Hidden Dining Jewels in Suburban Bangkok: Devilish Chews + Brews

Update November 2017:

If you are a relatively new reader of this blog, let me introduce Devilish simply as one of my original inspirations to begin blogging about food. I remembered walking into this space with baby Noah in his carrier and 5 years later, I am ecstatic to do a formal update about their expansion!

Familiar sight.

But wait, there seems to be a new opening leading into somewhere...... (skeleton prop only there for Halloween).

Welcome to Devilish's extension-The Shed! A private, intimate dining space for food and drink.

Their range of sauces, mostly made in-house, Devilish is one of the rare made-from-scratch restaurants around. If they can make salt or water, I believe they will make it themselves too.

The old dining hall has undergone some changes. This is the higher 'chef's table' style that looks straight into the kitchen, and they now have a large selection of drinks on tap.

Don't forget to look at the blackboards for specials, one of the reasons why Devilish is always interesting.

Food is, as usual, filling and comforting. Go for their low-n-slow BBQ if you run out of ideas.

Update July 2016:

It's about time I made an official update on one of my original "Wah Lau Eh!" establishments, and I am happy to report that Devilish is going from strength to strength.

Over the last 3 years, I have seen for myself how Devilish evolved from a restaurant that served awesome meat from the grill and some wonderful dessert, into a gem that has to be one of Bangkok's only specialists in "low 'n slow" Texas Barbeque and Aussie Meat Pies. Their complimentary salad bar for all customers who order a main course has also undergone a complete makeover that now offers a large variety of salads to start your meal with a bang.

Tomato and Lentil Soup

With co-owner Andrew fully-involved, the menu changes virtually everyday, depending on the ingredients he gets his hands on, keeping a surprise element at Devilish at all times. For regulars like myself, this is very much appreciated.

You can always tell Andrew your preferences, here's a vegetarian pasta specially-made for my father-in-law

Still one of the best fish and chips in town

For your first visit at Devilish, their "low 'n slow" Texas Barbeque must not be missed. My favourite has to be their beef brisket, but their beef short ribs, saltbush lamb ribs and pork ribs are equally excellent.

Noah stuffing his face into the 1kg of pork ribs

The devilishly-divine slow roast platter at Devilish. Rack of lamb, pulled pork, house-made corned beef and my favourite beef brisket. Over-indulgent but so worth it. #devilish #slowroast #lowandslow #lambrack #chilliconcarne #pulledpork #beefbrisket #cornedbeef #instafood #foodstagram #strangerinbangkok #wahlauehstampofapproval #udomsukmyfoot

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Feb 10, 2016 at 5:23am PST

I will end my update off by showing you the potential of the desserts at Devilish. Andrew's mastery of his sweet treats has always been a major draw for me, though he might not always have the time to make desserts available. Special mention has to go to his scones, which I personally feel are better than any other scones I have eaten in Bangkok. 

Freshly-baked scones with whipped cream and pear chutney

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I realised I haven't had a single blogpost in July, and it's almost over! I am not going to let my blog go quiet for an entire month am I? So by hook or by crook, I am going to make a post right now!

Since I announced my new plan to blog on some hidden dining haunts in suburban Bangkok , I haven't actually gotten down to introducing the restaurants themselves, so here's to prove that this series is for real, and I am going to start with none other than the one that I frequent most - Devilish Eats.

To find a place like this within walking distance from my place is really a pleasant surprise

A couple of years ago, it would be difficult for me to envision something like this popping up barely a hundred metres from where I live. I guess you really have to expect the unexpected in Bangkok, even if it's suburban Bangkok. Within the same time frame, two 7-11s appeared opposite each other and a sparkling new 3-star hotel has been erected right opposite me, so why not a chic modern eatery?

Nothing complicated, but interior design is chic and has enough to keep you interested for a while

Chiller with wines and dessert

Aside of the interior decor, there are a few aspects of Devilish Eats that hit the right notes with me.

1. Co-owner and head chef Andrew hails from Australia and he knows what he is doing, meaning he will not allow anything sub-standard to fly out of his kitchen. This is always a good start to any restaurant planning for the long haul. He owns the grill (typical of a real Aussie) and kills the desserts (just doesn't do it often enough yet, please try his Whoopie Pies if you see them lying around).
2. HUGE portions at reasonable prices. Even their salads might be too much for 1, so please visit when you are very hungry, or exert some restraint when you order, especially if it is your first visit. Sharing with your co-diners is greatly encouraged!
3. This is not exactly my cup of tea, but they have a big inventory of imported beers and wines, not common on this side of Bangkok.
4. Menu changes periodically, with daily specials introduced now and then. This is what I love about restaurants, when the owners introduce new dishes based on seasonal ingredients. However, sometimes I do feel that probably too many new dishes incorporate local flavours, which might not be necessary at an eatery like this.
5. Great service. Though food sometimes takes a little long to arrive at the table depending on the crowd, the excellent service of co-owner Patrick always ensures that the wait is not a bother. There is a huge personal touch here from the owners, and that's commendable.

