A different kind of Father's Day

For those who don't know, the 3rd Sunday of June is not Father's Day in Thailand. Thais celebrate their fathers together with the birthday of the recently-deceased King Rama IX on the 5th of December (I guess it's appropriate that they did not change the day despite his passing).

As a result, we often celebrate Father's/Mother's Day twice a year here, following both the international and Thai occasions, because being a parent engulfs the lives of my wife and I completely every single day. I actually look forward to Father's Day most of the time, because it seems like a celebration of the one job I feel I might excel the most at (I do not know others who have watched me up close will agree or not). I find it a reason to do something nice for myself, to give myself a pat on my own back.

This year feels different. Circumstances that led up to this day have been quite sobering. It is more like a reminder that I cannot and should not take being a father for granted. It is a blessing and yet a huge responsibility.

It has been a tough year. Work has consumed me more than ever in Thailand. I am one year into what people consider the best 10 years of a man's life. Coincidentally, I feel a window opening up to push my company to brand new heights, albeit a small one that will not be there for long. It's now or never. I have a team in my office waiting for inspiration everyday from one they see as their leader. I have a supportive boss who I cannot disappoint. I have understanding family members in Singapore and Malaysia who I have neglected. Friends - let's not even go there.

Things have not been plain-sailing (but can they ever be?). Nothing has gone to plan this year. Stuff that have actually yielded decent results were achieved in the most laboured roundabout ways, others are still not right despite monstrous efforts to do so. Things that have gone wrong always seem to have been my fault somehow or another, whether at home or out.

Back to being a father. I wasn't supposed to even be in Bangkok to celebrate Father's Day this year, but I am. A lot of poor decisions initiated by yours truly caused this, and I have nowhere to hide. I have been abruptly-reminded that we cannot take something like fatherhood for granted. Sometimes we are too used to the daily routine that defines us, that we forget what it takes to play our roles well. It takes a lot of disappointments, sacrifice and decisiveness to be the leader of the house. It's just as well that I am here, because this is a time my family needs me the most. This Father's Day is not the time for celebration but a moment for the father to show up.

And then, there's this:

My girl made this from school. XOXO

And a brilliant walk at the magnificent Suan Luang R.9 Park

I finally enjoyed a couple of nights of really, really good uninterrupted sleep.

My wife is making me breakfast as I am typing this. The fragrance is irresistible. Can't wait to tuck in.

Life is good.

Happy Father's Day.

Could this be the last Goodbye?

This morning, as usual, I helped Noah put on his bag straps and asked him to go to his classroom by himself.

I planted a kiss on his cheek in the accompaniment of a tribute song for King Rama 9 (I haven't gotten bored of the songs yet btw), playing in the background. It's been like this for best part of a year, as the entire country prepares to bid farewell to their father figure tomorrow. This could be the last morning I hear this song in school.

As I watched Noah walk away from me, it was hard not to feel emotional.

For as long as I can remember, I have been waking up every morning, preparing things properly in order to say goodbye to my family. First, my wife, then my son, and finally my daughter, before zooming away into my 'enviable' alone time to fight battles that my family will never know took place.

One of our frequent wefies on the way to school, pictures I hold dearly to my heart.

Noah turned back one last time and waved to me.

What if this was the last goodbye?

Follow the Chef: Pongcharn Russell, young man aiming for the Top

Update April 2019:

Top is in Thailand Tatler's Generation T as well as Forbes Asia 30 under 30!!

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Update March 2018:

Top has just won BK's Best Young Chef 2018. Very much deserved, congratulations!

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If you are following my Facebook and Instagram feeds, you will realise that I have been frequenting a restaurant called Freebird. It has a menu that combines brilliantly, comfort food with dishes you can only find in fine-dining establishments, at an impeccably-designed space which gives customers no rules at all, meaning I can go there in my berms and slippers, little kids in tow, and still feel welcome.

That said, foodie friends tell me they didn't like the food at all when Freebird just opened, and all these improvements (in the food) were recent, after the promotion of a certain young sous chef to take over the kitchen, and this man is the Pongcharn Russell, more amicably known as "Top".

Looking forward seeing this guy show his stuff tomorrow! #onenightonly #freebirdbangkok #modernaustralian #topchef #susu #sexythaiboy #followthechef #strangerinbangkok

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 11, 2017 at 7:29am PDT

Incredibly, Top just turned 27 (he's almost a whopping decade younger than me), it baffles belief how someone so young can cook so well and seamlessly take over (and improve) an entire kitchen. It turns out that Top has already been cooking for 10 years (even I, being so much older, cannot consider myself to have honed a specific craft for that long), at various Michelin-starred restaurants in London (Pearl and Sketch) under the tutelage of household names like Alexis Gauthier, Jun Tanaka, Jason Atherton and most notably the legendary Pierre Gagnaire. And all of a sudden, the excellent food he churns out doesn't feel so unbelievable anymore.

