“Dine in a Royal Restaurant”, the Chakrabhongse Restaurant is Owned by Royalty and All of Their Recipes Were Served to the Kings. Bangkok, Thailand

Touring the Kingdom of Thailand provides visitors with an opportunity to see the Grand Palace, the King’s Summer Palace, and many other royal sites. During one of my visits, I attended a Thai cooking class at the Royal Exquisite Thai Culinary Center owned by the family of M. L. Puang Dinakara, grandmother of the school’s founder, the former chef of HRM the King and his family.

This trip was very special when I dined at the only restaurant in Bangkok owned by royalty. What a setting! The Chakrabhongse Restaurant and Villas is nestled along the Chao Phraya River (The River of Kings). We looked out from the roof-top dining room at 180 degree views of the Grand Palace and the boats going by. After sunset the Grand Palace’s buildings seemed to awaken as they were brightened with lights.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and especially the presentation and quality of the cuisine.

Ron Kiattichai Charoenphongsaphun, the Restaurant and Villa Manager, explained, “Our restaurant only serves three tables a night for the guest’s exclusive dining. This is the most private restaurant in Bangkok.”

Dinner was a feast as they kept bringing dish after dish of Royal Thai cuisine. Their Prix Fixe dinners included three appetizers, five main courses and desserts.

The first appetizers arrived on small carved bamboo boats with poles for sails. The crispy spring roll with spinach and cheese was placed inside the boat while a hanging basket held the minced shrimp filling rolled in an omelet.

Ron commented, “The owner likes her guests to enjoy the cuisine the same way she did while eating dinner with her parents. All of the courses on the present menu are from her families’ recipes. I was thrilled to enjoy the same cuisine that royalty ate.

The chef prepared Royal Thai cuisine and is the first and only chef to cook according to the royal family and that is why the owner opened the restaurant.

The spicy and sour Thai soup was full of seafood squid, fish, shrimp, oysters, and clams with lemongrass and Thai herbs.

During one of their secret recipes, the chef prepared the duck a different way. He roasted the duck then stir fried it. The duck was still soft and tasty with a great aroma.

Everybody was looking forward to the Sticky Rice desserts! Sticky Rice is naturally sticky with a sweet taste that is enhanced with mangos and other fruit. They use a lot of coconut in the deserts.

Reservations must be made at least one day before dining because the chef needs time to prepare the meals.

This house was built in 1908 by HRH Prince Chakrabongse to use when he attended royal ceremonies at the Grand Palace and for picnics and excursions on the river. Later this was the residence of HRH Prince Chula Chakrabongse. His daughter Narisa kept the building true to the Thai traditions and opened a restaurant. www.chakrabongsedining.com www.thaivillas.com


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