Spice I Am, Darlinghurst

Another post about Thai restaurant in Sydney, yet again...  Seems never ending when it comes to Thai food, especially with Sydney-sider having a high demand of Authentic Thai food.  If I'm not wrong, now apparently there are more than 1,000 Thai restaurants just in Sydney let alone and it's still growing.

This time is one of the finest upscale Thai restaurant with elegant decoration and renowned for its uniquely authentic and tasty Thai dishes.  Conveniently located in the middle of metro and top area, Darlinghurst.  This place however, its might sounds splurging in term of pricewise but the food  and services are absolutely top knot.  Booking is highly recommended here and they only do two seating times for dinner which are 6 pm and 8.30 pm.

I bet most of you guys have heard about Spice I Am before.  Yes!!  because they not only produce spectacular food but under the same management they actually have four branches across Sydney with all having different and unique concept.  Not too wrong to say that they are big brother in this industry.

I've been to three of them.  One in Surry Hills, is a tiny and squeezy but mind for the long queue on dinner time.

The next restaurant is in the Darlinghurst, (this post)

Another one is House Thai (even it has a different name, but they still under the same management).  They use different name for this particular restaurant, I think because in this place they more specialise in North Eastern Thai cuisine, dishes like Som Tum and BBQ chicken with sticky rice.  Also, strongly use fermented fish sauce for the salty touch, tamarind for the sour punch, that's distinguishing them for the flavours of North Eastern.

And last but not least the newly open Spice I Am at Balmain.



Lychee Martini $18

Very enjoyable drink, sweet but dangerously deep drunken with a mixture of Wyborowa vodka, Soho lychee liqueur, and lychee juice.


Grande Lychee Mojito $19

Inspired from Cuban fame which was the birthplace of Mojito but with a twist of the liquor lychee.  It has Crushed lychee and lime with spearmint, Havana Club Blanco, and Soho lychee liqueur in it.  Can't get enough of this.



Khao Kreab Pak Mor $24 (6 pieces)

Steamed mini rice paper parcels filled with shiitake mushrooms and bean curd served individually on the bed of endive lettuce with a splash of soy and vinegar sauce.

Bour Tod 6pcs $16

Bour Tod is basically Phuket style fritter of green prawns on crispy betel leaf and they deep-fired to incredibly crunchy leaf then stacked up and sprinkle with chilli sauce, crushed roasted cashew nuts, and finally garnished with Thai coriander and sliced fresh chilli.  The BEST Thai dish I have ever eaten, I would say!!!  The taste very very exotic, nutty and definitely a dish I always come back for.



Goong Ma Kham $38

Deep fried king prawns with tamarind sauce, served on a bed of steamed Chinese broccoli.  Although the prawns were chunky, fresh and nicely deep fried but then the flavour of the tamarind wasn't enough to balance with those beautifully cooked fresh King Prawns which later got dried up.  More sauce and sprinkled of salt are absolutely demanded and could enhance the dish.  Very pitiful and this dish be the last one on the table that we finished.



Gaeng Ped Yang Red Duck Curry $39

Roasted duck in red curry with pea eggplant, apple eggplant, kaffir lime leaves, chilli, cherry tomatoes, lychee, pineapple and Thai basil.  When you read the list of those ingredients, it may sound that so many elements going on in this dish, but once they all combined together under that famous Thai red curry, it turned out to be a very spectacular curry dish.

The dish topped with the fresh coconut flesh which helps thicken the curry and become even more refreshing and light.  Serving it on the fresh coconut shell, is a traditional and excellent way to present the dish.



Pad Prik Khing Moo Grob Crispy Pork Belly $30

Stir fried crispy pork belly wok, tossed with red curry paste, green beans, chilli and kaffir lime leaves.  It is a signature dish here in Spice I Am.  And also a recommended dish to have but warning for those who cannot handle chilli, as this dish quite highly rated for their level of hot and spiciness.


Pla Tod Yum Ma Muang $ 38

I wasn't a fan of this dish and we actually wanted to order Pla Sam Rod but shamefully it wasn't available that day, and the waitress recommended us with this fish dish instead.  Golden brown and crispy of whole red snapper deep fried then topped with Som Tum or Papaya Salad.  The fish was nicely done but Papaya salad is lacking a kick in flavour and too dry for my liking.