The absolute must-try at Devilish - BBQ Ribs

With regards to food, expect rustic no-nonsense goodness from Andrew and his team, all at great value. I have brought guests from all over Asia here and none have left with any complaints. If I really have to recommend a dish, it will have to be their BBQ ribs, which have been marinated overnight, steamed before finally grilled to perfection before they are served. My Thai friend staying by the faraway Chao Phraya River said he would be back specially for them, and my friend from Singapore said they might be the best ribs she had ever eaten. My other personal favourites would be their Caesar Salad and Devilish Volcano Chicken Wings.

The Stranger's version of Thai Spicy Chicken with Basil

Post Update:

Thank you reader L for trying out my recipe and 'liking' it! Hopefully I will have more such updates on all my recipe posts!

"Thanks! I never would have attempted this meal if not for your recipe." - L

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Since my last post on self-cooked food more than a year ago, I have not stopped cooking. I just haven't had the time or energy to take pictures of the cooking process and put it in a post to share with everyone until now (and this is due to requests from a few friends).

In the past, I never wanted to cook Thai food in my own kitchen. Why? The reason is simple. Thai food, though not necessarily the most difficult to cook, usually involves a lot of different ingredients (to generate the many dimensions of flavours in every bite), and just the thought of preparing the ingredients to cook for a couple of people will motivate me sufficiently to take a short walk to any shop by the road outside to have infinitely more authentic Thai food instead.

However, after all these years, I realized the need to create my own versions of Thai food too, to capitalize on the ease of obtaining key local ingredients and to 'know' what I am actually eating, or at the very least, know that I am NOT eating mounds of MSG/chicken powder. So here's my healthier version of Thai Spicy Chicken with Basil.

The vegetarian ingredients

Before I start, I would like to clarify a that if you are thinking this is the dark spicy tasty basil chicken (aka kraprow gai) you find by the streets of Thailand, it is not. It's a version that I eat frequently in my office cooked by my colleague which tastes different but just as good.

Ingredients (serves 2-4):

1. Boneless chicken thigh 2pcs, diced into large cubes
2. Lots of garlic and chilli, pounded or ground into a paste (I recommend at least 5-6 chillis and as much garlic as you want)
3. Half a carrot, shredded finely (optional)
4. Thai round eggplant 5 pcs (as shown in the picture above), quartered
5. A big bunch of Thai basil

Seasonings:

1. Juice of 1 lemon, preferably the round green Thai version, not the yellow one
2. Thai fish sauce
3. Dash of pepper
4. Pinch of sugar

Cooking Procedure:

1. With a bit of hot oil in the pan, fry the garlic and chilli paste until fragrant, or until you choke and cough
2. Throw the shredded carrot and eggplant into the mix, they need more cooking than the chicken (not nice if the eggplant isn't soft)
3. When the vegetables look half cooked, time to add in the chicken, then season with fish sauce
4. Add some water (more if you like more gravy, like I do) and let it bubble away until everything is cooked
5. Add pepper, sugar, lemon juice, and if required more fish sauce to taste
6. Finally add in the big bunch of basil and stir around till it wilts, tadaaa, ready to serve!

Sorry if my instructions look ambiguous. I don't usually cook according to recipes, so my recipes will not be too detailed. In a nutshell, the dish should taste pretty salty, spicy enough to put you on the verge of tears, and a twinge of acidity will cut through all the heat.

My version of Thai spicy chicken with basil

Before I sign off, I just want to say that this dish is very versatile. You could use any meat or even shrimp, tweak how spicy you want it to be, or even change the vegetables (not all are suitable, but things like long beans/baby corn/bamboo shoot should work just fine). 

There are just a couple of details that you HAVE to follow to retain the soul of the dish:

• You absolutely HAVE to make the effort to either pound the garlic and chilli in a pestle and mortar, or grind them into a paste in the blender. No two ways about it. Forget about cooking this dish if you plan to use sliced garlic/chilli.
• To make these stir-fried dishes taste distinctly Thai, the salt agent will have to be fish sauce, and Thai basil HAS to be incorporated. Remember, Thai basil (refer to the picture), not the basil you use in your pasta sauces.
• Thai dishes boast dimensions. The squeeze of lemon will make a lot of difference.

That's all from me, till we meet again during the next episode of "Cooking with Uncle Eddie".

Stranger in Bangkok's take on the haze situation in Singapore

For last few days, my Facebook newsfeed and various LINE chat groups have been dominated by 1 topic: the haze situation in Singapore. It even managed to hog the headlines on Bangkok Post. Looking at the PSI high of 400 and the dramatic exchanges between Indonesia and Singapore, no wonder it is THE biggest news now.

The mad scramble for N95 masks, as well as the calls for the government to do more reminded me very much about the catastrophic floods in Thailand almost exactly 2 years ago. Although I was technically untouched by the floodwaters during that ordeal, I think the mental stress I had experienced bear a lot of similarities to what the folks in Singapore are going through now.

Firstly, both 'disasters' are somewhat caused by nature. Yes, I know, Indonesia should really stop burning forests every year and the Thai government can do more to regulate the water levels in dams upcountry to avoid floods, but the wind directions are not in Singapore's favour, neither was the amount of rain in Thailand two years ago. These were major factors that no one could really control.

The people in Thailand waited and waited for the government to react properly, but after countless promises, alarm signals were not even given on time. Frequently, districts were flooded before flood warnings were received. People ended up fending for themselves. It was pretty frantic, but unity and love would finally prevail and the country emerged from it arguably stronger than before.

In terms of efficiency, there is no comparison between the governments in Thailand and Singapore. It is natural to expect a better response from the Singapore government to help its people in need because of its track record and the smaller country size and population, but no matter what the authorities do, they cannot please everyone. Even if they can please most, you might not fall into that category. The point I am trying to make is, you have to help yourself first.

By helping yourself, I don't mean hoarding. During the flood saga, I could not even conveniently find drinking water, rice, canned food and instant noodles in supermarkets because of a small proportion of frantic people who swept everything off the shelves. Fortunately, because of my connections, I was lucky to obtain enough drinking water to last my family for weeks, then started distributing the same amount of water to all my staff to prepare them for the worst. I learnt not to rely on numbers or statistics given by authorities, but to prepare ourselves sufficiently, then start helping the others you love around you.

From these 2 cases, we have been abruptly reminded of the forces of nature and the hard fact that no one can truly escape from them, regardless of where we are geographically located.

Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones, wear masks when required and drink plenty of water. May all of us eventually emerge stronger, or at the very least, more prepared in every way for the inevitable challenges that lie ahead.

Hidden Dining Jewels in sub-urban Eastern Bangkok

The Stranger in Bangkok is ready to open another mini-series on my blog.

Ok ok, I know, the last one I opened (Running a business in Thailand) is still stuck at 1 post, but believe me, I have plans to write many more posts on that topic, soon!

As many of you know, I have been in Bangkok for nearly 4 years. Since I came, I have been living in the sub-urban residential areas on the Eastern side of Bangkok. Over the years, I have experienced so much growth and development in this area that I feel it is now ready to be blogged about, starting with dining establishments.

My analysis of the BTS Sukhumvit Line

If you have been to Bangkok, I am sure you would have spent most of your time in the blue area of the BTS Line, where I consider to be the tourist haunt. This is where Phad Thai is commonly found in restaurants, and cafes still bother to dig cavities in whole pineapples to present what is called the pineapple rice, which is really just fried rice.

If you venture a little further East into the red zone, you will find a really nice and hip area where young working local adults and expats like to hang out. Chic dining and clubbing options are starting to saturate this area, especially along Ekkamai and Thong Lor.

I am going to focus my series on excellent dining establishments hidden in the green zone, where I consider the Eastern Oasis of Bangkok, that is located beyond On-Nut (these stations belong the recently-open Sukhumvit Line extension).

From excellent street food to cool bistros and authentic Italian restaurants, I virtually do not have to step out of my vicinity to enjoy everything.

Stay tuned if you would like to know more!

[Daddy Matters Father's Day Special] Dear Dad

To celebrate the upcoming Father's Day (which falls on the 3rd Sunday of June everywhere EXCEPT FOR of Thailand), I have been challenged by the Daddy Matters Group to come up with a post imagining what Noah would want to tell me if he wrote me a letter. I am one of the youngest Daddies in the group and my son is still blabbering in baby tongue, but I shall take up the challenge anyway.

Dear Daddy

I have been longing for you to understand what I say. My friends in my Babies Genius class like Boss, Plankton, Iphone, Ecclair, Proud, Green and Pause can all communicate with me, why is it so difficult for you to understand me when I try to converse with you everyday? 

