PATARA LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Searching around the Royal Albert Hall for somewhere to eat we stumbled across Patara's website and were instantly drawn to the promise of "Fine Thai Cuisine". We do love our Thai food and it was great to see that they offered a vegetarian banquet too. So on a warm Thursday evening we headed off to South Kensington, ready to tuck into some meat free delights! We had made reservations for our visit but we needn't of worried as there wasn't anyone in Patara when we rocked up. Great, we had our pick of tables and so we took a seat in corner of the dining room right by the window.

BOOZY THAI FRIED HALLOUMI

When you're living with a (mostly) vegetarian person it can be quite difficult sometimes to make meals were you can enjoy a bit of meat whilst being able to make a meat free version to satisfy the veggies as well. You may of seen my recipe recently for Boozy Thai Red Curry Fried Chicken I posted on here earlier in the month but here is a vegetarian version I made using 8 batons of halloumi. It works just as well as my chicken drumstick version and more importantly, is equally as fragrant, spicy and tasty!

BOOZY THAI FRIED CHICKEN

Thai fried chicken is something you may not of come across before and that is because I don't think it exists! This creation came about as I was trying to make some Korean fried chicken but couldn't find any Gochujang paste so I decided to use some red Thai curry paste instead and you know what, it really worked. Add this newly created sauce to some chicken, battered and deep fried in a vodka based batter and you have a proper homemade version of a Saturday night takeaway that's 10 times better than going the chippy! 

CHAMPOR CHAMPOR LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Nestled away under the shadow of the Shard is Champor Champor. Much like the time we visited Grafene in Manchester, we had no idea how we found out about this Thai-Malay restaurant but we had bookmarked it for a visit next time we were staying in Southwalk. That time was this weekend so with a reservation made for 9pm, off we trotted! The entrance to Champor Champor is very unassuming but once you walk through the door you are instantly transported to the east. An array of Malaysian/Thai inspirations decorated the red walls; Buddhas, masks and even the cow that acts as their emblem was brought to life right above us.

TASTY THAI CRAB CAKES

My Thai butter bean patties were a right little tasty treat. Not only are they super delicious but they are also super versatile. So much so that with a few little tweaks I transformed them into some Thai fish cakes. I've still kept the butter beans in them, they work  really well with the shredded crab meat and mashed potatoes. Add in the rest of your ingredients including a smidge of lemon, rice wine vinegar, fresh herbs and a glug of fish sauce to really ramp up the eastern vibe. Be prepared to get your hands on some crackin' crab cakes. 

TASTY THAI BUTTER BEAN PATTIES

When it comes to Thai food in the UK you can often get lumbered with red and green curries. As nice as they are, it's nice to try something different sometimes. When I whipped up these butter bean patties I wasn't expecting them to be Thai inspired but on first bite, those flavors of lemon, coriander, chili and sesame all work together to give them a distinctive taste of the east. The great thing about them is that other than boiling some potatoes, all you really need to do is chuck everything in a bowl and mix together and then roll the mixture of polenta for some added crunch. Simples!

BUSABA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Another restaurant opened in the old Stockton's building in Liverpool City centre last week and it's the one I was most looking forward to trying. I love Asian food so the prospect of a new Thai restaurant in the city was to exciting to resist and so, a couple of days after its official opening, three of us popped on over to Busaba on Hanover Street to see if our expectations could be matched.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M ALL ABOUT THE (THAI SEA) BASS

I'm not really a fan of fish but having sampled some delightful sea fare whilst on holiday in Sardinia I'm becoming a bit more adventurous. I am a big fan of Thai flavors so by combining those with two beautiful Sea-bass fillets this weekend I create a little taste of the east that is slowly pushing me over toward the side of full blown fish foodie fanatic. It's quite simple really! All you need is some butter, garlic, chili, ginger, spring onion and a big juicy whole lemon and your on you're way to Sea-bass parcel paradise!