Lemon and Mandarin Ice Cream $10

The two beautiful combination of flavours.  The sourness from lemon ice cream balanced off with the sweetness from mandarin ice cream.  So light, yet refreshing and kinda wash up our mouth after heavy taste.  



Khao Niew I-Tim $12

When this dessert came out to our table we all amazed by how cute it is and we riddle is it just coincidental or deliberately done.  This dessert appears as snowman standing on the green rice field.  It came like that complete with the two eyes and I just added the cheeky smiley mouth for him. (though it looks rather creepy).  Sticky rice is very soft and great texture. a little bit sweet and not too soaky.

My hubby explain that, Khao Niew I-Tim, is one of the favourite snack food for Thais, but in Thailand the way they are served is quite different.  A single slice of bread, folded into two and filled with sticky rice, coconut ice cream and topping choices of yours.  Crusted peanut may sometimes be added as well. 



Cup C $18

If you guys ever been to House Restaurant, you would probably ever tried this yummy dessert as well.  But here in Darlinghurst, they are just newly introduced, not even in the dessert lists at that time we dined there. 

The devine warm baked chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream and oozy chocolate lava melted in the middle.  Word fell to describe how delicious this chocolate cup.  But what I know is, six spoons sunk into this heavenly chocolate cup and scrapped til not even a single cake's crumb left.  Then we looked at each other and our eyes telling we surely need one more.  Even that's would take another 20 minutes waiting as it freshly baked to order, we allowed ourself to sacrify.  The second dish came and our table become the quietest moment only the 'clinging' sound from spoons and only the sighing "Hmmm..." Ooohhhhh..." Ahhh....".  Yet the second cup still didn't change the taste of it.  You know what I mean rite, normally if the tummy is full already and the second dish of the same food will go like errr..  But hey,  not happened for this time.


Spice I Am
296-300 Victoria St.

Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Ph: 02 9332 2445

Caysorn Thai, Haymarket

I'm pretty sure lots of Sydneysiders might ever experience Thai cuisine whether it is renown delicacy like Pad Thai, Green curry or even Massamun curry, etc.  But how many people would really know that in fact Thai cuisine is ultimately diverse throughout the region in term of flavour, style of cooking and ingredients used for some local dishes. 

Most of Thai restaurants in Sydney often and are heavily influenced by the way Thais dine on their daily routine such as street food and even home cook style.  I'll give you some example such as Chat Thai, Home and ThainaTown restaurants.  Perhaps, it s not too wrong to say that majority of the menus used in the Thai restaurant is a "Bangkok menu" and sometimes "Esan menu" (North East Thai).

New comer (It has been running for few months by the time I post this blog, I know I'm a bit slack) Caysorn is one of a few Thai restaurant in Sydney trying to break through the ceiling and offering the uniquely Southern Thai cuisine which renown for its spiciness, marinated and local ingredient such as Sator (Stink Bean or in Indonesian we called it Pete) and Kapi - Shrimp Paste (Terasi or more famous it's called Belacan)

Our friends introduced us this restaurant and today we decided to give it a go.  We went there for lunch on the weekday and restaurant was not too busy.  Their menus is loaded with Southern Thai delicacies and if you wanna come here just to grab some fast serve of those ordinary Thai dishes like Pad Thai or Tom Yum.  Well sad to say that then this is not probably the place for you.  No offend though !!

Alrite enough said ..   Let's see what we got for our lunch...  Octie Appetie guys...

Unlimited complimentary vegetables as your accompanion to go with Caysorn's signature dish Kanoom Jeen.  Apparently, these companions are good in reducing the spiciness when you got your tounge burnt from chilli.



Khanom Jeen Gaeng Gai $5.00 - Chicken curry with Thai rice noodle

 They house so many of my hubby childhood's favorite dish such as "Khanom Jeen Gaeng Keow Wan" which give you a little bit of afterburn but it just can not stop you from begging for more!!  Although the dish was relatively quite small but they have a big flavour and the heat from chilli that last long.  But somehow as I said before those mustard pickled helps to cool your burning tounge by bit.



Pad Gapi Sator $14.50

Some of their dishes are flexible in the level of spiciness, but honestly for me, the more spicy the dish is the better it would taste.  If you think you can handle the more-than-mild spicy level, advise the waiter if you want the dish to be cooked for Thais taste.  Because they normally tend to reduce the spiciness for foreigners. 

