'Good raw materials' are the starting point for every fantastic dish creation with a large variety of raw materials across the world to select from. Whether getting them from the deep ocean to travelling to far continents, we humans devote time and energy in search of the finest ingredients in order to use them in delicately creating delicious dishes for kitchens around the globe. On top of that, each chef in each restaurant also has different philosophies and their own secrets in selecting the best ingredients.
Many chefs choose ingredients from all over the world as a starting point for their new dishes. By doing so, it not only makes their dishes more valuable, but also gives them freedom in creating new masterpieces. For chefs, a large variety of the best ingredients from many different places is the answer to the secret of the culinary universe. With the best raw materials, all they have to do is maintain the natural balance of flavors and not distort the nature of the ingredients too much.
The appearance, smell, color, taste, and texture of these raw materials can offer mesmerizing new details but they are not always simple to acquire. Spices, fresh vegetables, herbs or meats of particular species must be grown or raised in certain soil, water and air conditions, and some can only be found in one village in the entire world. Finding materials that are limited in certain seasons is a challenge, but by acquiring it, there is a great reward for all your waiting.
For chefs, in addition to cooking with the heart, they often have to travel far to search for ingredients hidden in different corners of the world in order to create new dishes. Without these expeditions, food lovers would not have the opportunity to taste new delicacies made with raw materials from such faraway locations like South African tomatoes, deep ocean crabs, or homemade cheese from a small village in Italy.
Here are 10 recommended premium restaurants which use ingredients from around the world to create special dishes for you.
1. BASILICO PIZZERIA
Its 15 years of service can guarantee that Basilico Pizzeria is a restaurant that offers traditional Italian flavors, and shows that guests do not need to travel the globe to feel the original deliciousness created with the cooking skills of authentic Italian heritage.
With their meticulous attention in the selection of imported raw materials, only the freshest and highest quality ingredients are used for their food. This is another important element that allows food lovers to experience the fullest Italian cuisine experience. With the main raw materials directly ordered from Italy as well as places like Germany, France, New Zealand and Australia, the restaurant also ensures their customers are served with a variety of new dishes including special monthly or annual selections or seasonal special dishes available for customers to taste as well.
The dish that the chefs most proudly present cannot be anything other than Arrostino di Maiale pizza, which is made with a crunchy thin crust and topped with fresh porcini mushrooms that help to enhance the fragrance even more. It is served with roasted pork cooked with the heavenly fragrance of a special sauce made from carrots that is poured on the pork before being roasted which helps enhance the divine taste of the pork even more. Eaten together with fresh rocket leaves, you will get to experience deliciousness in all dimensions.
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 11:00 – 14:30 and 17:00 – 23:00.
Saturday - Sunday 11:00 – 23:00.
Address: 8 Soi Sukhumvit 33, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok, Tel. 02 662 2323.
15/1 Soi Sukhumvit 20, Khlong Toei Nuea Subdistrict, Watthana District, Bangkok, Tel. 02 663 6633.
34 Soi Phahonyothin 7, Samsen Nai Subdistrict, Phaya Thai District, Bangkok, Tel. 02 619 8188.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 10% discount on food.
1st October 2019 – 31st December 2020
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2. EL MERCADO
The name of the place, if translated directly from Spanish, means ‘The Market’, but for El Mercado it is comparable to a market where everyone can shop for premium quality products imported from France. However, what makes this market more special than general markets is that it is actually a restaurant in ‘the Chef Market’ concept, with Chef ‘Tuek’ Paramet Wirasawatkul acting as the executive chef, responsible for the selection of ingredients from around the world, including cold cuts, cheese, seafood and vegetables that are not available in Thailand with an emphasis on European sources. He is also responsible for the creation of new dishes using various unique techniques in the creation of western food.
The seafood room of the restaurant is considered a valuable secret room which stores high quality raw materials such as Turbo fish, reputed to be of the highest quality, Alaskan crabs, the pride of the shop as they are transported alive with freshness guaranteed, and mussels of two distinctive species; Bouchot Mussels from France and Spanish Mussels from Spain.