CHAOPHRAYA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

With the continual growth and regeneration of Liverpool city centre and the addition of more and more food outlets opening every month you sometimes forget about those guys who have been slogging it out in the area for years. One such venue is Chaophraya Thai Restaurant. We've been to this established restaurant several times in the past but had been a while since we had been through it's doors. Looking for somewhere to dine one evening, we decided it was time to go and check them out again and see if they can still hold their own against the new kids on the block.

GATWICK ORIENTAL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It can be quite a boring experience having to stop at an airport over night. The remote location can make for a long, restless night. Luckily, the Sofitel at Gatwick airport has the Gatwick Oriental to keep you fuelled but is it good enough to match the luxury surroundings of the hotel that houses it?

CURRIED CAULIFLOWER (NO CARB) RICE

Lots of people out there are always looking for ways to be more healthy with their diets and one of the latest crazes that I've seen on TV and in books and magazines a lot recently is cauliflower rice! By blitzing up a whole cauliflower into itty bitty pieces you can create the illusion of rice grains but without all those pesky carbs. It doesn't have to be bland and uninspiring though. All you need some coconut oil, curry powder and fresh coriander leaves and you can lift this simple side dish right up to the next level!

CLASSICS REVISITED: MY THAI!

One of my most earliest recipes and one of the most popular is my Thai green curry. Super simple and easy to whip up after a day in work I would just highly recommend you give it a whirl. But what if you have a bit of time to really make your green curry pop? How could you achieve that? Simples! Make your own Thai green curry paste of course! You can really taste the difference between a homemade paste and shop bought. Trust me, that extra effort you put is going to blow your mind!

PRUNO LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It's not just the blog which has been celebrating it's birthday this month but I myself have reached the ripe old age of 30 this year! With family wanting to celebrate with me I was tasked with finding a venue that could feed a hungry hoard of 20 people on a Saturday night in Liverpool. A quick Google and I stumbled across Pruno in Liverpool. I had driven past it before but never eaten in and after a quick look at the menu I thought it might be worth a go. 

FABULOUS CHILLI CORN FRITTERS

 

Ive talked in the past about my love for Liverpool's top Thai restaurant, Chaopraya. The highlight of any visit there is their yummy sweetcorn fritters. This recipe is my tribute to those little morsels of crispy goodness. Mine add a bit more spice chili wise but then again I do love the punchy flavour that chili gives to any meal. I'm not saying they are better than Chaopraya's but they come a very close second.

QUICKIDY QUICK PIZZA CRUST DIPS

I cant wait to give my pizza stone another go again. It made truly one of the best pizzas I have ever had. I especially loved the crusts that I added to mine. Super crispy on the outside and super soft and delicious in the middle. Now I know pizza crust divide everyone out there. You either love them or hate them, I've never met anyone who is in between. But for all the haters out there I've got two scrummy pizza crust dips here for you that I promise that if you dip your crusts into these bad boys and still aren't a fan I shall raise my hands in defeat.

YEE RAH LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

If your anything like me, the week leading up to payday is always difficult when it comes to money. I'm lucky if I have two pound coins to rub together. So what is a boy who loves his food to do if he's going out for a meal before a show and doesn't want to just go grab a burger, a trip to the chippy doesn't cut it with me I'm afraid.

Residents of the great city of Liverpool will no doubt be familiar with the Liverpool One Shopping Centre. Built and opened in time to celebrate Liverpool One becoming the 2008 Capital of Culture it has now becoming the central hub of the city, a great place to meet your friends before heading out on the town or somewhere to grab something to eat after a long days shopping.

Hidden amongst the row of chain restaurants are two culinary treats dishing up great Asian food - Chaophraya and Yee Rah. Now I've been to Chaophraya before and it is amazing. I must give special mention to their sweetcorn cake appetisers which Jon has always said are one of the best vegetarian starters he's ever eaten and I'd have to agree with him. We have been a couple of times over the years and I have never had a bad word to say about any of the meals we have had. If you are really looking to go all out and treat someone special you would never go wrong if you take them for a night out here so visit their website here and book a table today. For those of us who are little more cash strapped like I was today - Chaophraya's baby sister Yee-Rah is a delicious way to still enjoy a great taste of Asia but most importantly, on a budget.

