Go on, Think a little

THINK CAFE, a hip hangout at the Bloc community mall on Bangkok’s suburban Ratchaphruek Road, brings its tempting desserts and aromatic coffee to the city centre with the launch of a new outlet at Siam Center.

While its mothership is creatively fashioned from steel shipping containers, the downtown cafe is decked out in highly fashionable industrial loft style, with a predominantly black-and-white decor, mosaic wall tiles and exposed metal ducts. Vintage hanging lamps add the final touch and are kept lit even though there’s plenty of glass to let the natural light stream in.

“While our first outlet is playful and minimalist, the new outlet has a more mature feel,” says co-owner Apichat Wongkitikamjohn, an engineering graduate from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology.

“The vintage lamps from different ages represent developments in thinking and should inspire people to come up with new ideas while they’re enjoying a brew.”

That same development of thinking theme continues on the walls, to which are attached several inspiring quotations. They include Albert Einstein’s truism, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new” and Bruce Lee’s “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done”. Two large stuffed bears also inhabit the space and are proving popular props for those must-have selfies.

“Our expansion aims to meet the demands of our customers who live in downtown Bangkok and want to visit us frequently. We also wanted to upgrade the brand and give it a new look,” he says.

Apichat, who is also a co-owner of the Bloc community mall, jumped into food business four years ago with the opening of the Italian fusion cafe and restaurant Tree Box. Think Cafe followed a year later, and he recently launched a new ice cream parlour called Simply Day, also at the Bloc.

While Apichat is responsible for management and the design concept, his partner Atthaya Samurmuan, turns her attention to coming up with creative menus.

A lady who learns by doing, Atthaya offers a range of sweet treats that not only look good but taste great too. The signature dessert is Panda Cake (Bt185), with the head made of moist white chocolate cake filled with strawberry mousse. It’s not too sweet and goes well with a side serving of strawberry panna cotta, fresh strawberry and vanilla ice cream.

A new creation and one that for now is only available at the Siam Center outlet is Teddy Pudding (Bt185). Ideal for chocolate lovers, the chocolate pudding is decorated to look like a cute bear and served with a brownie on a bed of chocolate cake and green tea ice cream on a side. 

Another favourite is Berry Cotton (Bt185) – a melt-in-the-mouth cheesecake served with fresh strawberry and kiwi plus fresh cream and strawberry sauce. Three optional side-servings can be ordered to go with the cotton cake – cheddar cheese shavings with orange sauce, fresh strawberry, and fresh blueberries. 

The Green Tea Custard Tart (Bt185), which looks for all the world like a lawn, is an Oreo cookie chocolate tart filled with green tea custard and topped with mushroom shaped meringue and green tea powder.

Think Lemon Ice Tea (Bt95) makes for a long and refreshing drink and comes with lemon tea ice cubes to avoid dilution of the flavour. For a caffeine kick, check out the Think Cafe Latte Frappe (Bt150) with whipped cream, vanilla syrup and a light bulb-shaped cookie. 

Until September 30, patrons can enjoy a “buy 1 get 1 free” coffee promotion daily between 10am and 1pm.

 

 

WICKED CAKES

>>Think Cafe at Siam Center is open daily from 10 to 10. Call (02) 658 1557 or visit the “thinkcafesiamcenter” page on Facebook.