Pai Thai’s brunch is all about tradition
The Rite of Siam is a tasty Friday brunch full of traditional Thai rituals
Ihave always felt like Pai Thai was different. Last time I visited the establishment was for my parent’s anniversary a few years back. They loved it because it wasn’t just a “normal” night out. It was, dare I say it again, different.
Like most other Jumeirah restaurants, you can expect good quality food in a great ambience. But Pai Thai has a few extra layers of fun added to it.
First of all, you take an abra to get there. Kind of cool. Also a nice photo opportunity, especially if you go during the daytime. The view is all blue waterways and old Arabian style architecture.
Once you get to Pai Thai, you enter the restaurant and you hit a Thai gong, followed by a traditional Buddhist greeting.
Pai Thai has brought back their Rite of Siam Friday brunch. An unhurried experience that offers four courses of family sharing-style dishes. As an avid brunch goer, being served to the table is a definite plus. Buffets, especially during a pandemic, are a big no-no these days, and hopefully until the end of time.
PERFECT BEGINNING
I spotted a Thai Iced tea on the menu, which is one of my favourite drinks of all time. Black tea, made with condensed milk, served over ice. And for someone who doesn’t drink coffee, it was the perfect caffeine kick to start off brunch.
The first batch of dishes included their Chicken Sate Gai with turmeric peanut sauce, then a Som Tam Je, which is a green papaya salad with cashew nut, apple and tamarind dressing, there was Poh Pia Thod, which are the fried vegetable spring roll and vegetable spring roll and the Sauc Sa Khu Na Goong, the crispy prawns with garlic, and coriander.
These are followed by five different dishes as main course options including a spicy, but incredibly creamy green chicken curry with Thai eggplant and Thai basil, then crispy garlic prawns, a very simple for very flavourful steamed sea bass with garlic, chilli and Thai celery a wok-fried beef red curry, a side of wok-fried that broccoli with a side of steamed jasmine rice.
Then came the best part of the meal — dessert. I was extremely full my then. All those appetisers and mains, which I honestly couldn’t finish, but the moment I saw my new favourite dessert of all time, I was suddenly hungry again.
It’s called a Tap Tim Krob, which includes crispy water chestnut, sugar syrup, coconut, jack fruit, milk and crushed ice. It was dreamy, delicious and the most unusual milky dessert I’ve ever had. Wish I had asked for a second bowl. It was also served with the restaurants famous sweet sticky rice with coconut syrup and ripe mango slices.
The Rite of Siam menu is also available in a vegetarian or vegan version upon request.