Lanna spice mingles its flavours

Known for its Lanna style textiles, fashion accessories and handmade decor items, Fai Sor Kam’s Siam Paragon showroom acts as a gateway to the unique northern culture for foreigners as well as Bangkok folk.

Owner Wirat Porncharoenroj recently decided to bring even more of the Lanna tradition to Bangkok by turning some space in front of his outlet into a restaurant. A pair of white giant lions guard the entrance while the interior of the eatery is fitted out with fabric lamps, dark wooden tables and chairs covered with hand-woven cushions.

“I love Lanna culture and want to promote it,” says Wirat. “I want my customers to be able to touch the beauty of Lanna life through all the senses and decorative products and food are the best tools.”

Designed under the concept “east meets west”, the menu offers a selection of popular northern dishes prepared to original recipes and cooked with lots of spices, herbs and garlic. You’ll get an immediate taste of Lanna by kicking off the meal with the Fai Sor Kam northern starter set (Bt250), which features sliced northern-style sausages, white pork sausages, pork crackle, fresh vegetables, tomato with ground pork paste and spicy roasted young chilli paste.

Must-tries menus are the aromatic kaeng hang lay (Bt180)- steamed pork belly in Myanmar curry, seasoned with more than 10 local herbs, and khao soy, egg noodles with chicken in curry, served with a tray of sliced pickled shallots, cabbages and chilli paste for Bt160.

Some contemporary Thai food from the central and Northeast regions is also available, including spicy roasted duck curry with lychee and sliced pineapple for Bt220 and soft-shell crab salad for Bt280. To boost your energy, try a Fai Sor Kam black and white made from longan and Chinese black jelly or an apple guava mint shake, both priced at Bt120.

“Most of our dishes are spicy and we use a lot of herbs and garlic. But for those who want something more modern, I also offer spaghetti nam prik ong (tomato with ground pork paste) and deep-fried bacon roll wrapped marinated pork,” Wirat says.

Western and fusion dishes also make the menu including corn soup served with baked breads and croissants for Bt150, tender tenderloin steak with black pepper sauce (Bt350), pork chop with fresh lychee sauce (Bt350) and spaghetti tom yum goong with herbs (Bt330).

“We’re creating new sauce recipes using kiwi, mango, lychee and strawberry as the main ingredients - they go well with steaks,” Wirat says.

BREAK FOR A BITE
Fai Sor Kam is located on the fourth floor, Siam Paragon. It’s open daily from 10am to 10pm. Call (02) 658 1000.