In a teak mansion built during World War II, a newly opened restaurant proves a serene dining experience for friends and family in the Nana area.
Recently opened to serve tapas inspired by Thai and Laos cuisine, Monkey Pod, named for its giant rain tree and lush green surroundings, is led by Thavisack “Chef Dou” Phouthavong, who is Belgium-born Lao and worked in London prior to moving to Thailand.
Cooking in a Taiwanese kitchen in London inspired Chef Dou’s Lao Dog (THB179), an appetizer that combines Taiwanese-style deep-fried mantou buns with spicy sai-ua sausages instead of Western dogs, topped with pungent tomato relish.
Lao chili paste from Luang Prabang shines in fried-rice rich dish Khao Phad Jaew Bong (THB169 for pork / THB279 for black angus beef) where rice is pan-fried with fermented fish, spices and herbs before the plate is…