Sator..  It's a type of bean that has a really strong smell more likely to the stinky side and flavour as well so it's the thing that people would like it or would not even be close to it at all.  Pad Gapi Sator represent a truly Southern-Thai dishes.  I have seen lots of these aromatic ingredient in Indonesian and Malaysian cooking as they provide exotic and fragrant flavour to the dish.

Had Yai Fried Chicken $6.90

This chicken is the one I've looking forward to, simply because when I had them in Thailand they were absolutely mouth watering and beautiful.  But sadly today I couldn't find any 'wow' factor in this plate.  The chicken is pretty dry, maybe the result of over frying and the sticky rice and dipping sauce was pretty average as well.  So it's just an okay dish.

Kao Klook Kapi $10.50

This dish we both agree that deserved to be the best dish for our lunch today.  Rice mixed with shrimp paste (Kapi) and served with variety of condiments on the side like shredded green papaya, chopped snake bean and especially Moo Wan (caramelised pork), is the main highlight here.  I just wish, they make one dish that only serve that Moo Wan with rice.  What a sensational dish !!!  Totally loved it.

The way to eat is pretty straight forward.  Mix everything together so that you can have all the flavour from all elements.  Be careful, there's heaps of fresh chilli in there as well.



Pannacotta with Berry Coulis

The party could not be over without the dessert.  There isn't much choices of dessert like the others Thai restaurants in the city.  However, the pannacotta is seriously good and wobbling.  I really enjoy this dessert as it's tasted the way I like.  Not too sweet and silky smooth.



Cha Nom (Thai Milk Tea)



Khanom Pang Sangkhaya (Thai Style Bread and Pandan Custard)

Steamed or grilled is totally your call.  Unfortunately they didn't pull off this dish.  The bread was quite hard and too dry from my liking and the Sang Khaya was runny and a bit bland.  But for $5 (including Thai Milk Tea), couldn't complain much, could I ? 

Overall, we were pretty happy with the restaurant and their dishes even there were some that let them down.  Booking is not essential for lunch but you'll never know.  The food taste very authentic and well presented.  Make sure you try their Khao Klook Kapi and Cha nom (thai milk tea) for drink.  Perfect combination for a quick lunch.

Thank you for reading and hope you all enjoy this review.

Caysorn Thai

Shop 106-108A, Level 1

8 Corner Thomas & Quay St.
Haymarket NSW 2000

Ph: (02) 9211 5749

Open 7 Days 11am-10pm

Lunch • Dinner • Takeaway

Supper at Chat Thai

Who's hankering for midnight cravings? Me!!!!!!  I know, it's very bad bad for our digestive system but it's actually a guilty pleasure for our mind.  We had been planning to do this for quite sometimes now, but it never been successful until tonight.  Everytime, when the clock ticking nearly pass midnite, we always started getting lazy and sleepy cos I'm just not a nite owl anymore, probably I am getting old...  Sigh...

Tonight, we are bringing my sis and her hubby along with us, so its kinda push us to go...  Don't wanna be a person who break promise, rite!!!!!  Nice trick but it works literally...  So yeah, here we are.. eating... drinking (non alcoholic though)... chatting... and most importantly adding nite calories...  Well yeah!!!  as a consequence.

Chat Thai in Thaitown is the only one restaurant that first pop up in mind and the most suitable for this mission.  It has been claimed to be one of the most dominant Thai restaurants in Sydney by many medias that all Sydneysiders might know as well.  This Thai powerhouse is home to variety of authentic street food mostly found on the street in Bangkok.  We ever walked pass this Chat Thai around midnight and they surprisingly still busy and packed with people lining up for the table.  Smartly, we made a reservation earlier and skipping all of those nite-food-hunting folks.



Can you believe it?? This already pass midnight

 

Cha Nom Yen (Thai Milk Tea) $5 and Longan Drink (Nam Lum Yai) $4



Fish Kedgeree (Khao Tom Pla) $13

This rice soup dish is served with boiled fish and sprinkled with fried garlic flakes and finely sliced lavage.  The soup is really refreshing, kickingly fresh and the hint of Hua Chai Bpoh (Salted Radish) lifted up the taste of already delicious rice soup.  To comforting my tummy in this cold rainy gloomy night.


Pork Congee (Jok Moo) $10

The thick rice congee with minced pork, finely shredded ginger and spring onion plus a splash of Maggie sauce was quite appetising.  Thais as I know that they usually never forget putting Maggie sauce on their congee to boost up the flavour.