See, their names are all so cool, at least they mean something, what does Noah even mean? It sounds like "No ah?" in Singlish. Hello, we are not in Singapore now. I know he is a bright old man in the Bible and built the Ark to save all the cute animals, but I am a baby, not an old man. 

Ok, enough of the complaints, I am not Singaporean anyway, complaining is not in my list of favourite activities. Instead, my favourite activities are hugging Daddy and Mummy, kissing Daddy and Mummy, playing with Daddy and Mummy, singing with Daddy and Mummy and sleeping with Daddy and Mummy!

Favourite time of the day: Yii family laughing minute

I really cannot imagine my life without you peeps. I can't even bear to see Mummy disappear from my sight. During the day, when you are outside doing whatever you are doing (and can't you stay home more often), I just can't control my emotions when she disappears into the toilet or out of the room. I know I make her very frustrated when I scream and cry, but I just can't help it! Help me apologise to Mummy when you can, will you? Please?

Daddy, I love kissing you, especially those long ones on your lips, and those you peck on my cheek during the bedtime stories. However, sometimes I wonder just how many times you want me to kiss you per day. You ask me to kiss you every other minute, and give me a glum face when I am too busy doing something else. I will kiss you as many times as I can ok? You must give me some time to do my stuff. I need to play play play play play.

Play with seesaw also need to kiss you first is it?

With regards to eating, I understand Daddy and Mummy cook healthy food with premium ingredients for me everyday, but they don't taste like anything. I am a big boy now, I want to feed myself like you do. I haven't checked out the bowls and spoons completely yet, so sometimes I make a mess. Just give me some time to explore, I promise I will master self-feeding soon! And please, all those yummy delicious things you are eating everyday, spare some for me leh....

Lastly, Daddy, I think you are must be the happiest Daddy in the world. Why? Because you must be the only Daddy in the world who can celebrate 2 Father's Days every year, one in June and another in December (in conjunction with the King's Birthday in Thailand). Compare that with the others, it's double the fun, double the appreciation, double the joy.

2 Sundays later will be your 3rd Father's Day! I would like to wish you a happy one. You are doing a pretty decent job for a Daddy with no prior experience. Keep it up! I love you very much.

Hugs and kisses

No Ah Yii

The Dilemma of Noah

Noah Potter and his mother

Noah has graduated!

No, not from University of course, but whether or not he actually goes through University here, I have at least seen how he would look like in Thailand's pretty graduation gown, thanks to his playgroup's clever gesture of sending off every kid to a more advanced class with an 'elaborate' graduation ritual.

This was certainly a moment worth celebrating (at least it was made to feel so), but after looking at Noah's picture pasted on the wall of the school, he didn't look happy about it at all.

What a glum face

After taking a step back to look at the full picture, I finally understood why.

He can't choose between his triplet of girlfriends, who are following him into the next class!

Sigh, poor Noah, he has his own cute little dilemmas.

Seems like looking too handsome is not such a good thing after all!

The Dilemma of Fatherhood

Dear Noah

You are 15 months old now.

Time flies. I still remember watching you gaze into my eyes for the first time in your life in the hospital's nursery after your first ever bath.

But no, maybe I don't remember anymore. Sometimes, when I look at your chubby face chuckling at me baring all your 8 front teeth in full glory, I can no longer picture how you looked 15 months ago, 12 months ago, or even 6 months ago. Oh, those precious memories, hidden deep in my heart, why do I struggle to find them when I want to?

Did you look like that? I almost cannot remember already.

These couple of months, the babies we know around your age all began walking. You simply watch them  without showing much interest. Teachers/Neighbours alike started to apply peer pressure to push you to start walking. We did not buckle, and gave you your own time. Seriously, it does not matter to Daddy and Mummy. You are a clever boy. You can walk when you feel like it, and talk when you are ready. You can stay snug in Daddy's embrace for as long as you want.

Those were the days...... 

If I have a time machine, I will freeze every precious moment we have together and live in the world with just you and Mummy.

If I have a choice, I will keep you as little baby Noah, because I can no longer envision life without your shrieks of pure joy.

But that's not going to happen. You are growing at a pace faster that I can imagine. I dread the day that you will run on your own and reject my hugs. I am fearful of the future when you are no longer willing to accompany me when I finally have more time to spend with you.

Relax Noah, slow down. Take your own sweet time to grow up. Stop once in a while to smell the roses and roll in the grass. The adult world is more complicated than you think. Enjoy your childhood while you can.

You are starting to walk with support now

We will be with you every step of the way.

Love
Daddy