Dining at Bo.lan in Bangkok has got to be one of my favorite food experiences. Michelin-star chef, David Thompson partnered with native Chef Duangporn Songvisava to create a restaurant focused on Thai gastronomy and the slow food movement, which is increasing conscious selection from farm to fork. We ordered the Bo.lan “Balance” menu, leaving it up to the chefs to create a unique, expansive and well-rounded meal. I’d highly recommend it, it’s less decision-making and more adventure!
The apertif: you begin by sipping the traditional Thai whiskey, move to the pandan juice (has a faint coconut flavor), then pick a piece of sour tropical fruit and dip it in the salt and chili, and repeat.
The amuse-bouche: I was happily surprised when what was supposed to be “bite-size” turned out to be this platter of multiple little treats showcasing different flavors and ingredients. In the background is a bowl of toasted rice they brought out as a snack.
A highly addicting spicy savory soup with wild cilantro and basil.
Chili relish of santol and salted prawn with local greens cooked in bamboo and a perfectly runny soft boiled duck egg. I also love that it’s served on a slab of slate, which I want in my home for certain meal presentations. Not shown in this post are about 10 additional dishes from insanely spicy meats to red curry to crispy prawns to the tastiest vegetables cooked in simple garlic. I think we got too busy gorging ourselves at that point.
The pre-dessert: an iced tapioca coconut milk drink with jackfruit.
The dessert du jour: again I was so impressed by the quantity, quality and presentation as the finisher of a consistently excellent meal. The platter had exotic fruits like longan and custard apple, tapioca balls wrapped in shredded coconut, watermelon gelée, banana sticky rice, and more. In the background is a cup of the Bo.lan blend Chiang Mai tea with spices, mint, ginger and honey to sooth the digestive process after all the food.
Oh, my, goodness. I LOVE Thai food and these pictures just made my mouth water. More food posts, please 🙂
this is amazing
So. Much. Foodly. Goodness. OMGGGGG
oh so yummy <3 like your blog a lot!
This looks like such an amazing dining experience. All the food looks delicious and like it was carefully/thoughtfully prepared. Yum! I'm totally jealous of all your exciting restaurant adventures – especially when mine are mostly limited to Seattle favorites!
Your trip to thailand's so high-end! I was eating on the street all the time hahaha. Nice, maybe i'll check in to a better hotel next time.
W H O A !
yes please to the soup! cilantro & basil are my faves.
these are making my mouth watery! haha
What a feast! This looks amazing, and I love the fact that this high class food is very healthy and fresh looking!
This is what I love most about Thailand. The rich metropolis has everything for everyone. You can go fine dining or experience the local cuisine.
Dining seems nice in the place. To my surprise, it was not expensive at all and the food is really exquisite.
Thank you for sharing these pictures, they really look very delicious.
I hope I'd be able to check is restaurant when I go a trip to Bangkok. Thanks.
The iced tapioca coconut milk drink with jackfruit seems interesting. I would also like to try that traditional Thai whiskey. I'll probably add Bo.lan as one of my itinerary when I get to Thailand this summer.
There is a lot of great places in Thailand including the capital Bangkok. Pattaya and Phuket are among the best places as well. What makes a hotel in Thailand a compelling one is the food. I will surely go back to Thailand soon.