Last week, he showed off his full artillery on his first ever personal showcase as head chef during a one-night-only special dinner, and even though my table-full of industry experts were all nodding their heads in unison at most of his dishes, I personally felt that he was capable of doing much better in more than one of them. That's how highly I regard him.

The dishes I enjoyed last night at the personal showcase by @toprussell. Hard for me to pick a favourite as everything was so consistent. The starters were pretty fantastic, as well as the perfectly-cooked blue lobster and unexpected chicken dish. Oh and who can forget that tomato snow sprinkled onto the king fish in all its smoky splendour. Just a mix of great execution of ingredients and some pleasantly-surprising flavour combinations, like what I had grown to expect from my favourite top chef. Glad to experience a major milestone in his career with some damn good company. #cheftopchef #tastingmenu #freebirdturns1 #followthechef #bangkokfoodies #freebird #freebirdbkk #modernaustralian #strangerinbangkok

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 12, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

Culinary skills aside, the trait I appreciate most about Top is his willingness to share. I cook at home myself, a lot. Whenever I need suggestions, I will ask him because I know he will always come up with useful advice. I strongly feel that for anyone to rise to the next level in any craft/job, one must open his/her heart and be willing teach, train and share. This is the only way up-and-coming juniors can improve and take over what you do, releasing you to take up bigger better things. At a ripe young age, Top has already achieved this, and that is why I feel he is able to take care of a full kitchen team that's made up mostly of staff older than him.

The picture which I feel most represents Top, showing his team how things are done.

So, Foodies in Bangkok, keep this name in mind, Pongcharn Russell aka Top. Go try his food, follow his IG account (he shares a lot about his dishes and how he came up with them) because as his name suggests, he's on the up and destined for the top.

Pardon my shine-bright-like-a-diamond face, I just gotta post this picture with chef @toprussell who kindly guided me during my butterfly pea pasta-making process and made great food for me during my Father's Day brunch. Hope I can somehow find a way to come back here for the dinner tasting menu soon. #tasteofaustralia #freebird #sundaybrunch #modernaustraliancuisine #followthechef #strangerinbangkok #shinebrightlikeadiamond #bestnewvenue #sexythaiboy

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 19, 2017 at 3:50am PDT

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"Follow the Chef" is a new blog series where I sit down face to face with chefs and help them tell you what they want to say, in their perspective. My inspiration for this series stems from the fast-changing dining landscape in Bangkok, which is both exciting yet confusing for consumers like us. Do we follow the restaurants, or follow the chefs? I hope I can help you make a better decision.

Birthday Letters from Daddy: Ellie is 3!

Big Brother more excited than birthday girl

3 years on, sometimes it still feels like a dream that you are among us. 

Daddy grew up in a family full of boys. I have never understood how it feels to have a little girl in my house. Little girls are pretty, sweet and angelic isn't it? Well, you have proven to be all of that and more.

Unlike your brother, who considers his every action carefully, you are a little daredevil with no care in the world. He spent a best part of 2 years crying in the morning when I send him to school, you protested for hardly 2 weeks, and you barely even look at me when I leave you every morning. So independent, yet so close to Daddy's heart. Whenever I slump at the front door, dejected, you will always appear to give me some hugs, as if you knew I really needed them.

情人United!

If you can turn into a little genie and be so kind to grant Daddy 3 wishes, first, I wish you will be less picky with your food and start eating more fruits and vegetables. The world of food is so amazing, and your Daddy is spending much of his free time telling the world how fascinating food in Bangkok can be. It disheartens me sometimes to see my little girl rejecting almost every green thing on the plate.

Noah joins in!

Secondly, I wish you will be kind to Noah in all situations. I know he's possessive and sensitive and drives us crazy sometimes, but he wouldn't even think of hurting you. Those screams, shrieks, pushes and scratches are totally unnecessary. Your big brother loves you to bits. Remember, he will be the one who will accompany you for the best part of your life, not Daddy.

I am in love with this picture. Credit: Aroimakmak

Last but not least, I hope you will continue to love Mummy with all your heart. Since the day you were born, Mummy has given nothing but her very best for you, 24 hours a day, everyday. I have not seen her make a decision that doesn't have your well-being as the ultimate priority. Love mummy, make life easier for her. That's the least she deserves. 

