6-Course Wine Dinner with 5 Paired Wines at Playa Bistro & Lounge, Pattaya
I do enjoy a Wine Dinner when the Chef prepares a special menu and specific wines are selected for each course. The invitation to sample Executive Chef Kenneth Goessen’s culinary delights at Playa Bistro & Lounge in Pattaya, was not to be missed!
To start was a delightful trio of 3 canapés consisting of a Fried Cheese Ball, Parma Ham wrapped around a Melon cube and a home-made Pork Pâté. Each enjoyed a unique flavour and was a very tasty selection. Superbly paired with a Louis Perdrier Brut ‘vin mousseux’ from grape varieties in the Beaune region, this was balanced, gentle on the palate and a perfect aperitif.
The Nord Sea Shrimp Croquette had a crispy exterior and was soft and creamy on the inside. It was interesting to note how different North Sea Shrimps are to their local Thai cousins. The sauce and filling melted on the tongue and the crisp crust was cooked to perfection. Paired with a Marlborough Clearwater Cove Sauvignon Blanc the sweet fruit character of this expressive and lively wine was another perfect pairing.
The Cappuccino from Green Peas was superb. Unusually presented, this creamy pea soup was everything that one wants from this relatively simple but so often mis-understood dish. The crispy Spanish bacon was a nice touch. Paired with a Lamador Sauvignon Blanc from the Maule Valley, the wine struggled to complement the intense flavour of the pea soup.
A culinary pause was created by the Lemon Sorbet. More a sherbet due to its creamy texture it was a sharp contrast and the added Limoncello created constantly changing flavours on the palate.
The highlight of the meal was the Baby Veal Rack served with Carrot Mash and Grain Mustard Sauce. Whilst beautifully presented and hot, the veal was slightly under-cooked making it hard to separate the meat from the bones. The grain mustard sauce was the star for this dish as the meat was lacking in seasoning. Unfortunately, the Lamador Merlot failed to enhance the flavour of the veal. Whilst a very pleasant and drinkable 100% Merlot, this pairing sadly lacked substance.
Despite now feeling pleasantly sated the Strawberry Cheesecake was another feast for the eyes. Beautifully ripe strawberries atop a gentle cheesecake with a light cake base. Almost the star of the show was the amazing Rhanleigh Sweet Late Harvest. Whilst a Field Blend the result is a smooth and fruity almost similar to a late harvest Riesling. Whilst sweet, it was light and crisp cleansing the palate after a super meal.
Playa Bistro and Lounge is a bright, modern concept located on Pattaya Beach Road. On this occasion we dined in the air-conditioned interior rather than on the terrace. The lovely staff are immaculately presented, very friendly and highly efficient making this Pattaya dinner a very pleasant and tasty experience.
We done Kenneth Goessens, your kitchen team, and the waitresses for a very congenial experience on the beachfront in Pattaya! We will be back soon!
Playa Bistro and Lounge, Beach Road, Pattaya, Thailand
Kim Waddoup
Founder
Kim Waddoup enjoyed a lifetime in the tourism business and is an active ‘Silver-Ager” living in Thailand. He writes for his age group with high varied articles covering subjects relevant to retirees living in, or visiting Thailand. Any questions or comments on this post? Please do feel free to contact me through our ‘Contact Form’ or directly [email protected]