Dean & Deluca

The undeniable new gastronomic kid on the block in Bangkok is Dean & Deluca, the hipster eatery that’s brining SoHO chic to the sois. Japan and Taiwan have long enjoyed this New York staple, and now it’s the City of Angels’ turn. Opened just a few months ago, the down-town eatery is already causing a stir and bringing back die-hard fans time and time again. From its sleek black, white and chrome design, concrete floors, minimalist furniture to mega-sized front door and attractive food displays, the cafe is likeable from the word go.

Although we – Chef Viroj, F&B Manger Prasert and EVP Marisa – all work in a hotel with very finest restaurants, we were keen to check out the competition and to pick up fabulous new taste and presentation tips to pass on to our own patrons. We popped by for a nosh around 11:30pm on a Thursday; earnestly trying to avoid the lunch-time rush that we had been warned about (apparently you don’t want to stop by in the afternoon, when stocks are critically low or simply ‘off the menu’). For now, the cafe and gourmet food shop is set in the showroom at the MahaNakhon construction site. The actual building will be complete in 2014. The ‘shop’ portion is quite small, but sells a nice array of kitchen items, pasta, spices, nuts, lollies, teas, sauces, breads and so forth. So, for now, Dean & Deluca is more a place to grab a bite, a coffee or pick up some pastries not do your  gourmet grocery shop for the week.

Now onto the important part, the eatin’! I can safely say that the portions were very reasonable, almost too big in truth. And, while the prices are high, they are not outrageous, expect to pay Bht 100 (half) to 200 (full) for a sandwich; Bht 70-125 for a coffee (S, M, L); Bht 100-140 for a shake, Bht 150 for 100g salad, Bht 70-150 for a cake slice and Bht 200 for a loaf of fresh bread. [FYI: whilst there is no service charge, expect to pay VAT]. To order your need to queue up, tell your order to the waitress, get a receipt, pay at the register, and then either pick-up or have your food delivered (I’m still a little fuzzy on this part). You can either sit at tables or couches inside or outdoors in the shrubbery. In keep with its low-key cafeteria vibe, you also have to collect your own cutlery, water glasses, napkins, etc.

Chef and I decided to share, opting for a Goat Cheese and Avocado Sandwich, Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable and Mozzarella Sandwich and Waldorf Salad. From the bread used in the sandwiches to the grapes in the Waldorf, Dean & Deluca kept its promise of only using the freshest ingredients. These tasty morsels were washed down with one of the most unique, tasty and delicious drinks I’ve ever had: Mango & Sticky Rice Shake. Sadly, the cakes did not live up to our expectations. The Tiramisu was passable, but nothing to write home about. The cheesecake on the other hand was an abomination, the crust was fairly nonexistent and quite squishy, the cake layer was minuscule and nowhere near dense or tasty enough and the canned blueberry topping was too sweet and abundant. However, as a saving grace we all agreed that the almost croissant was superb; to me it tasted like a cross between a croissant and an Anzac biscuit.

Final verdict: a good place to visit for a coffee and sandwich, and maybe to pick up a loaf for the weekend. Although the service is polite, it's hasty and the poor staff are hard-pressed to keep up with orders (and God's know how you get your table cleared!). If you are in the market for a good quality quick meal that won’t break the bank, this is a top pick for sure.

Getting there: From the Siam City Hotel getting there is easy. Either take a taxi [MahaNakhon Project, 92 Narathiwasrachanakarin Road, Silom] or hope on the Skytrain. If you take the BTS, head towards Siam Square where you need to change to the Silom Line and then continue for another few stops, getting off at Chong Nonsi. The cafe can be found on your right-hand side.

Vans @ Victory Monument

The number of public vans commuting between Bangkok and upcountry has grown significantly in recent years and they provide tourists with a convenient option of travel around Thailand.

These vans, available up the road at Victory Monument, now connect not just neighbouring Ayuthaya and Rachaburi but provinces further afar – Trat, Phitsanulok and Uthai Thai – all in all some 25 destinations nationwide and, with their timely departure and arrival, have won the hearts of a wide cross-section of the commuting public and weekend travellers. You can literally travel anywhere.

One advantage with public vans is that they save you the trouble of having to travel to the outskirts of the city, where the inter-provincial bus terminals are located (e.g. Ekkamai), before you can catch a bus or air-con coaches to take you wherever you are going. Best of all, the vans listed below are only a 10 minute walk from the Siam City Hotel, Bangkok!

                                    

DESTINATION                         SERVICE HOURS                     TIMETABLE                 PRICE (BHT)

Fashion Mall

Angthong                                 5:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               80

Ratchaburi                              5:00am-8:00pm (Mon-Thu)    every 60 min               100

                                                5:30am-9:00pm (Fri/Sat)        every 20 min               100

Ratchawithi

Kanchanaburi & Lat Ya           7:00am-7:30pm                      every 60 min               140

Lopburi                                    5:00am-8:00pm                      every 20 min               110

Nakhon Nayok                         5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Nakhon Ratchasima                6:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               190

Pak Thong Chai                       6:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               190

Petchaburi                               4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               120

Cha Am                                   4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               160

Hua Hin                                   4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               180

Century Plaza

Chachoengsao                         5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Phanom Sarakham                  5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Chonburi & Phanat Nikhom    5:30am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               100

Lopburi                                    5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               120     

Kanchanaburi                          5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               110

Petchaburi                               5:30am-8:00pm                      every 20 min               100

Prachinburi                             5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Ratchaburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               100

Suphanburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               120

Underneath Expressway (East Side)

Chonburi & Pattaya                6:00am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               150

Nakhon Ratchasima                8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Bua Yai                                    8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Nakhon Sawan                        5:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               170

Phichit                                     8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Phitsanulok                              7:30am-5:00pm                      every 2 hrs                  280

Damnoen Saduak                    8:00am-7:30pm                      every 60 min               90

Sa Kaeo & Aranyaprathet       6:00am-6:30pm                      every 50 min               220

Uthai Thani                             3:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               180                 

Underneath Expressway (West Side)

Nakhon Nayok                         6:15am-6:30pm                      every 15 min               110

Khun Dan Dam                        6:15am-6:30pm                      every 15 min               110

Nakhon Sawan                        5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               170

Sam Roi Yot                             5:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               300

Kuiburi                                     5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               240

Aranyaprathet                         6:00am-6:00pm                      every 60 min               230

Samut Songkhram                   6:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               70

Suphanburi & U Thong            6:00am-8:00pm                      every 45 min               130

Trat                                         5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               320

Victory Point

Kanchanaburi                          5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               110

Ratchaburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               100

Pattaya                                    6:00am-8:30pm                      every 15 min               100

Ban Phae                                 7:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               160

WHAT’S WHAT

Angthong = Municipal Market

Aranyaprathet = Rong Klue Market

Ban Phae = Samet Island

Damnoen Saduak  = Floating Market

Kanchababuri = River Kwai

Lopburi = Train Station

Nakhon Nayok = Nakhon Nayok Hospital

Nakhon Sawan = Tha Thong Market & City Hall

Pattaya = Siam Bayshore Resort & Siam Bayview Hotel

Ratchaburi = Big C & Floating Market

Trat = Chang Island & Ao Thammachat Ferry