Moo Daad Diew (Pork Jerky Issan Style) $10

Moo Dad was incredibly tasty, the meat was extremely soft and tender, is almost like eating grilled pork accompanied with Thai Sriracha Chilli Sauce to dunk in.



Grilled Chicken (Gai Yaang) $10

Gai Yaang is spices marinated chicken then char-grilled and served with home-made nam jim jiew sauce.  The chicken is full of flavours and have that smokiness smell and the meat is also tender and juicy with slightly crisp skin that contrast in texture.  The dipping sauce goes amazingly well with the grilled chicken, is basically mixture of smoked chilli, tamarind relish, fish sauce and palm sugar that balanced off the taste.


Chilli Fried Rice with Crispy Pork Belly $14.90

Traditional Thai fried rice stir fried with chilli jam and holy basil is just fiery delicious and enjoyable, especially those crispy skin pork belly was a perfect companion to it, much much better than the usual chicken or pork fillet.  Make sure you added fried egg on top to give it a kick...

Khanom Chan $3.50

Khanom Chan is a steamed multi layered sweet with the texture like a firm pudding, made from coconut milk, tapioca flour, pandan leaves to give the natural greenish colour and some others.  In Indonesia, we also have this kind of dessert called Kue Lapis.  This dish is normally used during the auspicious ceremonies in Thailand as it's considered a good luck and prosperous life.  Besides it could be treated as a fantastic light snacks as well.


Bua Loy Kai Warn (Rice Balls with Sweet Egg) $6

Sticky rice balls of taro, Japanese pumpkin and pandan jus in sweet warm coconut broth with abit of shaved fresh coconut and the highlight of this dish was the sweet egg..  U know what!!!  They forgot the egg!!!!  I tried to dig to the bottom insearching my precious egg thought that it may be playing hide and seek with me but nope..  couldn't find it at all.  That little sweet egg is what I've been dying for so I asked the waiter and he kindly added the egg for me.  Thank you...

Par Tuhng Go Sangkaya $6.90

The crunchy golden outer and fluffy innards of deep fried doughnut sticks that dipped in the pandan-flavoured coconut custard is dead-licious.  It's always never enough with only a small pot of that OH-SO-DELICIOUS pandan custard so we asked for more, and normally we gotta pay extra for that but we're lucky and they gave it for free this time (bribed... my hubby's friend was working there!!!)

Ps. Just because of this luscious Par Tuhng Go, we drove all the way for half an hour to please our demanding tummy.

Chat Thai
20 Campbell Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9211 1808
http://www.chatthai.com.au/

Home Thai Restaurant

Another great place for casual dining, this time is an authentic thai restaurant which always become packed with hungry humans when dinner time started. So we came early about 5.30 pm to avoid those crowd, but it seems we didn't get there quick enough and we still need to wait around 10 minutes as the tables were full already.

Here we go!!! Let me show you what we had for that nite. Octie-Appetie...

Hoi Jor $ 8.50

Deep fried pork, crab meat, and water chestnut wrapped with bean curd and served with sweet plum sauce.

Pad Thai Keaw Krob $ 10.90

Like the normal Pad Thai, but they use deep fried wonton instead of rice noodles which give them a more crunchy texture as a compliment for the its delicious sauce. I much prefer this dish rather than the ordinary Pad Thai.

Tom Saab $ 11.50

Spicy and sour soft bone pork soup with touch of thai herbs and coriander. The hotness from heaps of chillies and tanginess from tamarind are just right to give this 'kick' in this cold wintery day.

Kor Moo Yang $ 13.50

Grilled marinated pork neck served with nam jim jiew and fresh vegetables. Nam jim jiew is pretty much a mixture of chili powder, sugar, ground rice, lime juice, and  fish sauce. Popular for many Eastern Thai dishes.

Pa Thong Ko (cant remember how much exactly, but I think it's about $ 5.50)

Pa Thong Ko is deep fried Thai-style donuts which normally served with Sang Khaya (pandan-flavoured coconut custard) and condensed milk. I wish that I could have more of those Sang Khaya.


Cha Nom (Thai Milk Tea)

Home Thai Restaurant

Shop 1-2, 299 Sussex Street, Sydney 

Ph: 02 9261 5058

Trading Hours:
Lunch: 11am - 5pm
Dinner: 5pm - 10:30pm