Do we need an excuse to write about cheese? Not really. Sure, we can justify it with a number of recent events that clearly call for celebration, and what better way to do it than by over indulging on that edible block of gold that always seems to lock our gaze in the outer aisles of Villa Market. The breakup of Hiddleswift? Maybe. Or how about the fact that our Dear Leader wants to standardise Thai food across the globe so that it all tastes the same (yay!). Seriously, who doesn't love a good ol' single-standard-tasting som tum?
Whatever your reasons (or excuses) are, we're not judging. It's a known fact that one can never have too much cheese in one's life. Unless you're lactose intolerant, in which case, do yourself a favour and skip the next few pages.
For the rest of us, say hello to some of the most cheese-filled dishes we've recently tried and where you can find them.
BAKED CAMEMBERT
Find it at: Bitterman
(Daily 11am-11pm. Soi Saladaeng 1. http://Fb.com/bitterman.bkk, 02-636-3256)
Craving that heavenly combination of crackers and cheese? Great for sharing; this platter gives you crunchy sesame breadsticks, figs, walnuts and a Camembert that's been baked whole. It's topped with truffle honey and tapenade which gives it the perfect balance of sweet and savoury. Like a mini version of a cheese platter, we think a nice glass of vino would be rather appropriate to go with it.
RAINBOW CHEESE SANDWICH
Find it at: All Six to twelve
(Daily 6am-midnight. Urbana Langsuan, 55 Lang Suan Road and 39 Boulevard, Sukhumvit Soi 39. http://Facebook.com/allsixtotwelve)
Does it taste as depressing as it looks? Short answer, yes. Long answer, still yes. If you're looking to Instagram unicorn poop, this is probably the closest you're ever going to get. To be frank, the only aspect of this sordid creation that we were impressed with was the fact that they opted for a decent mantou (aka Chinese steam buns) to hold everything together instead of the usual “farmhouse” bread. The dizzying layers of oozing cheese was comprised of lavender pesto gouda, green pesto gouda, red pesto gouda, cheddar cheese and goat cheese. Talk about a multi-coloured overload of cheesy blandness.
SALMON CHEESE LAVA
Find it at: Star Chefs Maki Champion
(Daily 11am-11pm. Terminal 21 and The Nine Rama 9. http://Fb.com/StarChefsMakiChampion)
Let's admit it. Fusion rolls are amazeballs when the chef gets the combination right. Or you can always just pile on the cheese and hope the diner cares more about how it looks rather than what it tastes like. Served on a 200C tray of bubbling cream cheese lava, this salmon maki sits bathed in a golden liquid that's been mixed with a special sweet soy sauce. While it certainly hits our sweet notes, it didn't do much for our savoury taste buds. All in all it was a bit bland and the quality of the salmon didn't stand out at all -- slightly disappointing for a place that raves about their relations with a Michelin star chef. Not a fan of fish? You can also order a tonkatsu version that's also covered in cheese.
GRILLED HAM CHEESE
Find it at: The Hatter
(Tue-Sun 11am-midnight. 68/2 Soi Julin, Sukhumvit Soi 21. http://Fb.com/thehatterbkk, 02-664-0212)
Despite its reputation for being one of the run-of-the-mill childhood favourites (or one of the many hangover cures we crave in adulthood), it's hard to find a place in the city that doesn't skimp out on the good stuff. This monster sandwich we found certainly doesn't. It's packed with two layers of bread, ham and a lot of mozzarella and cheddar cheese -- and grilled until all the cheese has caramelised, giving it a golden brown crust. Served with a small side of salad and fries, it's probably best to share the dish (unless you want to give yourself a heart attack).
HOLE CHEESE PASTA
Find it at: Hokkaido Restaurant Genshiyaki
(5-11pm. There are two branches: Ekkamai Soi 12 and Sukhumvit Soi 26, http://Fb.com/genshiyaki26)
Forget giving it a fancy Italian name -- to be fair, this pasta dish is found at a Japanese place and not at an upscale Italian eatery -- this is literally, spaghetti carbonara cooked inside a cheese wheel. Al dente, it is not. Pecorino Romano, ain't the cheese they use either. Putting our snobbery aside, it's a fairly decent carbonara that really doesn't hold back on the cheese and cream. We liked that they tried to give it some flair with the Grana Padano cheese wheel and the option of topping the dish with salmon roe for that extra umph. If you have the hankering for sushi and some cheesy pasta, well, now you know where to go.
HOLY CHEESE BURGER
Find it at: Chunky
(Tue-Sun 11am-10pm. 110/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23, http://Fb.com/Chunkys23, 087-508-2312)
Soi 23's newest addition may seem like a latecomer in joining the burger game, but it's nevertheless welcomed by hordes of office workers within the area. Not everything here involves a patty and a bun though as there's a couple of indulgent brunch-style dishes too that are worth raving about. This monster, for example, is made up of homemade brioche buns, Canadian ham, fried egg, mustard and is blanketed in a thick cheesy homemade sauce made of mozzarella and parmigiano-reggiano. So -- is it like a croque madame served in a brioche bun? Yeah, but we loved it, and the crunchy pickles on the side were pretty fantastic too.
A FRIDGE FILLED WITH MORE CHEESE YOU CAN IMAGINE
Find it at: El Mercado
(Tue-Thu 9:30am-10pm, Fri- Sat 11am-10:30pm. 490 Soi Phai Sing To, Klong Toey, www.elmercadobangkok.com, 02-258-1385) No parking.
Alright, so it's not a dish. It's a fridge full of all types of this stuff we're obsessing over. If you're a cheese-lover, make sure you check this place out. Samples are available on the counter too, so you can try before you buy. The Brie truffle is divine and tastes perfect on their freshly baked bread. On the goat cheese side of things, try the Persille de chevre -- it's creamy, fudgy with tasting notes that sit somewhere in between a goat cheese and a blue.
