Doi View pride themselves on being the first serviced
apartments in Chiang Mai, and also on their restaurant, the owner having
previously had a restaurant in Beverley Hills in the US. While we were staying
at Doi View recently, the GM, Swan Kwaenthaisong, suggested the Dining Out Team
might like to try their Japanese food from the coffee shop.
The
coffee shop is on the first floor (UK nomenclature, so is the first floor above
the ground). The ambience is immediately Japanese, with rectangular forms in
natural light wood being predominant. The area is also open on two sides, so it
is very airy and with a waterfall outside, the sounds of running water add to
the Japanese feel. Light coloured tiles on the floor, and the tables have black
ceramic tops. Again the contrast between light and dark and the overall
minimalism looking very Japanese.
The menu is quite comprehensive, and since it is a coffee
shop servicing apartments, begins with breakfasts. The Continental is B. 75, the
American B. 95 and the Oriental B. 75. Next page has the starters and sandwiches
and range in price between B. 40-70. These are followed by the Thai (spicy)
salads, with a choice of 11 of the som tam items between B. 60 and B. 90. These
are all Thai hot, I was informed.
Next
are the fries and stir-fries, with a huge 19 item choice and includes such
diverse items as sea bass, catfish, frog and spaghetti! Prices range between B.
45-120. While still in the Thai/Chinese mode the next 12 items come under the
heading of soups and curries (B. 65-120) and includes both ‘wet’ and
‘dry’ curries and the northern hang lay curry as well.
Getting away from the local cuisine, there is also an
extensive ‘Special’ menu with Euro and Japanese items. The four soups (B.
55) are all Euro, including a consomm้, but moving into the appetizers (B.
60-80) the sashimi is offered. Euro style salads are next (B. 65-120) and then
12 main courses (B. 85-220) with New Zealand beef or salmon commanding the top
numbers. Finally it is drinks, with softs around B. 15 and local beers B. 50-80.
We made our visit at lunchtime, and Khun Swan suggested the
Osaka style suki, but also threw in a steak and a salmon steak from the Euro
menu, both of which were large servings.
But it was the Osaka style suki that was the star on the menu
we had come to try. The steamboat is up to the minute - and electric, and heated
the soup stock very quickly. The ingredients were brought to the table, and
fortunately for us, the waiter handled the production of what to add and when.
The items involved in the suki included beef, glass noodles, asparagus, onion,
bean curd and another couple of vegetables and spaghetti.
While the ‘stock’ was cooking we were given a soup with
bean curd that was very pleasant. When the time was ripe and the suki was ready,
we were given the eggs to crack into our plates (the waitress did mine as I
looked a little lost). After cracking, you give it a whisk to mix the yolk and
the white, add items from the steam boat, and enjoy!
The Osaka style suki at B. 120 for two people has to be
considered a bargain. The suki style of cooking at the table is very popular,
and Doi View should be considered as another option to the commercial suki
chains. We enjoyed the fact that every time we looked helpless (which was
often), the waiter or waitress would come and show us what should be done, and
that went right from the loading of the steamboat to the cracking of the egg
into the bowl. Good ingredients and you cook it yourself. A final word of
warning - the supporting frame for the table tops is very low and farang sized
people can bang their knees very easily. We did - often! But then again, maybe
we are slow learners!
Doi View, 9 Soi 9 Nimmanhaemin Road, Suthep, Chiang Mai,
telephone 053 895 575, fax 053 895 568.