I shall not use any of those wishes on myself because you are already perfect. The untidy free-spirit hidden under the covers of your flowy dresses. The sweet, considerate darling bursting out of Noah's boyish old outfits. You delight and surprise me at the same time.

I love you Ellie, you complete our family with all of your kiddy witty ways. I hope you stay healthy, happy and free of worry. 

Happy birthday.

Love,

Daddy

The Nicest Durian Vendor in Thailand!

Today, I am going to talk about the most misunderstood local fruit in Thailand - the durian.

Honestly, growing up eating durians from Malaysia, I was a hater as well, but after many years here, I gradually realised that things are not what we make it out to be. Firstly, we need to accept that local palates are not the same as ours. For example, I wouldn't walk into MK to have their hotpot even if you beg me to, but last I checked, they have 433 branches in Thailand, so who am I to say they don't know their stuff?

Giving another example, 5 years ago, I brought my staff to Singapore for a business trip. He spent some time scrutinizing some pre-packed durians which were sold for 10SGD per pack. He then looked at me with a perplexed face, "Eddie, why do they sell these durians so expensive? They are rotten." This came from a Thai man on his first-ever overseas trip, and ate Thai durians for 31 years.

I gradually understood that the difference (note that I didn't use the word problem) lies in the fact that Thai durians, unlike Malaysian durians which fall from the tree, are harvested way before they are ripe. That's the way Thais like it, unripe durians with a slight crunch, just mildly sweet and doesn't smell pungent (there is only a light smell when you chew). 

However, trust me when I say that Thai durians are sweet and creamy when they are fully-ripe too! Thai durians have been misunderstood, because even for our palates, they are very respectable taste-wise when ripe. The most commonly-found Monthong is sweet and creamy, but less rich and bitter compared to the most popular variants in Malaysia. It does taste a little boring, so if you are looking for a Thai cultivar that tastes closer to what we are used to in Malaysia/Singapore, go for Chanee or Puang Manee. I haven't tasted Kan Yaaw before to give a verdict on it.

All said and done, I must admit I have faced difficulty explaining my preferences to durian vendors in Thailand. Like us, they completely misunderstand our durians as over-ripe to the point of being rotten. I have even been spoken to with an air of disbelief and contempt by durian vendors when I explained the kind of durian I wanted. Why can't we just agree to disagree and get on with life?

That's why I got so inspired to write this piece after meeting the nicest ever durian vendor last week (I featured a taxi driver too here). He didn't understand why I wanted 'over-ripe' durians, but opened durian after durian after durian in search of one that's most suitable for me, telling me not to worry and he's not going to charge for the ones I rejected. 

Such nice people!

The nicest durian vendor in Bangkok and maybe Thailand!

It got to the point that I asked him politely to stop, and purchased the ripest one of the lot. The durian was not perfect of course, but for me it was the tastiest sweetest durian I had ever eaten.

Oh, if you have never seen a Thai durian vendor break a durian apart, it is quite a sight (watch video below).

Disclaimer: I was tempted to do a thorough research on Thai durians online before writing this, but decided not to, and share what I personally feel about durians in Thailand through my years of personal experience. If there are any inaccuracies, let me know in the comments!

Guss Damn Good: Ice Cream that makes me go Wah Lau Eh!

It's been way too long since I gave out my "Wah Lau Eh!" sticker to any establishment (since Paris Mikki last year), not because there were no good restaurants popping up. In fact, the dining scene here is so exciting that the heralded Michelin Guide has chosen to feature Bangkok this year. That said, the volatility of the industry has made it increasingly difficult for me to be sure that the eatery I root for not only produces food I love, but also stay true to their spirit in the long term.

You are damn good if you manage to find ice cream better than this. #gussdamngood #feelingcrafted #thonglor #ei8ht #heresyourdamngoodchocolateicecream #icecream #chocolateicecream #artisan #dessert #dessertporn #chocolate #strangerinbangkok #bangkokfoodies

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 30, 2017 at 4:46am PDT

After brief meeting on a rainy evening over some coffee with Rarin, co-founder of Guss Damn Good, I felt proud to have finally found the next fitting owner to my little sticker. It's quite incredible actually, how the concept behind Guss Damn Good resonated with me. Rarin and her partner found their love for ice cream during an unprecedented snowy winter in Boston, spending large amounts of time chilling out in various ice cream parlours, eager to find out why customers were digging into these mountains of ice in spite of the freezing weather. They finally understood that in Boston, ice cream was not only a dessert, but an emotion, a memory. Ice cream brought people to a happy place, it actually reminded them of summer.

Following the revelation, the spirit of Guss Damn Good was born, Guss, a combination of the words 'gut feeling' and 'focus', and Damn Good, an outburst of exclamation when someone eats something delicious. Even their hashtag #feelingcrafted brings through a combination of emotion (feeling) and a description of their expertise (Rarin describes their craft ice-cream as more than home-made ice-cream, as every ingredient is meticuously sourced and every element made from scratch). Their spirit isn't dissimilar to my own, as I only endorse food that wows me enough to exclaim "Wah Lau Eh!", which can literally mean "this is so damn good!"

I tried the Maine Rocky Coast, which tasted like pop corn with salted caramel, on their cocoa cone.

You might wonder why the names of their flavours are so peculiar. And where are usual suspects like strawberry cheesecake and cookies and cream? Every one of Guss Damn Good's flavour was (and will be) inspired by a story. No story, no inspiration. No inspiration, no flavour. And THAT, my friends, is why their flavours sound (and even taste) so polarising. Some are so extreme that you either love it or you hate it.

Make no mistake, they do not hold back on their flavours. The caramel in Bonfire (inspired by the moment after skiing/snowboarding, when people gather around the bonfire to warm themselves and toast marshmallows in the cold) is burnt to the edge of bitterness. Bow Tie In The Bar has enough liquor in one scoop to make me dizzy for a few minutes. I especially love the story behind one of their coffee ice-creams, when their trials have resulted in the right taste and texture but not the colour, and decided to go with it and call it "Why can't coffee be white?" It's one of the nicest coffee ice-creams I have tasted, though it doesn't look anything like one.

Their take-home packaging is on-point.

Now to the important question, does a scoop taste better, or the take-home cup?

I was a little surprised when Rarin said that quality is more consistent in her take-home cups. As if she could see the question marks appearing above my head, she further clarified that due to the frequent opening and closing of the freezer door, there is a chance that the scooped ice-cream can degrade slightly with too much exposure to the environment. On the other hand, the take-home cups will almost always be kept at the same conditions without exposure. The key is PATIENCE, as we need to wait for the take-home cups to be kept under room temperature for 2 minutes before it reaches optimum texture/softness.

Rarin with my Stamp of Approval at her permanent stall at Ei8ht Thong Lor outside Foodland.
They also scoop permanently at Sala Daeng Soi 1, below Bangkok Screening Room.

So good job Rarin. I am sure with your team's dedication and and the passion you share with your partner to stick to your unique concept, the only way for Guss Damn Good is up.

PS. If you miss the smooth creamy ice cream baos at the closed Little Bao Bangkok, it might interest you to know that the ice cream was made by Guss Damn Good. You know where to go now if you get that craving.

Follow the Chef: Gary Butler, the chef you must follow, literally

To say that my Follow the Chef series has been exciting (at least to me) thus far is an understatement. My previous 2 chefs had brands they created with their bare hands stripped from their grasp, and eventually found their own ways to survive in the business. My third chef though, is in a completely different category, and I shall start off with how he looks (finally, a picture of the featured chef!).

Presenting Gary, The Roaming Cook

Thanks to Martin, I recently got to know The Roaming Cook, Gary Butler. He's a die-hard Arsenal fan from the UK, and is not supposed to become friends with a hardcore Spurs fan like me, but there are too many things we have in common for a BITTER football rivalry to tear us apart.

Gary is not a trained chef, nor has he ever worked in a restaurant. He has a natural flair for cooking, and finds himself in the kitchen during all his free time. He shared with me that he lived a couple of years in his fiancee's house in the UK and started cooking for the family. Soon, he found himself cooking for his fiancee's parents' friends, then the entire street, which developed to even cooking for small events and dinner parties. His repertoire ranged from Italian, British to even exotic cuisines like Thai and Lebanese. Forget Curtis Stone, Martin is the true take-home chef.

Awesome local Phuket food at Tu Kab Khao in Phuket Town. The restaurant is in a beautifully restored colonial house. The staff are really friendly and the food is amazing. Especially the moo hong and the pad sataw goong. A nice little treat in the heart of the old town. #phuket #phuketfood #phuketfoodies #moohong #thaifood #thaifoods #thaifoodstagram #thaifoodstyle #travelfood #travelforfood #travel #thailand #eatthai #aroii #aroi #aroihere #seafood #curry #eatfresh #eatlocal #eat #อร่อย #อร่อยๆ #กันแดดหน้าเนียน

A post shared by The Roaming Cook (Gary Butler) (@the_roaming_cook) on Jun 21, 2017 at 6:37am PDT

Have a look at his website/instagram account and it will be clear where his cooking inclinations lie. He's just this Brit who's crazy about Asian food. I've been on 3 food expeditions with him, and not once has he suggested a Western restaurant. In fact, the older the place, the better for him. I can totally imagine him crouching gleefully near a low table in Hanoi digging into some Vietnamese rolls after rejecting a proposal to dine at a posh French restaurant in town. Hunting for original, local, Asian food is in his DNA.

What started off as a recipe website teaching his fans how to cook proper Asian food has also evolved into a platform with posts and videos on the authentic Asian fare he encounters during his extensive travels (increasingly in Thailand).

Gary doing what he does best, taking pictures of authentic Asian cuisine

Gary is a chef you must follow, and by that, I don't mean just Instagram or Facebook. He's uber familiar with the traditional eats in Bangkok old town (a place where I try to avoid as much as I can). If you need some advice, he is more than willing to help, and if he likes you enough, I am sure you will be invited to follow him around as he does his own food exploration.

Gary's ultimate goal is to have his own little eatery in Bangkok, serving a couple of delicious Thai dishes cooked from scratch with some yummy local coffee. As another self-taught home cook, I wish him all the best, as his success will mean hope for like-minded food-noobs like myself.

Make it happen, Gary! You already have your ambassador right here (provided I like the food)!

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"Follow the Chef" is a new blog series where I sit down face to face with chefs and help them tell you what they want to say, in their perspective. My inspiration for this series stems from the fast-changing dining landscape in Bangkok, which is both exciting yet confusing for consumers like us. Do we follow the restaurants, or follow the chefs? I hope I can help you make a better decision.

2017 Half-term Report: Same same but different

Gosh, it's already the end of June, I thought 2017 had just started, and I guess it's fair to say that it seems to be nearing its end!

Wow, this year has been such a whirl for me. No, don't get me wrong, my life is still the same. Same country, same company, same job, same family (duh!), same blog, same Thai Government and same economy going through the same extended lull.

It doesn't sound very exciting at all, but it is. This year is the year I decided that sitting back hoping for things to change around me to happen is no longer good enough. Change comes from within. It's simply because everything is still the same, that I can concentrate on bringing positive change to my life.

I have the same 2 beautiful kids and the ever-lovely wife, but the kids are growing. My daughter is already in a nursery and will start her first school term in August (more dates with the wife finally!). They are slipping through my fingers and Daddy's expenditure will inevitably be ramped up significantly as this happens. Time to work harder without sacrificing precious family time. More little special family occasions, staycations, trips and nicer pictures will hopefully create priceless memories for us to cherish.

Hope it's not too late for the kawayiis to wish everyone a happy Songkran Festival 2017! #songkran #songkran2017 #holidays #songkranholidays #staycation #siblinglove #asokemyfoot #thekawayiis #strangerinbangkok #daddymatters #ilovemyfamily #ootdkids #前世情人

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Apr 14, 2017 at 12:15am PDT

Work-wise, pro-active is the key word. Active diversification of our product lines and the commitment to provide the best service to our customers will hopefully mean an up-turn to our stagnating business. The poor economy is no longer going to be a convenient reason to explain a year with little or no breakthrough. Even if we can't beat the trends, we are not going down without a fight. In fact, we are in the process of finalizing a move to a brand new operating facility and creating the most exciting online marketing plan this industry has ever seen. Stay tuned.

For the 2nd year in a row, I drew the big prize in our company's annual lucky draw but gave it back immediately for someone else to win it. @kfline told me, "the universe wants to give you something but you want to reject it to bless other people." I am blessed. The moment I stepped into Thailand, I have been blessed to no end by Thais. It's not unreasonable to say that I am nothing without them. Even though my colleagues drive me crazy once in a while, I love them to bits. And yes, I will continue to take part in the annual draw though I might not bring home the top prize, because who doesn't enjoy being in a sure-win lucky draw? #annualluckydraw #luckydraw #topprize #solucky #soblessed #strangerinbangkok

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Feb 3, 2017 at 6:18am PST

Online, please be prepared folks, to see more and more of me. 2016 proved to be my least-prolific blogging year. but it's also the year that I started to see wider horizons for myself on this social media wave. I have started to create content for multiple platforms (will create a page to list them out soon) and plan to capitalise on this positive momentum. Therefore, you probably can't run away from the Stranger in Bangkok, be it here or somewhere else you least expected.

Stranger or stranger in Bangkok? Thank you @kfline for the customised T-shirt and the great TGIFather's Day! #sunday #weekend #thekawayiis #summerboy #summer #sunnyday #sunshine #youaremysunshine #fathersday #sofun #strangerinbangkok #tgif #tgifathersday #nunufirstjoy #gru #despicableme3 #minions

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 18, 2017 at 6:26am PDT

So there you go, thanks for bearing with me as I felt necessary to give a simple update of my boring life. Life might be the same, but embracing and creating change is actually a mindset. Having an idea in your head is great, but ultimately it's a big fat zero if you do nothing about it. Think, create, execute.

