Archive for March, 2009

Buddha Bar – Paris

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

photo credit: Buddha Bar

8/12, rue Boissy d’Anglas
75008 Paris
Tel. 33.(0)1.53.05.90.00
Fax. 33.(0)1.53.05.90.09
Email: buddhabar@buddhabar.com
Website: www.buddhabar.com
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Very Expensive

Still Going Strong, the Buddha-Bar’s large dining room dominated by a huge golden Buddha, is much like dining in a fish bowl, as tipplers from the bar mezzanine above are able to look down through lacy wrought-iron balustrades into the dining area, although you might not realize it unless you look up.
The dim lighting, dark mahogany furniture, Chinese and Japanese objet d’art, along with other asian decorations gives the otherwise boisterous night spot a somewhat calm state.
The now well-known albums and DVDs compiled by the proprietor Raymond Visan’s George V Records label also include some original tracks by leading recording artists. Buddha Bars are springing up in many other locations and at latest tally: Buddha-Bar Paris, Buddha-Bar Dubai, Buddha-Bar Beirut, Buddha-Bar Cairo, Buddha-Bar London, Buddha-Bar Kiev. Buddha-Bar Jakarta, Buddha-Bar Sao Paolo, Buddha-Bar Dublin
Buddha-Bar Prague. He also is embarking into the hotel and resort business by opening some properties in far-flung places such as in eastern-european countries and locations as remote as Panama.
The decor is admittedly fantastic, though looking beyond all the press over the years hyping the top-crust crowds flocking to this club it seems to me; that it just may be cubic zirconia posing as diamonds? It really doesn’t matter, as everyone is having a good time, although as an aside, I have observed that the clientele in the mezzanine has increasingly become balanced a little too heavily in middle-eastern customers.

Chez Daniel French Restaurant – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Above: Chef-Owner Daniel

255/18 Mahidol Rd., Ormmuang Super Highway
A Muang, Chiang Mai
Tel. 053 204800
Credit Cards: Master Card Only
Prices: Moderate

The small Normandy-style restaurant is quite appealing, looking in at it from outside, and is situated on a corner in a remote part of Chiang Mai. Once inside the ten-table dining room of Chez Daniel, at least at night, is eerily dismal with a murky fish tank and untended bric-a-brac lining the walls. Two of the owner’s half-French half-Thai sons, acting as waiters in this family-owned business, plodded aimlessly around the dining room.
I never wish to write about negatives, especially about a restaurant whose owner was so obliging, but the dishes I sampled: escargots, jambon Normande, sanglier poivrade (from Laos) to be truthful, were not very good.  The owner-chef was at the time of my visit recovering from major surgery, and that being the case, I give him the benefit of the doubt regarding the cooking, and expect that the dishes will most likely be sorted out when his health improves.
The highlight of the evening was the Calvados Special, baht 250, which he hand-carried back from Normandy in a plastic tea bottle (pictured below).

Beccofino Trattoria – Chiang Mai

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Beccofino Trattoria
20/2 Soi 7 Nimmanhaemin Road,
Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel. (053) 226 590-2
Fax. (053) 226 459
Email: trattoriachiangmai@beccofino.co.th
Website: www.beccofino.co.th

The Grand Opening party of Beccofino Trattoria, Chiang Mai was held on February 28th, 2009. There was a large turnout as this city’s residents took a first hand look at the new Beccofino Italian Trattoria.  Executive Chef/Partner, Angelo Rottoli who hails from 3-star Michelin restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, Italy who was chosen to open a branch in Tokyo where he learned to speak Japanese. The recently constructed building that houses Beccofino in Chiang Mai has included some of the finest equipment including ceiling recessed 4-way air-conditioning units, you will not be disturbed by noise or air blowing direct onto you, it also features a custom-made wood burning pizza oven and a striking Venetian mural on the rear wall. An outdoor terrace overlooks a tree lined lane, No. 7, which branches off Chiang Mai’s trendy Nimmanhaemin Road.

Antinori Wine Tasting, Meridien Hotel – Chiang Mai

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

18 Febuary 2009
Chiang Mai Merdien Hotel
A tasting of selected Antinori wines was held at the Italian restaurant Favola. Following were the wines tasted:
Cipresseto 2006 a very pleasant drinking Rose; Villa Antinori Bianco 2007, 70% Trebbiano and Malvasia, 30% Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco and Pinot Gris, light, fragrant and young; Chardonnay Bramito Del Cervo 2006 pale golden color with toasted vanilla; Villa Antinori Rosso 2004, 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Syrah, ruby colored with soft tannins, berry fruit with a hint of oak;
Santa Cristina Chianti Superiore 2006 95% Sangiove, 5% Merlot. A lovely bouquet, good balance of fruit and tannin with floral hints a favorite over the years around the world; Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2004, 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varieties, intense ruby color, a rounded and well-balanced wine; Moscato D’Asti 2007, 100% White Cannelli Moscato, typical Moscato characteristics with hints of honey.