Tasting the new dishes of Chef Leo Patcharobon at Azuthai Restaurant in Makati feels like reading a love letter – carefully thought of, earnest, and prepared with much passion.
For starters, Chef Leo prepared a snack from northern Thailand – the Miang Kham, which literally translates to a one bite wrap. It is made with ginger, galangal, lemongrass, red onion, peanuts, coconut, dry shrimp, chili, lime, and betel leaves and served with traditional dipping sauce.
“Miang Kham actually has a long history in Thailand. It is usually the appetizer for the king. Everyone should try Miang Kham,” Chef Leo said.
This was followed by three starters – the spicy tuna tartare with mint leaves, shallots, kaffir lime and lemongrass, the Wagyu beef and tomato salad – a refreshing combination that elevates the traditional Thai beef salad, and crab and fish cakes with a sweet chili dipping sauce that has diced cucumbers for added texture.
An abundance of main dishes followed – a Wagyu beef krapow that calls to mind the iconic sisig; a creamy tom yum carbonara with prawns, mussels and squid that had such bold flavors and which Chef Leo described as a “dish that will make you happy;” deep-fried Chilean sea bass served with sweet fish sauce; stir-fried baby bok choy with mushrooms; and southern-style chicken rice that was a meal on its own.
To cap off the meal, Chef Leo served mango with sticky rice and Buo Loy — rice balls with young coconut and coconut ice cream.
“I am happy all the time if the people around me are happy with my food – if they say it’s yummy. That’s what I look forward to always at Azuthai,” Chef Leo said.
“While we maintained Azuthai’s favorites, we are very happy with the new offerings we’ve been able to come up with. The new dishes add a new dimension to the restaurant, and the response has been so positive,” added Malu Gamboa-Lindo, who founded Azuthai almost two decades ago with her brother, Chef J. Gamboa.
With the new lineup, Azuthai has proven once again why it was the first restaurant in the country to receive the Thai Select Award from the Thailand Ministry of Commerce for its authentic cuisine. Whether it’s a traditional Thai dish or one that has a modern twist, the flavors remain delightful as they are comforting.
