Fit for a princess

AFTER FOUR months of rehabilitation and rejuvenation, The Chinese restaurant at the Dusit Princess Srinakarin is back in business boasting a new sophisticated look and traditional cuisine with an interesting fusion twist.

Both the interior and exterior have completely changed. Gone are the carpets, dark wood panels and the dominant red tones. In their place come carved doors, furniture and a floor of elegant pale wood.

The decoration, however, still hints at Chinese heritage with teapots and various types of porcelain on show and a glass wall offering a refreshing view of the surrounding greenery. The chairs are upholstered with a glittering silver and purple fabric and there are plenty of comfortable sofas on which to relax.

The main dining area is considerably more spacious and can accommodate 70 diners while the glass-wrapped kitchen allows guests to observe the chefs at work.

Three small private rooms, each seating 10, are available and can be combined to accommodate larger parties. A separate private room with facilities for 30 to 50 guests is designed to serve seminars and conferences.

“We made the renovations in response to the demand for such functions as conferences, business negotiations and banquets. The restaurant has been designed with a more open plan so as to accommodate more customers” says chef Suthep Sae-lo.

The Chinese offers an all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch for Bt590 net. The buffet is hassle-free and you don’t have to queue to fill your plate. The dim sum can be ordered from a 18-dish strong menu and they’re brought piping hot at the table. The price also covers a choice of soup, rice and dessert. Drinks are not included.

The serving sizes are usually small with two or three pieces in one dish, allowing you to sample a wide variety of food and have fun sharing dishes with your friends and colleagues. 

If you miss out on the dim sum lunch, then you can always enjoy some dumplings for dinner. The a la carte dim sum menu has 20 dishes and these are served until 10pm. Among the must-tries are Stuffed Prawn Ball with Almond (Bt120) and Crab Paddle Leg with Spicy Sauce (Bt90).

Another signature dish is Crispy Rice Noodle Roll with Shrimp (Bt190), where the minced shrimp is 

 first wrapped with tofu skin and deep-fried before being rolled in a thin rice noodle sheet and steamed. You get to enjoy the different textures in one bite enhanced by a light soy sauce.

Of course, the a la carte menu offers much more than dim sum. Diet-conscious diners will be pleased to see dishes offered in three sizes – “small” for one to two people, “medium” for up to five and “large” for entire families. A recommended appetiser is Crispy Prawn with Fresh Mango and Wasabi Sauce (Bt250), with the three bite-size batter-fried prawns served on a bed of fresh watermelon and ripe mango slices along with wasabi cream sauce. It is a light and refreshing starter.

Among the 10 new menu items is Wok-fried Cod Fish with Garlic and Pepper (Bt450), a hearty dish of cod topped with wok-fried garlic, pepper and salt and served on a bed crispy fried rice noodles. Pan-fried Cod Fish with Pomelo in Soya Sauce (Bt450) features cod fillets tossed in shredded scallions and ginger and served with fresh pomelo. 

The restaurant offers three choices of sauce, all of them guaranteed to please. The XO sauce is prepared on the premises from dried oysters and is salty and hot, making it a perfect match with Yunnan ham and dried shrimps. The pungent, spicy and sour Szechuan sauce is made from garlic and chilli peppers while the Douchi sauce, made from fermented black bean, is sharp and salty taste.

Other great dishes to try are the Stir-Fried Scallop with XO Sauce (Bt450) with broccoli and Braised Homemade Seaweed Bean Curd in Douchi Sauce (Bt300).

 

 

DIM SUM DINING

>>The Chinese is on the ground floor of the Dusit Princess Srinakarin on Srinakarin Road. It is open daily for lunch from 11.30 to 2.30 and for dinner from 6 to 10. Call (02) 721 8400 extension 2100.