Royal Thai Cuisine at Baan Rim Pa Restaurant

I asked several people in Phuket as to where to find the most authentic Thai restaurant and almost everyone said “Baan Rim Pa”. And so there I was at Baan Rim Pa as a guest on afternoon. Baan Rim Pa is an elegant high end restaurant sitting on a cliff with a fantastic, panoramic view of Patong Beach and part of Kalim Bay. By the way Baan Rim Pa literally means “House on the Cliff” in Thai. This long established restaurant is actually a beautiful Thai style teak house with a romantic indoor setting. A piano bar adjoins restaurant and I was told that the late owner Mr. Tom McNamara used to play the piano for the diners on some nights. I was there early for my lunch appointment and had a long drink soaking in the sounds of the rolling waves crashing against the rocks below and enjoying the cooing sea breeze and listening to the Thai staff, preparing for the lunch crowd. I could smell the wonderful aroma of spices and herbs coming from the direction of the kitchen. Not far from this restaurant is another restaurant Joe’s Downstairs that belongs to the same owner. Joe’s Downstairs specializes in cocktails and tapas.

My host was Susanne Ultmann, Executive Assistant Manager and Director of Marketing Communications and she has been with the restaurant for almost twenty years!! She had overseen many TV shows featuring the restaurant as well as hosted many leading travel writers from all over the world. Baan Rim Pa serves Royal Thai cuisine and I was told that the recipes were once found only in the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The late owner Mr. Tom McNamara literally traced the descendants of the chefs of the palace and worked with them closely to develop the most authentic re-created version of the Thai Royal Cuisine. Of course, all the wealthy and the famous and the locals started flocking to the restaurant to get a taste of the Royal Thai Cuisine and many went back again and again. Susanne told me that Mr. Tom McNamara passed away in 2008 after a long battle of cancer but then today his family and skilled team are managing it well.

I started off the meal with Goong Sarong, deep fried prawns rolled with yellow noodles. This dish is also known as prawns in a blanket. Basically, fresh seasoned prawns wrapped in fine noodles and deep fried. I have tried other easier methods of making ‘sarong’ prawns example, prawns wrapped in wanton pastry or just dipped in batter. One needs to be skilled and patient to wrap the prawns in the noodles. The prawns were served with plum sauce. Instead of trying the usual Tom Yam soup in a Thai restaurant I decided to go for the Tom Kloang Pla Grob, a spicy soup of smoked dried perch. The soup tasted like the traditional Tom Yam Soup with a touch of coconut milk. The battered cubes of perch were so wonderfully fresh. Baan Rim serves fresh seafood that complements the island and the sea surrounding it. The Yaam Makhuea Yow, green eggplant salad was excellent. I loved the balance of sweet, sour and spicy burst in my mouth, along with cold slippery texture of the grilled eggplants.

Sue highly recommended the Panaeng Ped, Duck with Thick, Creamy Curry Sauce and Lychees. I dare say it is one of the best Thai duck dish I have ever tried. The roasted duck breast was cooked in a rich red curry paste along with sweet basil leaves and thick coconut milk; then sliced thinly and served with the sauce poured over it along with sweet fresh lychees. It is simply heavenly taste when you pop a slice of gravy coated duck meat along with a piece of the lychee. The sweet lychee tempers the duck with sweetness making it exquisite. I also tried the Pla Thod Grob Raad, crispy fried fish topped with chilli paste.
I finished off my meal with the traditional sticky rice with glutinous rice and also a helping of the ginger ice cream. Baan Rim Pa has also one of the most extensive selections of wines on the island, including those that will complement your Thai meal to perfection. Since the restaurant is always full, you will have to reserve your table early.  Service at Baan rim Pa is classic Thai hospitality!

Baan Rim Pa Restaurant
223 Prabaramee Road
Patong, A.Kathu
Phuket 83150,
Thailand

Tel: 076 618235-8
Fax: 076 618239

http://www.baanrimpa.com/