“Thai food ain’t about simplicity. It’s about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish, like a complex musical chord.” — David Thompson
Invited by Sofitel to sample a new menu, I’m curious to find out if ‘Tempting Thai’ is worthy of the title. To be sure, I bring Melanie: a friend and connoisseur of Thai cuisine. At the hotel’s La Coupole restaurant, Thai Chef Khun Phonphod Chantriam (also known as ‘Chef Joe’) is overseeing the final preparations. Like an expert conductor, he gives calm, confident instructions to his helpers. The gastronomic show is starting and everything must be perfect.
But let’s get to the real protagonist. At the centre of the restaurant stands a buffet so vast that deciding where to start is a dilemma of Hamlet-like proportions. We opt for shared appetisers, including goong tempura (tiger prawn in special butter, deep-fried until crisp and served with sweet chilli sauce); spring rolls; tod man pla (Thai fish cake) and a curious envelope of banana leaf filled with spicy meat – definitely one for chili freaks.
As a big fan of tom yum soup (I’ve tried it in so many different restaurants that I must surely be an expert by now), I’m intrigued by Khun Phonphod’s offering, which is creamier and lighter in colour than others I’ve tasted before. Chef Joe adds a huge tiger prawn to my bowl, I close my eyes and… delicious! All the ingredients blend well together and the soup serves as a great opener.
The buffet, which costs $30, has nine stations: first there’s salad; tom yum; som tum Thai; deep-fried; noodle (with a special mention to the phad Thai goong salad, which was very much appreciated by Melanie). Then there’s the stir-fried station; chicken and fish steamed, Chiang Mai-style; beef, chicken and duck curries; steamed rice and finally, if by some miracle you still have space in your stomach, there’s dessert.
Moreover, for gourmand tablemates who prefer to be seduced by a mix of Eastern and Western delicacies, there’s an international buffet with a selection of cheeses; cold cuts; salads; sushi; ice cream; candies; crêpes and even a chocolate fountain.
Finally, a few words must be saved for the presentation: an exquisite combination of simplicity and beauty. Clay pots, in which food can be cooked while maintaining all its flavours and aromas, together with a variety of fresh ingredients displayed along the culinary circuit recall the genuineness of the market with a blend of haute cuisine. Tempting indeed.
Tempting Thai is available from 6pm every Monday at La Coupole, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, #26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd.