Authentic Thai Gastronomic Experience at Blue Elephant

Blue Elephant at the Thai Chine Building

During my first night (it’s my family’s second since they arrived a day earlier) in Bangkok, Mike treated us to a sumptuous dinner at Blue Elephant along South Sathorn Road. It was also during this night that we celebrated mom’s 57^th birthday.

Since I arrived late at FX Hotel Makkasan, Mike had to reschedule the dinner at a later time. At around 7PM we got out of the hotel and saw how heavy the traffic was. Taking a cab was not a feasible option so I brought out the tourist map that I got in the airport (which turned out to be the most dependable sheet of paper in the entire trip. Haha) and thought about the best way to reach the restaurant. We were not quite sure about the exact location of the resto but it looked like it was reachable through the MRT. Fortunately, MRT Petchaburi was just a block away. Donned in high heels and headed towards the train station, my mom and my sisters strutted on the street like corporate ladies. Haha. 

Restaurant interior

I couldn’t remember if we paid 15 or 20 Baht each for the fare to Silom, the station which looked closest to Sathorn on the map. We were already in Silom Station in about 10 minutes. Still clueless about Blue Elephant’s location, we asked for directions from people passing by. A lot of them didn’t know about the restaurant until I came across two ladies who gladly gave us instructions. We walked towards the Sala Daeng station of the BTS Silom line and rode a train going to Surasak station. Upon getting off the train, Blue Elephant was already in sight. Thank goodness! 

Can I take these home? Haha

Blue Elephant is a cooking school and restaurant housed in the century-old Thai Chine Building. Headed by multi-awarded Chef Nooror Somany Steppe, the restaurant serves Thai and fusion dishes that are guaranteed authentic and unique. 

Blue elephant

Mike chose the Royal Thai Banquet Menu, a set menu composed of starters, soups, main course fares, accompaniments and desserts. The resto’s accommodating staff assisted us to our seats and made us feel like we were royalties for the night.

Crispy vermicelli and Mushroom soup

First served on our table was a shot of mushroom soup paired with sweet crispy vermicelli with shrimp. The mushroom soup was meant to be served in little amounts because the ginger flavor in it was too strong that I don’t think anybody would ask for another shot. It was good though. The vermicelli was surprisingly delicious, although it tasted more like a dessert. 

Starter platter

The starters were served next. There were the flower-shaped dumplings called Chor Muang; the Golden Bag which is a dumpling stuffed with prawns, crab meat and green curry; the Buffalo and Chicken Satay; the heavenly Flying Pomelo Salad which is a combination of winged beans, Nakorn Chaisri pomelo, organic prawns and tamarind sauce sprinkled with roasted grated coconut and peanuts; and the Enoki Seafood Salad made with mushroom, bean vermicelli, organic prawn and seafood drenched in spicy lime juice dressing. Everything was amazingly good, especially the pomelo salad. My only problem was that I have low tolerance for spicy food. Apparently, only Chor Muang didn’t have chili added to it.

Enoki seafood salad and flying pomelo salad

We were then given Tom Yam Koong which was my favorite. It’s a spicy and sour soup with tiger prawns and mushroom. It was insanely spicy I think the waiter didn’t leave my side the entire time I was eating the soup to refill my glass with water. Haha. 

Spicy tom yam koong

Emerald chicken

The main course fares were then served. We had Crab Curry, a Phuket specialty served with rice noodles; Laab Ped, crispy duck breast served with spring roll sticky rice; Emerald Chicken which is popularly known here in the Philippines as Pandan Chicken; and Massaman Lamb, a lamb dish infused in curry and coconut milk. I loved every dish except the crab curry which had an unpleasant smell.

Laab ped

Crab curry

We were also able to try out the accompaniments composed of the famous Phad Thai and Thai Asparagus and Fresh Mushrooms. Our dinner wouldn’t be complete without a serving of jasmine and wild rice.

Phad Thai

Thai asparagus and fresh mushrooms

Lastly, a platter of desserts was served. Each of us got a scoop of refreshing coconut ice cream, a small wedge of durian cheesecake, a carved slice of ripe mango, sticky rice with coconut milk and sesame seeds, pudding, and fresh lychee.

Dessert platter

To cap off our dinner, the restaurant staff approached our table while singing the Happy Birthday song. One of the staff placed the cake on the table. I can tell it was a happy moment for mom. Mom especially like the orchid embellishments on the cake. Seriously, she wanted to take them home. Haha

Blow your candles!

As parting gifts, the restaurant staff gave the ladies orchid bouquets and handed to us guys Blue Elephant products.

The five of us

It was a very memorable dinner not just because I ate to my stomach’s desire but because we had a good sharing time and experienced a lot of firsts. Thanks Mike for the treat!

For more information about Blue Elephant, visit their website, www.blueelephant.com. 

Happy family. Yihee