The new 'Capital' of expert grilling
At the Capital by Water Library on Sathorn, the chef's fire is American hickory and Japanese oak, and the taste is sublime
FOODIE FANS of the Water Library are treated to sumptuous grilled meats and seafood at the new Capital by Water Library at Empire Tower on Sathorn Road.
The first grill and bar in the Water Library portfolio, the Capital by Water Library is an ideal choice for fish and meat aficionados. Prime cuts from Australia, the US and Japan are on offer, and the swanky-sleek restaurant also imports lesser-known yet equally delectable beef from Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
Meanwhile diners whose preferences lie elsewhere can enjoy a vast selection of seafood fresh daily from the Gulf of Thailand and lobsters from the US.
For perfect grilling you need the perfect coals. German chef de cuisine Sebastian Schafer uses a mix of white charcoal made from Japanese Binchotan oak and American hickory wood to get the optimum temperature and draw out the flavour.
The menu is loaded with interesting and mouth-watering items among the starters, salads, soups, pasta, meat and side dishes.
Start your meal lightly and healthily with a salad of American Butter Lettuce (Bt310). The sizeable bowl is packed with crunchy organic greens topped with avocado, jalapeno pepper and crispy smoked bacon and tossed with light blue-cheese dressing.
A heavier option is the thick and chunky Maryland-style Crab Cake (Bt390). The meat of blue swimmer crabs is mixed with bell pepper, salmon and prawn, then breaded and fried golden brown and crispy. There is none of the pungent aroma that usually comes with crab cakes, but rather a pleasant scent, and the dish is not heavy at all.
If you’re craving carbohydrates, try Chef Schafer’s “Inside-out” Pasta Carbonara (Bt390). The ravioli are packed with mushy peas, manchego cheese and Serrano ham that burst in the mouth with a surprising array of flavours.
The main event might be a 300-gram chunk of grain-fed Australian Wagyu striploin (Bt1,900). It’s grilled lightly until caramelised, but the inside remains succulently juicy. The chef doesn’t season the meat at all – he just rubs in beef fat to add flavour. With a sprinkling of salt and pepper, you don’t need any sauce at all.
Pork is also a fine alternate choice, and the recommended dish is grilled Iberico Pork Shoulder (Bt1,100), which is leaner than most pork dishes and very hearty.
There are many side dishes to choose from. If you’re brave, get the super-buttery mashed potatoes, which are sinfully creamy. Others include sauteed mushroom with shallots, baby carrots and tarragon, and back spinach with garlic. Jus, gravy and sauces of different kinds are also available.
Cap off the feast with dessert. Recommended is the tangy and slightly creamy Lemon Kalamansi Tart (Bt270). Smooth and creamy lemon curd is propped on French sable and topped with crunchy meringue, accompanied with rich buffalo-milk ice cream.
The bar serves the full range of cocktails, made with premium spirits, and there’s a list of 120 Old World and New World wines, as well as craft beer.
FANTASTIC FLAVOUR
>>The Capital by Water Library is located on Level 3 of the Empire Tower on Sathorn Road, close to the Chong Nonsi BTS station.
>>It’s open daily from 11.30am until midnight.
>>Reservations are recommended at (02) 286 9548.
>>Check out www.WaterLibrary.com.