One of my favourite recent pictures.

I firmly believe that every good action will bring about a positive effect sooner or later, so rock on guys, let's fight the fight together, and may the rest of 2017 be an even better one for you.

Singapore Food in Bangkok: The Ultimate List

It's been 2 years since I started my "Singapore Food in Bangkok" series, and I believe it has helped dwellers in Bangkok satisfy their Singapore food cravings to no end. Honestly, it's a challenge making Singapore food sexy in Bangkok. No matter how authentic the food is, the really great restaurants I know serving Singapore food have all had to overcome a lot of obstacles in the last couple of years to get to where they are now.

Therefore, I feel it's appropriate for me, someone who spent 28 years in Singapore then 7 more in Bangkok, to consolidate all these worthy places in 1 post, for the convenience of everyone interested.

1. Chuan Kitchen

Chuan Kitchen's story is one of trials and tribulation. It even had to close before being taken over by a local family, but now, wow, it's bigger and better than it has ever been.

Visa day means Chuan Kitchen Day! Wah Lau Eh. Shiok. 又能跑到老远吃这些家乡菜。爽。 #chuankitchen #wahlauehstampofapproval #singaporefoodinbangkok #strangerinbangkok #muangthong #shiok #hokkienmee #wanton #干煸四季豆 #thomas #ashima #bkkcafe #coffee #cuppa #icedlatte

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Mar 13, 2017 at 10:28pm PDT

Stranger in Bangkok's thoughts:

This is one of the success stories of Singapore food. It's located far away from the city, near IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, and is patronized mostly by Thai families. Its mix of Singapore food, affordable and high-quality dimsum, chinese-style sharing dishes and now, good coffee from a designated barista corner ensures everyone in the family gets a good meal, oh, and a good photo too. It's run by a Thai family as we speak, but I can confirm that the food remains the same, if not better.

Stranger in Bangkok's favourites at Chuan Kitchen:

- Bak Kut Teh, soup and dry (Malaysia herbal style)
- Hokkien Mee
- Laksa (Katong style)


2. 8 on Eleven/Champion's Sports Bar

Owned by the same group that runs Ping's group of restaurants, Tatsumi and Champion's Sports Bar, their excellent Singapore food is currently served at 8 on Eleven and Champion's Sports Bar.

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 13, 2016 at 11:13pm PDT

Stranger in Bangkok's thoughts:

It might be a peculiar place to eat Singapore food when you enter 8 on Eleven, but remember that the kitchen is the same one that churns out the popular Singapore food buffet at Champion's Sports Bar, as well as frequently caters for major National Day Events for the Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Club of Thailand and Singapore Embassy. Nothing much can go wrong if the food can pass the taste buds of the Singaporean community here.

Stranger in Bangkok's favourites at 8 on Eleven/Champion's Sports Bar:

- Hokkien Mee
- Curry Puff
- Chicken Curry


3. Sambalacha

Sambalacha completely embodies the spirit of true-blue Peranakan, Uncle William Pang, who is the owner, marketer, chef and face of the restaurant. He opened the restaurant wanting to keep the recipes of his mum alive, and boy has he done that. His sambal is an ultimate x-factor and he knows it. It's an absolute masterstroke that he makes use of this sambal to enhance almost every single one of his dishes.

[Singapore Food in Bangkok] @the_roaming_cook told me he wanted laksa, so laksa he got. Happy to see that Uncle Pang is now devoted full-time to @sambalacha_bkk as he's very much the face, heart and soul of the place. His sambal is a meticulate concoction made of the best raw materials from Penang and fresh aromatics from Thailand and it's nothing like I have tasted before. My personal favourites are the laksa, dry meepok and anything else that goes with the sambal. #cooking #themakingof #peranakanfood #gulamelaka #brownsugar #sambal #laksa #nasilemak #bakchormee #singaporefoodinbangkok #aroimakmak #comfortfood #sambalacha #strangerinbangkok #penangfood #peranakan #foodphotography #foodstagram #aroihere #bangkokfoodies

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 8, 2017 at 10:15pm PDT

Stranger in Bangkok's thoughts:

I love it that he has random specials, especially on weekends. You can even order special dishes from him, cooked specially for you. You just need to speak to him to know what's possible and what's not.

Stranger in Bangkok's favourites at Sambalacha:

- Laksa (Nyonya Curry style)
- Beef Rendang
- Anything that goes with that Sambal (even the cucumber)


4. Hawker Chan 

Forget the Michelin star, I haven't even eaten it before in Singapore, so I will simply judge Hawker Chan Thailand on its own merits, without any expectations.

