Restaurant of the Month - The Blue Elephant

Blue Elephant has finally come home to Thailand. The group started in 1980, by Khun Nooror Somany, a Thai living with her Belgium husband Karl Steppe, in Brussels where the first Blue Elephant was opened, With her passion for Thai cooking, Khun Nooror, with the support of her husband and other partner’s, quickly established what has become one of Europe’s leading Asian restaurants. This was followed by the opening of the renowned Blue Elephant London, followed by Paris and Copenhagen. Today there are nine Blue Elephant restaurants serving the best in Royal Thai cuisine throughout Europe and the Middle East.

The Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant is located in the Thai Chine Building, my favourite piece of architecture on Sathorn Road and the former headquarter of the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It first opened in 1903 as the Bombay Department Store, in what was then the most exclusive and posh neighbourhood in Bangkok of it time. In 1928 the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce was founded by a group of affluent Chinese tycoons. The businessmen purchased the building at a bargin price, and in January 1930, His Majesty King Rama VII inaugurated the new Chamber of Commerce’s headquarters.

During World War II the building was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Army as their Command Center. After the war the building was once again the headquarters of the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Cited by the Fine Arts Department, the building is an exceptional example of the colonial era architecture. The building has been carefully and tastefully restored to its original splendour to open as the Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant.

Before my meal I tried a couple of their Absolute Spice Martinis that with the help of chilli, black pepper and chilli are a cocktail that demands respect.

The restaurant located on the ground floor is in two sections to the right traditional low Thai tables where customers sit on cushions on the floor and to the left Western style tables. The décor is exotically tropical, possibly verging on the theatrical, giving the feel of a colonial lifestyle which in reality Thailand never had.

Their style of cuisine brings back the influences their chefs have encountered in the 20 –25 years they have spent working in Thai restaurants overseas. Foie Gras with Tamarind Sauce 480 baht, is a taste experience that has to be tried. Delcious served with a puree of sweet potato with basil. Buffalo Satay 150 baht may sound like a tough dish to get through but the meat has been marinated in coconut milk to ensure that its sweet and tender.

Being a lover of both Massaman Curry and Lamb their Massaman Lamb 320 baht was a dish created for me. The typical South Thai dish has substituted lamb for beef, but as a Muslim dish it seems a natural choice, and slowly braised it in a medium rich gentle sauce.

Another great taste sensation is the Green Curry of “Black Chicken” with aubergine and spices in fresh coconut served with a Roti pancake 350 baht. I have tried crocodile in other restaurants and based on previous experience would be quite happy to give the meat a miss. However Running Crocodile 420 baht has restored my confidence in the meat, stir fried with chilli, basil and, fresh peppercorn and palm heart it’s a very interesting dish.

Blue Elephant has gone out of its way to find wines, both red and white to match with Thai food. The key pointers when choosing a wine to match Thai food are avoid acidity as it multiplies the chilli effect seven times; avoid an oaked wine as the taste will increase the spiciness in the food and; the spicier the dish the sweeter the wine should be to match. There wines are priced 1,200 –5,500 baht a bottle.

Blue Elephant,
233 South Sathorn Road. Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Tel (66) 0 – 2673 – 9353, Fax (66) 0 – 2673 – 9355