I think it’s time in quarantine to do a little travel.
Let’s head to Thailand where I had some of what could be the best eats of my life. Starting off with a view that’s “shocking… quite positively shocking.”
Panyee Muteara Seafood restaurant is a restaurant that is quite literally, in the sea. Nestled in the middle of Koh Panyee, Thailand, I have grasped the reality that I may never eat somewhere with as beautiful a view as this restaurant. Which view is better- to the sea or at the plate?
About the food- let’s be clear there is no way you can have a bad meal when floating in the middle of the sea in Thailand. Like many buffet-style meals, the expectation is certainly not that you will experience a Michelin rated course. With that said, the flavors, sauces, and spices used in Thai meals means that you’ll surely find something exquisite in the offerings at Panyee.
Pictured are tom yum soup, which was just spicy enough for my taste, traditional omelet, chicken curry, mixed vegetables, fish, grilled pineapple, and white rice. The fish, used in the soup and as a dish, are caught right in the sea before you and served shortly after catch. That was the most memorable part of the meal for me, how fresh the fish tasted and came through in areas of the meal. Then again, being on the sea may be part of the reason the smell of fish was most poignant. The rice and vegetables are prepared in a traditional Thai way, but like many buffets, preserved with a bit too much salt. However, the spices and sauces used in them, as well as the chicken, make all other cuisines seem vanilla in comparison. So many flavors in one small plate! My favorite: topping off every meal with the fresh, juicy pineapples and fruits of Thailand.
Also on neighboring James Bond islands are small markets and locals creating and selling goods and treats. While I can not contribute the above to anyone in particular, I’m sharing the most amazing coconut sticky rice known to man. I’m convinced. Served with a ripe mango, I never thought rice could be so sweet, so beautiful and so tasty! The small pouch contains a sweet coconut drizzle that I’d love to get the recipe for and add to many cakes and sponges back home.
All in all, an amazing and worthy experience for anyone traveling through the islands of Thailand. Restaurants such as this are all about the experience. From getting there to the view out to sea, replicating this type of experience elsewhere would not be easy.
If I close my eyes and pretend very hard, it’s almost like we are back there again.
