Mediterranean Wednesdays
by Miss Terry Diner
The La Mer Restaurant has always been one of the more
pleasant places to dine in Pattaya. Quiet and refined would probably be
the best way to describe the venue. A place to sit back and savour the
cuisine, listen to the pianist and enjoy the warm ambience. This is one
restaurant with no parking problems as the restaurant is inside the
Montien Hotel, on the right of the lobby on the ground floor.
We were met by Pornpimon Geybui, their energetic PR
lady, who had invited us to their Wednesday night Mediterranean Buffet,
and we were wafted inside and taken to our seats by the very pleasant
reception ladies, complete with flowers behind one ear. On the way we
passed the Leaning Tower of Pisa (or on a Mediterranean night, should that
be the Leaning Tower of Pizza)?
For those who have not been to La Mer, the luxuriously
carpeted dining section is arranged around three sides of the area, with a
raised dais section in the middle, upon which the buffet items are
displayed. The tables are large and the chairs likewise. It is a
comfortable venue. Quality tablecloths and table settings, and the new
porcelain crockery is very chic. Being a Mediterranean night, on each
table there is also a rose of butter and olive oil for dipping.
It is worthwhile taking the time to slowly walk around
the buffet and take in what is on offer - and let me assure you that there
was more than enough on our Wednesday evening. Starting at the antipasto
section, there is sliced ham, air-dried beef, salami and mussels and much
more. I had the good fortune to be able to spend some time with the
executive chef Horst Reichel, and he explained that they are doing their
own air-dried items and even make their own pickles these days.
Along both sides of the buffet dais are food warmers
with such items as papardelle with Italian sausage, wild mushroom risotto
(made from Italian rice, Horst told me) and a roasted eggplant soup. On
the other side was a minestrone with clams, shrimps broiled in Charmoula
sauce and pork medallions with lemon and herbs, plus several others!
There was also a Caesar salad station with three lovely
ladies to help you, a grill with herbed chicken roulade served on
artichoke bottom and potato pizza with sun-dried tomato pesto (again made
in the La Mer kitchen), a pasta station and a desserts trolley. As I
mentioned there is no shortage of choices in this buffet. Horst also
pointed out that the servings put in the food warmers are not large, so
that nothing is left for a long time, as fresh food is continuously being
replaced in the warmers.
I began with antipasto and amongst my choices was a
mussels with tomato in wine sauce and a cous-cous salad with baby shrimps.
Both were excellent. Madame began with the minestrone with the clams and
enjoyed it thoroughly too.
For mains I decided to try the beef tenderloin on a
Chianti sauce and the pork medallions with lemon and herbs. Both were very
flavoursome and not at all dried out (Horst was right about frequently
refilling the warmers). Madame chose the shrimps in Charmoula sauce, and
they were very large and tender shrimps and the Charmoula just lends that
little extra something to the crustacean.
By now, Miss Terry was satiated and could go no further
than another glass of the La Mer house white wine, but Madame managed some
dessert, but had to pass up on the tiramisu mousse and shared assorted
fresh fruit with K. Pornpimon.
The Dining Out Team enjoyed the Mediterranean Buffet at
La Mer, and the range of food available was enormous. The price of B. 400
++ puts it in the very reasonable basket for a hotel-based top restaurant
(kids B. 250 ++). Chef Horst Reichel has excelled with the Mediterranean
buffet menu, being a devotee of that style of cooking himself. As an
all-you-can-eat deal, it would be difficult to fault this promotion. Go
next Wednesday! Highly recommended.
La Mer, Montien Hotel, Pattaya 2 Road, North Pattaya, telephone 038 428
155, email [email protected]
