Dicey Reilly’s fights flood and famine

Flood is something which has been in the news since last year. Although Pattaya only gets flash floods which subside in a couple of hours, Bangkok was flooded out for weeks. The Bangkok floods in turn produced traffic jams here as the capital’s residents fled to the high grounds of Pattaya!

Now “Famine”, that’s something else again, and is honestly not something that Thailand has had to face. Begging for food has never been a national pastime. However, in a lighthearted way, the Dicey Reilly’s pub in the Marriott Resort and Spa remembered the Great Famine in Ireland with a special Irish menu offering Cottage Pie, Irish Stew, Guinness and Beef Stew, Coddle and Blood Pudding. And to really make it an Irish evening there was Irish musical entertainment from the duo of Glyn Jones and Cliff Hoyt playing the traditional Irish instruments of the tin whistle and the Irish banjo.

A little about the pub itself - it has morphed from Delaney’s to Shenanigans to the Mooore pub and now Dicey Reilly’s, and this iteration looks as if it has the right formula. Outside in the forecourt is the al fresco deck, whilst inside it has a welcoming atmosphere, with the vivacious Ambassador Annie (Orawan) who is absolutely delightful and makes everyone feel that little bit special.

On our Flood and Famine evening, one of the July events, I selected the Guinness and beef stew which was filled with chunky vegetables and beef and was certainly a meal all on its own. Madame ordered from the normal a la carte menu and opted for a simple hamburger, but the dish that came from the kitchen was no “ordinary” burger. A veritable tower of beef, bun and salad with a side of “Irish” chips. “Best burger,” said Madame in between mouthfuls!

The ambience was so conducive to just sitting back with a beer (or in my case a Magners cider) and listening to the entertainment from Glyn and Cliff that we stayed for another hour (make that another Magners).

We noted that Dicey Reilly’s has really come of age. Speaking with the Director of Operations Dylan Counsel he indicated that each month they had various special evenings (like the Flood and Famine we were enjoying), including a Carlsberg Kick-Off, Saturday 4 August where you can celebrate the 2012 Olympics with activities and fun on the Dicey Deck. Olympic Fun games perfect for families and groups. Dicey’s Irish Tribute Nights will have all the best from Irish legends such as Van Morison, U2, The Corrs, Cranberries, Dubliners, Fergal Sharkey and more performed on Saturdays 11 and 25 August 2012. Enjoy a Saturday night Irish buffet and Guinness specials at 199 baht. Mother’s Day Carvery where Mum eats free on August 12 with any family booking of four or more persons. Jack Daniels Gents Night on Saturday 18 August with Reef & Beef menu specials, and Jack Daniels by the bottle or glass and live entertainment. The Olympics are live during 1-12 August from 2 p.m. daily with Olympic beer and food specials available, and an August Meal Deal of authentic Chili con Carne paired with an ice cold Carlsberg Beer Bottle only 199 baht. Only available during August.

The weekly items are Mondays - burgers B. 99, Tuesdays - pizzas B. 99, Wednesdays - curry B. 299, Thursdays - members discount 25 percent, Fridays - wings B. 199, Saturdays - sports and Sundays - roast buffets at B. 299.

To survive in the hotly contested bar business, you have to be innovative. After a while in the doldrums, Dicey Reilly’s has really lifted its game and is now a major player in the league. The varied rotating daily menu and special deals such as the August Meal Deal of a Chili Con Carne plus an ice cold Carlsberg Beer bottle only 199 baht are aggressively priced! We do suggest you drop by one evening.

Dicey Reilly’s Pub and Eatery, (beneath the Marriott’s Garden Caf้ and close to the Royal Garden Plaza), 218 Second Road, Pattaya. Open seven days, 12 noon until 12 midnight. Secure parking in the Royal Garden Plaza car park (but remember to get your parking ticket validated before leaving the pub), telephone 084 653 5005, email dcounsel@ minornet.com.

Curried Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is everywhere, but families can tire of it very quickly. The addition of curry just elevates the simple chicken soup and will become an all-time favorite. It is also a very simple recipe and all items are readily sourced in your local supermarket.

Ingredients                  Serves 4 Olive oil                         2 tbspns Onions, chopped            500 gm Curry powder                 2 tspns Ground cardamom         ¼ tspn Ground coriander           ¼ tspn Chicken broth               4 cups Flour                            2 tbspns Skinless boneless chicken thighs 500 gm Chopped fresh coriander 3 tbspns

Cooking Method

Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions. Cover; cook until onions are tender but not brown, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Mix in spices; stir 2 minutes. Transfer one and a half cups onion to blender. Add two cups broth and flour; blend until smooth.

Cut chicken into 1 cm cubes, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add to pot and stir over medium heat 5 minutes. Add puree from blender and remaining 2 cups broth. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chicken is tender and soup thickens, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Mix in chopped coriander; season soup to taste with salt and pepper.