For dinner we decided to check out the Sala Restaurant, a recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2010.  According to the itinerary of activities thoughtfully left in our room, the renowned resto held Thai Cultural Evenings on Fridays. The special grazing menu consisted of a tasting portions of authentic Thai dishes. Show time was from 7:30-9:15 pm.

We had the perfect table which my hubby reserved earlier. The perfect bag in hand also contained my insect repellent lotion. I highly recommend bringing one for evening walks.

We ordered a bottle of wine. I can’t recall the name, but I remember enjoying it. My hubby & I are not really connoisseurs and defer to recommendations. You can’t really go wrong here because the award-winning selection is carefully chosen.

Started off with cracklings and 3 different yummy dips.

TOM YAM HOI SHELL (Sea scallops in prawn broth flavoured with lemongrass, galangal and chili garlic paste). I asked them not to make it too spicy but perhaps the concept of mild is different in Thailand. I only got a few spoonfuls in and I was sweating already. My hubby finished his, but he was perspiring like crazy and very red!

YAM PLA DOOK FU (green mango tossed with peanuts, shallots, palm sugar-lime juice dressing, topped with crispy-shredded catfish) and GAI HOR BAI TOI (deep-fried chicken Thai marinated in oyster sauce and garlic wrapped in pandan leaves)

Special grazing portions for couples.

PHED PHAD PRIK THAI (Char grilled duck breast in spicy red curry with green peppercorns, long green beans and Thai basil)

GOONG MANGKORN PHAD MED MAMAUNG (Spiny lobster stir-fried with cashew nuts, sweet peppers & dried chilies)

PHAD PHAK BENJARONG or vegetables & tofu stir-fried with oyster sauce

HOR MOK TALAY (steamed white snapper & prawns soufflé flavored with red curry, coconut milk and kaffir-lime leaf). This was my least favorite, not because it was not done well, but because I don’t like the concept of fish/prawn as a soufflé. I am sure others will find this amazing.

POO NIM PHAD PRIK THAI DUM (crispy soft shell crab stir-fried with oyster sauce and black pepper)

Traditional Thai dances continued throughout dinner from across the infinity pool. It was nothing spectacular and at times not coordinated but entertaining nonetheless. I loved the different costumes they donned for each of the dances. Exquisite!

KAW NIAO MUN KAP MAMUANG (sweetened sticky rice with mango and coconut cream) the sticky rice was a yummy but not too sweet dessert. We were excited to try the Thai mangoes because we heard that they are closer to Philippine mangoes than the ones in Indonesia (which are not sweet and taste like Indian Mangoes). However we were disappointed that they weren’t as sweet. That’s the one thing we miss in the Philippines: the super sweet and juicy mangoes! Sigh.

Everything was amazingly delicious aside from the few comments above. This was wonderful news because this meant we wouldn’t really have to go out to eat (except for the planned seafood lunch by the beach while we tour the next day)  and we get to enjoy the resort even more.

I still can’t decide which dish I liked best, the crispy catfish salad or the crispy soft-shell crab! Yummmmm….

Stay tuned for more on Sala’s services, sumptuous breakfasts and spa!

Thai Cultural Evening Special Grazing Menu is 2,200 baht per couple / 1,300 baht per person plus 10% service charge and 7% VAT. Excluding drinks.

Sala Phuket Boutique Resort and Spa

Tel. +66 (0) 76 338 888 • Fax. +66 (0) 76 338 889
No: 333 Moo 3 Mai Khao Beach, Thalang District,Phuket,Thailand 83110
location and directions
info@salaphuket.com