The "world-famous" Michelin star soy sauce chicken 

The meats were all pretty impressive and substantial, that include the famous soy sauce chicken and pork roasts. The noodles were just ok, but can be elevated with their decent sambal, and the serving portion was really good. I almost could not finish the food on my plate.

Stranger in Bangkok's thoughts:

For the price (100/110THB), location (Terminal 21, Asoke BTS/Sukhumvit MRT, right by the food court), generous serving size and comfort, Hawker Chan is definitely a legitimate choice for a taste of home, especially when you do not have to queue.


Honorable Mention: Boon Tong Kee

[Review: Singapore Food in Bangkok - Boon Tong Kee - Thailand] I know they have been here for a while but finally they are open at a place accessible to me- Seacon Square. I am not familiar with Boon Tong Kee in Singapore so I cannot judge how close this tastes, but for Singapore-style chicken rice in Bangkok, this is probably as good as it gets, especially the gelatinous skin and the yummy soy sauce they pour over the chicken. The chilli sauce though it's a little too sweet, and the other dishes we ordered that day are less memorable. I will be back for sure but will focus on their chicken rice everytime. #boontongkee #boontongkeethailand #chickenrice #singaporefoodinbangkok #seaconsquare #khaomangai #hainanesechickenrice #strangerinbangkok

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on May 23, 2017 at 2:02am PDT

This household name for chicken rice in Singapore is already an established chain restaurant in Thailand. It has a ridiculously-huge menu and you could go 10 meals with no dish repetition without even touching their chicken rice.

Go for their chicken rice I say, because so far, it is the only dish that is convincing from their menu. It's as authentic as it gets, with the soy sauce and all, though the chilli sauce is a little too sweet. If you have a Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice craving, Boon Tong Kee could be your best bet.

So here's my list after 2 years of tasting and research. I would not say it is a conclusive list, so please let me know in the comments if I missed out on any gems!

Follow the Chef: David Okamoto, The David of David's no longer at David's

Updated 30th October 2019

Seems like we don't deserve anything nice.

David is bringing his bites of happiness back to the States. Hope we get to chomp into his cookies again one day!

Seattle, stay tuned!

View this post on Instagram

I guess this is it, with these pictures showing how closely my family has walked with @imdavidokamoto over his stint in Thailand. Last weekend, #thekawayiis asked for the cookie boxes and started doing up their own versions of cookies. You can't teach them such things. This is a perfect goodbye from us in Bangkok to @davidsoftcookies. May your talent continue to grow in Seattle and hope we can bite into happiness again one day. #biteintohappiness #davidsoftcookies #noahscookies #followthechef #strangerinbangkok

A post shared by Eddie Yii (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 29, 2019 at 11:56am PDT

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Updated 8th March 2018

David is back!! *nuff said*

So excited to taste these lovelies again from Chef David Okamoto, formerly of the famous David's Bakery, which I think made the best soft cookies in Bangkok. Things happened (covered extensively in one of my blogposts) but he has officially made his comeback with his name intact. What's more important is that with 1 year of RnD his cookies have become even better than before, and he's offering them for both retail and b2b. Contact him at @davidsoftcookies if you are interested. #followthechef #softcookies #davidscookies #davidsoftcookies #dessertporn #bestcookies #wahlauehstampofapproval #strangerinbangkok #comeback

A post shared by Eddie Yii (@strangerinbangkok) on Feb 7, 2018 at 6:44pm PST

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I love to blog about food, but it is hard for me to write unless I am extremely compelled to. That said, I have to admit that a few eateries have gotten very very close to impressing me sufficiently, one of which is David's Bakery. I love their soft-baked cookies to bits, especially the ones with runny centres and the maple bacon cookie, but I stopped short of writing a full review because I can't get over the fact that at the end of every session at David's, I just fall into an uncontrollable sugar high, and I don't know whether that's a good thing.

And this is also why I feel the need to write this piece when David approached me. Yes, the David of David's Bakery. Oh, just so you know, since the end of February 2017, David left David's. Yes, David's not at David's anymore, so before I confuse you further with my language, let us turn our eyes back at David Okamoto, as this is about him, and not about David's (I really have to stop this!).

Maybe the best cookies in Bangkok. Red velvet with oozy Nutella and the maple chocolate chip bacon. #asokemyfoot #notsponsored #davidsbakery #instadessert #dessertporn #strangervideos #instavideo #foodporn #softcookies #strangerinbangkok #redvelvet #nutella #baconmakeseverythingbetter

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 21, 2016 at 2:41am PDT

David Okamoto was born in Japan (his mum's Japanese, while his Dad's American) but grew up in Hawaii, which, in his own words, is a food paradise, where you can find any kind of food you want on the island. Having been blessed with a natural flair for baking since young, this interesting varied food culture in Hawaii, plus his short stints at Kimuraya Bakery and Restaurant Kona made David an inventive and fearless baker.

However, his first job out of college was not in the food industry. He joined Rolex, who thankfully sent him to Thailand for work, and the rest, as they often say it, is history. Like myself, he fell in love with Thailand and decided to stay for good. He started off with a shaved-ice dessert bar named Snow Factory in 2011, which was probably a little too early for a premium Kakigori to take off in Thailand, considering how After You made a success out of theirs only in the last couple of years. His first venture had to end in 2012, but through the experience, he noticed his brownies selling out everyday and confirmed that baked goods would be his next step.

Through a trial and error process exhausting nearly 100 iterations of his soft-baked cookie recipe, David unleashed David's Bakery in 2014 and quickly achieved success, as his cookies are simply excellent. Personally, David's cookies are the only ones I have eaten that can be on par with the world-famous Ben's Cookies from the UK. They are awfully sweet though, and David agrees with me on this. His hands are somewhat tied, as locals really love their desserts and drinks ridiculously-sweet.

David's cookies not only taste but look world class. Photo Credit: David Okamoto

Without delving into the reasons as to why David left, it's time to look forward. Being on his own now, he has even more freedom to create and conquer. He's happily married in Nakhon Panom to a beautiful Thai lady, and is in the process of setting up his own factory, which in itself sounds like an extremely exciting project. He plans to create a completely different cookie plus an entire array of other goodies (brownies, dough, sauces etc.)  for mass production for the regional B2B market. That is to say, though David will be back doing what he does best in no time, it does not seem like it will be very straightforward for us to identify his products anytime soon.

I always feel that if you focus on what you do with unwavering passion, it is impossible to keep you down for long. David is certainly on his way back up with a vengeance, as he's sticking to what he does best.

I will also make it a point to keep you guys updated on his latest milestones on this very space. Since we are on milestones, I would like to congratulate David for his promotion from chef/baker to Daddy! Welcome to the club! Enjoy the ride man, life will never be the same again.

Chuffed to finally see soft cookie king David Okamoto. Wrote his story more than a year ago and so far he's still the only person whom I wrote about before even meeting face to face (we chatted through video call). Much has changed since that. He has managed to get his name back for his rejuvenated cookie business and of course his products are better than ever. Always good to see the people I root for do well, and of course get their priorities right. We are first and foremost, a meeting of hands-on dads. Looking forward to catching up again. #followthechef #chefdavidokamoto #strangerinbangkok #thecommons #gussdamngoodshake

A post shared by Eddie Yii (@strangerinbangkok) on Jun 12, 2018 at 6:52pm PDT

PS. David's Bakery has been renamed as Time Bakery, hooray! David's got his name back!

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"Follow the Chef" is a new blog series where I sit down face to face with chefs and help them tell you what they want to say, in their perspective. My inspiration for this series stems from the fast-changing dining landscape in Bangkok, which is both exciting yet confusing for consumers like us. Do we follow the restaurants, or follow the chefs? I hope I can help you make a better decision.

If the Stranger can Cook: 台湾肉燥饭 Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice Bowl

Let me clarify that this is not a recipe post.

I cooked Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice Bowl for the first time just now because I managed to get my hands on some beautiful organic pork from Raitong Organic Farm via Sloane's Bangkok and decided to present this dish as a photo journal, sharing some tips along the way with some the pictures I took with my new camera.

What a fine cut of pork belly from @raitongorganics that arrived in my house this morning! Guess what I am gonna cook with it? #sloanes #sloanesbkk #porkbelly #organicpork #raitongorganics #strangerinbangkok #strangercancook

A post shared by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on May 19, 2017 at 11:26pm PDT

Let me first say that this is a pretty simple dish, but to make it great requires some good pork and a few more steps that make it less straightforward.

Tip 1: Fried shallots, use as much as you feel comfortable with. This is the ultimate X-factor to the dish.

Tip 2: Blanch the pork first to rid it of its impurities and possible bad smell

Tip 3: No need to dice. Simply cut into strips and they will disintegrate during the braising process.

Tip 4: Add the shallots BEFORE the braising process, you wouldn't even know they exist after that.

You could add eggs in, and eat over some steaming hot rice!

That's it! Excellent ingredients, a lot of love and some clever tips later, you have a dish that you can never get enough of.

If you are still interested in a more detailed recipe, here's where I got my inspiration from: