While our last meal in Cambodia may have been a slight dud, we expected very little from the restaurant at the Meridien Bangkok Airport Hotel where we were staying overnight on our way back to Bordeaux as the flight home was at 615am! The hotel had two restaurants: one Italian and one "local" and we really thought it would be very hotel/touristy. WRONG.
We were first invited when we arrived for complimentary tapas and TWO drinks each at the hotel bar, so that was a real nice boost, then we sat down in the beautiful indoor courtyard with pools and fountains for our dinner. We told our server Emy that we wanted spicy foods and she guided us perfectly.
Som Tom Thai was grilled papaya with chicken, dried fermented shrimp, chilies, garlic, string beans, peanuts, salted egg, sticky rice and cabbage and was a dream dish/salad that would make anyone happy with all the amazing ingredients and kicky spice to boot.
We ordered a bottle of 2022 Famillia Correz Lisona Rose which was the best wine deal we found in Thailand on special that night for 1200Baht(just over $30!!). It was not on the wine list, but Emy said they had a special that night! She won again!
Punim Thod Sauce Makham was fried softshell crab in tamarind sauce and I warned Emy we are softshell aficionados. We LOVED these crispy critters, and the sauce was to die for!
Lastly we had Khao Phad Pla Salid that is a local specialty that we had tried earlier in the trip but this salad with fried gourami rinds was amazing with Thai fried rice, crispy gourami, shallot, basil, chili and fried egg on top. All that was left was rice crackers and some rice!
Several times during the meal we were visited by Sutthipong, the Assistant director of marketing for the hotel who was always a cheery face and so thrilled we loved the food.
I said that this restaurant needs to get more exposure because it is at an airport hotel and not near the center. I can't recommend the hotel and the experience enough...we were sad we had to leave at 4am!!
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