DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT
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Dining Out

Dining Out: The Amari Sunset - Innovation and Presentation

by Miss Terry Diner

Late Sunday afternoons, the Amari Orchid Resort holds their Sunset Cocktail Dinner experience. At the invitation of the executive chef, Stefan Heller, the Dining Out Team attended last Sunday.

The “experience” begins at 6 p.m. on the first floor terrace of the Henry J. Bean’s Bar and Grill outlet on Beach Road, and I suggest you leave your car in their car park, rather than the hotel one which is closer to Second Road. The upper terrace gets the cooling breezes from the sea, and on a good afternoon there are some spectacular sunsets. Unfortunately, on our Sunday it was overcast, but F&B trainees Tim and Martin went around showing everyone a picture of the sunset we might have had! Nice touch, boys. While waiting for the sun to set (or appear) as you look across to Koh Larn, you sip on a fruit cocktail and nibble on corn chips and spicy salsa. All very civilised, and romantic.

As the sun disappears and the lights come on, you are then escorted through the Amari’s beautiful tropical gardens to the upper levels, where table settings are arranged around the pool. On each table are the menu and a wine list with wines available from 950 baht (or by the glass if you ask).

As you approach, it really is wonderland. White linen covered tables and chairs, soft music, the illuminated waterfall at one end and candles floating in the pool. If you are hoping to impress the partner of your dreams, this is the stuff that dreams are made of.

The (sun)set menu begins with kratong thong, a minced chicken and peanuts in a crispy basket with fresh garden salad with a rice vinegar honey dressing. This reminded me of a sang choi bao, the minced pigeon, lettuce wrapping Cantonese dish, but the salad with the dressing raised it much above that, and Chef Stefan said it was based on the Thai bai krapow gai.

Next was an iced papaya soup served in half a carved paw-paw. Different, immaculate presentation and filling. I did ask for a pepper grinder and for me it just spiced the soup up a little. Chef Stefan did say that he uses very little condiments in the preparation, allowing the guests to add to their own taste.

Main course was a choice of stuffed baby squid or saut้ed pork tenderloin on a light Thai green curry sauce. The rice comes hidden under a cone of banana leaf, decorated with a carrot ring and frangipani flowers. Again the presentation was just superb, and the gaeng kiew wahn sauce and the pork melded together perfectly.

The final dish was a dessert called kanomkrock, those traditional little Thai pancakes you can see made on large hot plates on the carts around town, arranged around a scoop of peach ice cream with strawberries. As sweet as it sounds, the perfect finale to the evening’s repast, followed by coffee and time to sit back and just enjoy the atmosphere and the companionship of your dinner partner.

The Sunset Cocktail Dinner Experience is indeed a very special evening. At 430 baht ++ including the pre-dinner cocktails and after dinner coffee this is not “over the top” in any way. There are many restaurants in Pattaya that have single items on the menu more expensive than the total Amari package. The Amari Orchid Resort is to be congratulated on an innovative approach to capture a small, but important, corner of the marketplace. Life is surely for lovers, and this would have to be the most romantic dinner available.

Being a fusion between Western and Thai cuisines, your dinner guest will enjoy this as much as you do, no matter where their origins. The presentation is also without peer. Words such as “breathtaking” are no hyperbole. Chef Stefan goes creatively in a spectacular manner. If you are looking for a glamorous and romantic evening, there is probably none better in Pattaya. Very highly recommended.

The Amari Orchid Resort, 240 M5, Pattaya-Naklua Road, telephone 038 428 161. Chef Stefan advises it is advisable to book for this special dinner experience and it is on Sunday nights only.