food to ensure that staying awake in the afternoon was a perpetual challenge.
But the Sunday buffet at Mantra in Pattaya outshines them all. I sit here bloated after two hours of great eating, washed down by some very palatable wines. The best buffet lunch I have had for a long time.
Mantra sits at the start of Beach Road, part of the Amari hotel. It is a very smart place and not cheap, but the few evening meals I have had there have not left a great impression. But when SWMBO’s boss invited us for the Sunday buffet, then it seemed churlish and foolish to refuse.
I will not bore you with the full extent of what is on offer, mainly because there was so much I can’t remember. But I will bore you with what I managed to consume:
A large plate of very fresh sushi. Oysters from France, with prawns and massive scallops to fill up the plate. Lamb chops. Cold meats with aubergines, artichokes and some stuff I did not recognise but it tasted good. Assorted thingies (including strawberries and meringues) stuck into a chocolate fountain. Assorted thingies (including strawberries and meringues) stuck into a chocolate fountain. Yes, I had to go back for seconds. And the second time I added a raspberry sago concoction which looked vile but tasted exactly the opposite. Several lumps of most excellent cheese and a cappuccino.
And to accompany the above, a choice of wines, as much as you care/manage to drink and you could try as many as you wished. Needless to say, SWMBO drove us home.
I expect this was a rather expensive dining option, but as the boss was paying it turned out to just a really good meal in very pleasant surroundings. SWMBO must have liked it too, it is three hours since lunch and she has yet to embark on a snack.
Comments 🔗
2009-08-17| The Son saysOh my, the Bangkok hotel buffets. Whooo.. a sudden wave of near-fatal jealousy there.
Very fond memories.
2009-08-17| Spike saysWhen you visit we will do Mantra; will make the BKK hotels seem like a McDonald’s memory
2009-08-27| Jock saysI hope you behaved yourself in front of the wife’s boss .. I know what you’re like with a drink in …. (yes i know i’ve left the door wide open for a witty, or even defamatory response) … by the way do you still have a copy of the ‘Karen Kelly’ poem … the current comtender for the 2nd Mrs McLeod is asking why I left her .. thought I might use the poem as collaborative evidence.