The best fish dish is definitely Dover Sole, which is said to be one of the most expensive fish with great taste and buttery soft texture. The restaurant chefs cook this special fish by sautéing it in special frying butter and topping it off with a squeeze of lemon in the French style.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 – 23:30, Sunday 11:00 – 22:30.
Address: 490 Soi Phai Singto, Khlong Toei, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Tel. 099 078 3444.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 1 free selection of Dessert / Beverage of the Day valued of THB 220++ when spending THB 1,500 or more / sales slip / table.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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3. LENZI TUSCAN KITCHEN
Under the concept of making Lenzi Tuscan Kitchen a warm kitchen for friends and family members, Chef Francesco places great emphasis on the finest fresh ingredients, which is the key to the delicious taste of their Italian food. The ingredients here are carefully selected from a variety of excellent sources around the world, while cheese and ham are imported specially from Lenzi's farm in Italy and local ingredients from Thailand are also used.
Distinctive with a Tuscan-style, the restaurant is equipped with an open kitchen that provides enjoyment in seeing the chef's movements in every cooking process while waiting for the food. There is also a bar corner for those who want to order a light drink before or after a meal, and a wine cellar lined with finest wines imported directly from Italy.
One of the outstanding dishes that the chef proudly presents is the Spaghetti in Salsa Di Capesante Tartar Di Gambero Rosso Siciliano E Caviale. The special thing about this dish is its luxury ingredients which are cooked carefully through time-consuming procedures. It is served hot while the dish is still steaming off the aroma of spaghetti soaked well in special sauce enriched with the natural sweet taste of red Sicilian shrimp and the salty savory flavor of caviar. With just the first bite, you will get to experience the heavenly Italian taste and the spirit of Tuscan food.
Opening hours: Open daily 10:30 – 23:30.
Address: 69/1 - 2 Soi Ruamrudee 2, Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok. Tel. 02 001 0116.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members
Get 1 free serving of Tiramisu valued of THB 290++ / sales slip / table.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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4. MEATLICIOUS
The main mission of this restaurant has been announced boldly since its opening 3 years ago - "every meat dish will be cooked with the best ability to get the most delicious flavor possible" – with the term meat referring to everything from beef, chicken, and fish, to any other kind of meat-based ingredients.
Their food style is mainly influenced by Latin countries with imported vegetables, spices, and herbs from countries like Peru and Mexico, resulting a majority of their dishes having rich natural fragrance from various ingredients and smoke used in cooking. There are other imports from all over the world, especially beef which is imported from Argentina, Japan, and Australia, while shrimp, clams, crabs, fish, and lamb are also sought after from the best available sources to be used in their dishes as well.
Their signature dish is Tomahawk & Grilled Veggie, a beef steak imported from Australia using only grain-fed cows resulting in this slightly tender and fragrant meat. This dish is cooked slowly using low heat and served with a variety of grilled vegetables as a side dish. For those who would like to savor this dish, you will have to be patient and wait for 45 minutes for it to be served.
Opening hours: Open daily 18:00 – 24:00.
Address: 8 Soi Ekkamai 6, Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok. Tel. 091 698 6688.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members
Get 1 free serving of Burnt Ice Cream valued of THB 390 baht / sales slip / table when spending THB 2,000 or more.
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5. MIO FOOD & ART
Mio Food & Art is a restaurant that proves that the world of food and art can coexist. This is a traditional Italian restaurant with a unique concept in combining food and beautiful interior design using furniture and artwork to create a unique and chic restaurant.
As for the food, you are guaranteed to be served dishes with a true Italian taste by the Italian head chef Antonio Facchinetti, who has accumulated extensive experience in cooking along with several international awards from a variety of restaurants and five-star hotels. Furthermore, the restaurant also uses fresh, top-quality ingredients delivered directly from Italy and other European sources, while local raw materials that help support local farmers are also used through the restaurant’s collaboration with a farm in Thailand. The farm itself is a pioneer of artificial insemination and creating a special quality breed of Black Angus and Charolais Beef Steer raised freely in a special natural area, fed with various cereal food such as cassava, fruit, and sugar cane fiber. When the calf is used in a dish, it will be prepared in the original Italian calf style which takes about 20 days. The calf must be kept at a specified temperature and humidity which results in very tender and juicy meat.
The next dish to try is the Salame Toscano al Coltello using Prosciutto from Tuscany, in which non-spiced salami is served with spicy salami to give a slightly spicy taste on the tip of your tongue.
Opening hours: Open daily 11:30 – 23:00.
Address: Ground floor of the Alcove project, Sukhumvit 53 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok. Tel. 02 258 5516.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 5% discount for food and beverages.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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6. SHINSOKO SUSHI
Mio Food & Art is a restaurant that proves that the world of food and art can coexist. This is a traditional Italian restaurant with a unique concept in combining food and beautiful interior design using furniture and artwork to create a unique and chic restaurant.
As for the food, you are guaranteed to be served dishes with a true Italian taste by the Italian head chef Antonio Facchinetti, who has accumulated extensive experience in cooking along with several international awards from a variety of restaurants and five-star hotels. Furthermore, the restaurant also uses fresh, top-quality ingredients delivered directly from Italy and other European sources, while local raw materials that help support local farmers are also used through the restaurant’s collaboration with a farm in Thailand. The farm itself is a pioneer of artificial insemination and creating a special quality breed of Black Angus and Charolais Beef Steer raised freely in a special natural area, fed with various cereal food such as cassava, fruit, and sugar cane fiber. When the calf is used in a dish, it will be prepared in the original Italian calf style which takes about 20 days. The calf must be kept at a specified temperature and humidity which results in very tender and juicy meat.
The next dish to try is the Salame Toscano al Coltello using Prosciutto from Tuscany, in which non-spiced salami is served with spicy salami to give a slightly spicy taste on the tip of your tongue.
Opening hours: Open daily 11:30 – 23:00.
Address: Ground floor of the Alcove project, Sukhumvit 53 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok. Tel. 02 258 5516.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 5% discount for food and beverages.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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7. SUSHI ICHIZU
Chef Riku Toda is a chef who is passionate about the art of Japanese cooking and sushi. Gaining experience as a student of the sushi legend Hachiro Mizutani, he presents the art of Omakase with the technique of molding sushi in the Edo-style. Dishes are served with the freshest ingredients of the highest quality sent directly from the Toyosu fish market in Japan, such as tuna, uni, abalone, hairy crabs, etc.
Sushi Ichizu's Omakase menu also changes to allow customers to experience the best food for each season. The served dish is determined by the seasonal ingredients, and is served in 17 bites beginning with lightly flavored ingredients, gradually adding more intense flavors, and finally finishing the course with desserts and hot tea. Each bite is made with emphasis on the balance between the various flavors and the texture of the ingredients.
Examples of the dishes that impress the customers in every bite include the Shiro Ebi, a sweet shrimp dish topped with a little bit of fresh wasabi. This is a simple dish yet rich in savory sweet shrimp flavor. Another is the Iwashi Roll, or sardine rolled in premium grade seaweed served with with oba leaves, fresh ginger, and fresh wasabi which together give off a sensual natural flavor.
Opening hours: Open daily 17:30 – 20:00 and 20:30 – 22:30.
Address: 1982 Petchburi Road, Bang Kapi, Huai Khwang, Bangkok. Tel. 065 738 9999.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 1 free Umeshu drink valued THB 500 / person.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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8. THAAN CHARCOAL COOKING
This is a true paradise for beef steak lovers with over 70 percent of dishes on the menu made from premium beef and grilled over their unique mangrove charcoal that is used to create a variety of Western and Eastern delights that you should not miss. The signatures of Thaan Charcoal Cooking include meat dishes with a mixture of European and Asian flavors that blend in creatively and perfectly.
Importing premium grade Black Angus beef from Rangers Valley, Australia and Omi beef from Japan, they are then grilled over high heat at 450 degrees using a Josper Spanish stove that is a mixture of a charcoal grill and an oven. This results in a medium rare steak that has been charred on the outside but is still juicy inside with smoky fragrance from the mangrove charcoal, but not too pungent to drown the natural savory grilled beef smell. There is also a dry-aged steak that has been cured for over 45 days, the 45+ Days Dry-Aged Wagyu Striploin MS 5/6 which is Australian Wagyu Beef Steak, grilled over meat oil on a Josper stove for 5 minutes, resulting a strong flavored steak with a chewy texture.
For those who want other options besides the meat, Thaan also has a wide selection of food made from top quality ingredients. Recommended dishes include Blue Swimmer Crab, Capellini, and Cavier, a cold served appetizer with a fabulous appearance.
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 17:30 – 22:00.
Address: 68/6 Soi Sukhumvit 31 Junction 4
Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok. Tel. 086 303 1211.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 1 free Strawberry Cheesecake valued of THB 200 / sales slip / table / card when spending THB 2,000 or more.
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9. THE MEATCHOP BUTCHER & SPIRITS
The first thing that will catch your eye even before stepping inside this shop is a glass cabinet in the butcher room with various cut pieces arranged like a show, allowing customers to go in and select different parts on demand. Meanwhile, on the other side of the restaurant you can find a small bar that serves classic cocktails suitable for sipping with a savory meat dish.
There is also an open kitchen area for customers to sit at the counter watching the chefs work their culinary magic while waiting for their food. The Meatchop Butcher & Spirits is an expert in beef, outstanding in the selection of the finest ingredients, both classic and specially prepared dishes that allow food lovers to feel the excitement of unexpected new styles of meat recipes, which combine the aura of Europe with Asia through the formulation of food and store decoration.
The chefs’ recommended dish is the Hanger Wagyu beef from Diamantina Farm, Australia which has been dry-aged for 150 days to soften the meat and bring forth the delicious taste. The meat is grilled until medium rare before being served with egg. The juicy yolk flows down to coat the meat, adding moisture and deliciousness without having to rely on any sauce.
Opening hours: Open daily 11:00 – 23:00.
Address: 1/4, Soi Saladaeng 1, Silom
Bang Rak District, Bangkok, Tel. 02 033 2709.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 1 free serving of White Chocolate Mousse valued of THB 200 when spending THB 1,200 or more.
1st October 2019 – 31st March 2020
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10. UPSTAIRS AT MIKKELLER BANGKOK
Korean chef Dan Bark has brought Upstairs at Mikkeller Bangkok a long way from its starting point in as a small chef's table restaurant that served just a few customers when it was started as a mutual dream with his spouse “Fay” Thanyajira Trakulwong, who wanted to deliver the deliciousness from their experience accumulated in the United States to the gourmets of Thailand. Today, he has been awarded Michelin Stars for 2 years in a row. Loving what you do and doing what you love is the origin of everything that happens in this restaurant.
Upstairs at Mikkeller Bangkok is all about endless creativity. Chef Dan's food is known as progressive American cuisine, but he never limits himself, so it is not surprising that the 12 courses are full of raw materials from Thailand and all over the world. For him, the raw materials are a magic without borders or seasons.
One incredible dish created by Chef Dan and his team is Alaskan King Crab, in which the green ice crystal made from cucumbers served in a small cup seems to steal the show, especially when you get to have a spoonful of this freshness that goes perfectly with the sweet crab meat and the sour taste of thin sliced crunchy pickled gherkin. It is served with colorful Filipino orange sauce, thick fragrant coconut milk cream, and sweet cashew nuts that are little bit salty. This is a simple dish served in a small bowl yet very tasteful with various ingredients that allow you a mellow taste at every mouthful.
Opening hours: Wednesday - Saturday 18:00 – 22:00 hrs.
Address: 26 Soi Ekkamai 10, Yae 2, Phra Khanong Nuea
Wattana, Bangkok. Tel. 091 713 9034.
Special privileges for KTC credit card members:
Get 1 free of Chef Choice Dessert valued of THB 500 / 1 person.
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View the privileges at 50 premium restaurants from KTC credit cards and read the full book of "KTC The Passionate Cuisine", which will reveal the stories and secrets to delicious dishes from famous restaurants from the chefs who are ready to reveal their techniques, steps, and methods of cooking and also their passion hidden before the delicious dishes by clicking Here
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Information from the book "KTC The Passionate Cuisine".