MY THAI 2 (REVENGE OF THE GREEN CURRY)

 

Previously on MattyB Bakes, I shared with you my recipe for a delicious and low(er) cal Thai Red Curry.

That recipe used Thai red paste and light coconut milk to create the base of the curry. Whilst it's great to try and make dishes from scratch as much as possible what about if you are pushed for time? Is there a quicker way to create a tasty Thai curry thats still good for the diet.

TAMPOPO MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Took a little trip up to Manchester yesterday to see Justin Timberlake in concert yesterday (who was a-maz-ing by the way!) and took the opportunity to visit one of our favourite restaurants in the area, Tampopo.

We visited the branch situated in the Corn Exchange, Manchester. Being a stones throw away from the arena and ideal for concert goers, Tampopo offers fresh East Asian dishes which in their own word's are served "free from gimmickary"

Heading down the stairs to be greeted by our server we are taken past the open kitchen area to our table and were greeted with the menu. On your table, a map of East Asian which points out the country of origin of each of the menus starters and mains and a brief description of the kind of flavors the region offers. A nice touch to help you decide which countries cuisine would be best suited for you especially as, like myself, you may of not tried the likes of Vietnam, Malaysia or Korea food. 

 

Whilst I enjoyed a large bottle of lager, Jon ordered some green tea which as you can see if made from fresh mint leaves so you know your getting the real deal. To continue the Eastern Asian adventure you can also order a range of cocktails or hot drinks from around the region, the "Lemongrass Mule" sounding particularly delightful.

 

Being a veggie, Jon ordered the Thai "Tod Man Khao Pod" or corn fritters to the non Thai speaking amongst us which came with a lovely peanut dipping sauce. The fritters were nice and crisp and complemented the sauce delightfully.

I enjoyed the Korean Bulgogi - delicious sesame seed coated strips of beef which were cooked perfectly and melted in the mouth along with some sweet Kimchi all wrapped up it a gem lettuce leaf. I could of eaten a big plate of this as a main it was that tasty.

All the starters sounded delish - the Thai Coconut Prawns especially. A party next too us took advantage of the sharing platter which gave a taster of many of the starters and it looked massive! Would defiantly suggest it as a choice if you come with bunch of indecisive friends.

 For your mains there are a wide range of dishes to choose from ranging from stir fried noodles,stews,curries or large soup dishes. For a lover of Asian food it was hard for me to decide but I finally settled on the Thai Pad Krapow - a stir fry chicken dish served with nice big pieces of chili and red pepper. There was just enough sauce to nicely coat all the vegetables and chicken (there is nothing worse than a stir fry swimming in sauce!). The jasmine rice was nice and sticky and soaked up all the flavours of the dish allowing for easy chopstick action to occur.

Jon was unsure what to choose too but settled on his initial choice of vegetarian Japanese Raman. The huge bowl of noodles in a deep and flavoursome soy broth was defiantly the right choice and if bellies would of permitted it we both would of had no problem in devouring the lot.

Time and our full bellies meant we didn't sample the desserts however they all looked appetising - in particular the Vietnamese "Caramen Chuoi Ran" - fried banana with a caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream. Sounds divine but unfortunately this time we had to pass!

I'm so glad that we discovered this place - it has such a relaxed atmosphere compared to the hussle and bustle of the nearby printworks and with an offer on at the time of writing of £9.95 for a main and accompaniment - fabulous value for money.

If your lucky enough to be going to see one of your idols in the arena or just so happen to find yourself in Manchester - give Tampopo a look if your looking for a different take on classic East Asian classics!

Check out their website for more information and for other locations around the UK.

MY THAI!

One of my absolute staple dishes for healthier eating is a Thai curry. I love the fragrant flavors that they have and the good thing is that once you have the base recipe down you can interchange the type of paste you use so you will never get bored with the taste.

Now it isn't my most healthiest dish by a long shot but it's still better than a Big Mac and fries at the end of the day. I would have one as a bit of a treat compared to the more lower cal dishes I have the rest of the week.