The heading for this week’s restaurant review is more
than eye-catching, it is correct. The latest promotion from chef and
restaurant entrepreneur Hans Banziger is called ‘Sensational Flambes’
and at Hans’ invitation, the Dining Out Team paid the Paradise Restaurant
a visit.
The
restaurant, after three and a half years of existence should now be a
well-known landmark for Pattaya residents, but for those who have not
discovered the place, it is on Pattaya Second Road, opposite the Marriott
Resort and Spa or Shenanigans.
The restaurant is decoratively appointed, with high
ceilings, picture windows and large rainforest murals, giving it a very airy
tropical ambience. With quality tablecloths and cutlery and attentive
service, it comes across as a very enjoyable venue to dine out.
Before embarking on our tasting of the new special
promotion, Hans told us that the previous exotic foods promotion has been so
popular that he has added some of the ostrich, emu, crocodile, deer and
kangaroo items to the regular menu. These, by the way, range in price from
B. 375-425. For those with favourites in the regular menu, do not fret -
these will be additions!
The new promotion has seven items, four covering meats
and three seafood. The prices run from B. 215 for the pork fillet Calvados
and the Drunken chicken Tequila, through B. 295 for the flamed Tiger prawn
or Mediterranean seafood combination, then B. 325 for the Remy Martin pepper
steak, B. 335 for the flamed Rock lobster, and finally B. 425 for the Lamb
fillet with Macadamia nuts and Bourbon, the price reflecting the higher
costs with lamb fillet.
As is now usual with Hans, he prepared a special tasting
menu for the Dining Out Team and we began with the Mediterranean seafood
combination, flamed with Pernod and accompanied by a creamy Pernod and Anise
seed sauce. The very subtle flavour permeates the shrimp, salmon and fish
fillet and Madame, who admitted that she does not usually like Pernod, even
was enthusiastic over the taste. Me? I loved it!
Our next flaming experience was the Rock lobster done in
brandy with a lobster sauce. The brandy comes through with ever so much
subtlety, to add that extra “something” to an already pleasant dish.
The next tasting came as a combination of the pork,
chicken and lamb, each done with their own spirit for flaming. Taking the
pork first, this was a medallion stuffed with apple and a prune and flamed
with Calvados, accompanied by croquette potatoes and vegetables, and comes
with an applesauce. For me, this was the dish of the night. The prune is
caramelized and the flavour just finds its way into the palate and lingers
there. And at B. 215 has to be the taste sensation bargain of the year!
The Chicken flamed with Tequila comes with capsicum,
onions and red beans as well as the croquette potatoes and vegetables and is
a little spicy, befitting its Mexican origins. Again a very tasty and
enjoyable item. Our final tasting was the lamb fillet - beautifully soft and
again a very different flavour after flaming with Bourbon and the
accompaniment of the mango salsa. This was Madame’s dish of the evening.
I have always said that there is more to dining out than
munching mouthfuls of food, no matter how well cooked. For Miss Terry, a
little ‘theatre’ goes a long way, and the ‘Sensational Flambes’
promotion provides all that - the tableside theatre and some very well
cooked and presented items, with new flavours to enjoy. And enjoy we did. I
believe this has been one of Hans’ best promotions, and one that will have
Madame and I returning, without doubt. If Paradise restaurant has slipped
your mind, it is time to renew the acquaintance, and if you have not tried
it yet, now is the time to do so. Hans did say that the ‘Sensational
Flambes’ will not be carried through to the high season, because of space
restrictions for the flamb้ trolleys, so the time to try this is now!
Very highly recommended.
The Paradise Restaurant, 215/62-63 Pattaya City (opposite the Marriott
Resort and Spa), telephone 038 723 177, email [email protected]
