Happy Anniversary For Bay Thai
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday October 8, 2008
IN Thai, "sanook" translates to "happiness" and "good times". It seemed a fitting name for Sanook Thai last week as it celebrated its 10th birthday.
Owner Sumalee Omnondha has fond memories of opening the Corlette restaurant a decade ago last Sunday. She said the secret to the restaurant's success was that it had developed a reputation for a traditional Thai dining experience and authentic food."I've built my reputation for 10 years and I'm very happy with that," she said."[The restaurant] is filled with traditional decorative items from Thailand. People say it makes it seem like you are really there."I try to make sure everything is sparkling clean."Sanook Thai has something for everyone, she said, from the spicy to the tangy to the sweet. Among the classic Thai dishes on the menu are the stir-fried garlic ginger with vegetables and soy bean sauce, and the marinated pork with fresh coriander roots, garlic and pepper."I've got a very good chef here. She used to work in the five-star Novotel hotel in Bangkok. She's been here for five years now," Ms Omnondha said of chef Wanida Tubsakorn.The anniversary was marked by a birthday bash last week, with the proceeds from the $30 tickets going to a charity for children's education in Thailand. The function featured live Thai music and a special party menu, which included a panang curry with pork, served in a cup of banana leaves, and vermicelli with seafood salad, chilli, fish sauce and lime dressing. Ms Omnondha said even after a decade there were no signs that the restaurant's popularity was waning."People keep ringing up and booking in," she said. "Ten years, it's gone so quickly."Festival Fridays for BreweryFANCY a trip to Mexico, Brazil, Japan or Spain at the end of the working week? The Queen's Wharf Brewery has the next best thing on Friday nights in October and November. Festival Fridays will be launched this week with the first of four cultural-themed nights designed to get the taste buds tingling and the toes tapping. Each night will feature a different food and drink menu based on the cuisine of the destination, as well as live music of a genre native to the countries. Authentic Mexican tacos, tortillas and empanadas will be the treats of choice this Friday. Wash them down with a tequila, a Margarita or a corona while dancing to the viheulas, trumpets and violins of "The Real Mexico". The Brazilian night will feature a gaucho-style barbecue with Brazilian rum cocktails, and Spain will be celebrated with tapas including white bean puree, roasted olives and a crispy squid with apple aioli. Prawn or vegetable tempura, teriyaki salmon and sushi will be on offer for a Japanese event, along with Asahi beer and Japanese Rose cocktails.Dates: October 31 Destination Brazil. November 14 Destination Spain. December 5 Destination Japan.Hogs on the harbourHOG'S Breath Cafe in Hamilton has relocated to a bigger venue on the waterfront at Lee Wharf. The Beaumont Street restaurant became one of the most successful in the Hog's Breath group under owner Helen Grujevski.The move coincides with the release of the new Hog's Breath menu, which includes old favourites such as the prime rib steaks, plus a range of new pasta and seafood dishes.Low-cost Fuel boostTHERE'S something very special about cheap Fuel. The Junction cafe has $12 specials from Monday to Friday, available for both lunch and dinner. The menu of contemporary Australian cuisine includes a range of cheap dishes. There is also a $5 bacon and egg breakfast on weekdays and live entertainment on Wednesday and Friday nights.jtarran@theherald.com.au
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
