Food Talk: Holy Basil!

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Private VIP Lounge of Q Bar

I often get my brain picked on for my expertise with exotic drinks from various Asian regions; whether with modern-global touches or with traditional roots. This time, I asked two renowned bars and their mixologists for their favorite herbal concoctions.

One of my favorite spots when I am in Bangkok is the Q Bar. This recipe is courtesy of “Travelin Matt”.

Thai Basil by Travelin Matt

Ingredients:

• 4 lime wedges
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 oz vodka
• Fresh watermelon
• Fresh Basil (4-5 Leaves)
• Ice Cubes
• Sprite to top off

Instructions:

1. Muddle Brown Sugar and lime first
2. Muddle watermelon
3. Add basil leaves (no muddle)
4. Add vodka
5. Add ice cubes
6. Top off with sprite or 7-up
7. Stir strongly (Mojito Style)
8. Garnish with basil leaf and watermelon wedge
9. ENJOY!

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Green with envy, the Green Delilah

Here is another recipe using Thai Basil recommended by our friend, Pauline Nguyen hailed from her much celebrated Lily Cocktail Bar, in New South Wales, Australia. 

Green Delilah by Dee Stewart of Lily Cocktail Bar

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce apple liqueur
• small bar spoon of lime marmalade
• 8-10 basil leaves
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce pineapple juice

Instructions:

1. Muddle leaves in marmies (marmalade)
2. Add everything else
3. Shake it like a polaroid
4. Strain into a martini glass
5. Garnish with a spring of Thai basil

For an art benefit of 250 guests in the Hamptons,  we made one of our simple signature drinks, the Rangoon Cooler.

Rangoon Cooler

Ingredients:

• 5 holy basil or thai basil leaves 
• Juice of medium lime
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 2-1/2 ounces vodka

Instructions:

1. Place five basil leaves in a mixing glass.
2. Squeeze the lime into the glass.
3. Press down on the leaves with a muddler and twist 4 to 5 times.
4. Fill glass three-quarters of the way with ice cubes.
5. Add the simple syrup and vodka.
6. Give the glass a good shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
7. Float a piece of the muddled basil leaf on the top as a garnish.

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How do you like to use basil or your favorite herb? Let us know!

Travel: Visit of the Year: Myanmar/Burma, Yangon

This year my trip takes me to an ancient city of Cambodia, as a guest of His Excellency Roland Eng for a week of Royal visit to his homeland followed by a detour visit to sleepy fishing village of Ngwe Saung by the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar.

Another week in Yangon (Rangoon), this city is the gateway to Myanmar. The century-old buildings are maintaining the heritage landscape in the midst of the city's cosmopolitan life that is rapidly growing. 

Always green with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, Yangon is known as the Garden City of the East. Besides visiting the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda here are a few of my own personal favorites.

A vendor at the bay

Restaurants:

Monsoon

www.monsoonmyanmar.com

 85-87, Thinbyu Road

This decadent restaurant and bar is a multicultural mix of old world charm and with a modern twist.

House of Memories 290, U Wizara Road

Located in a historic colonial villa, this restaurant was once the headquarters to members of the Burma independence movement. 

Happy Noodle 62, Inya Road

Serves a variety of Myanmar noodles, specializing in Shan tradition. 

Taing Yin Thar 5A, Parami Road

Newly opened on Parami Road, serving different ethnic Burmese food.

La Planteur

www.leplanteur.net

22, Pagoda Road

Beautifully situated on the Royal Lake, the menu consists of French-Burmese fusion cuisine set in an old colonial home. Best wines in beautiful villa on Inya Lake.

Mes Amis

www.mesamisyangon.com

5, U Htun Nyein Street

(Owner was previously from Le Planteur), also located on the Inya Lake.

Lashio Lay

If you want Indian food, located in a nice hotel by the red canal hotel.

999 Shan Noodle House

This place has a great noodle also their Shan Tofu Salad is a must.

The Strand Hotel

Just re-opened after renovation - go have a look!

Gekko

Japanese fusion downtown on Merchant at Pansodan (Phuong & Sean from Q Bar Hoi An liked this place!)

The Envoy Bar & Grill

New Hang Out with roof garden - downtown - very popular

Hotels:

Alamanda Inn

60B Shwe

Taung Gyar Road,

Golden Valley

This is new quiet B&B, upscale Yangon's Golden Valley district, rooms are small and well-kept.

Savoy Hotel

129 Dhamazeddhi Road, Corner of Inya Road

Close to many eclectic restaurants, bustling with fruit stands and food stalls at night.

Governor's Residence

35 Taw Win Street, Dagon Township

Colonial style with impeccable services, built in a beautiful teak mansion, located on a tree lined streets.

Ice Cream Street Vendor in Yangon

From Yangon, an excursion to the

Bay of Bengal beach

, we took a 4-hour ride through the rice fields countryside, bamboo plantations and fish farms to

Ngwe Saung

- a fishing village along stretches of unspoiled beach with beautiful turquoise waters and soft sandy beaches.  The village consists of a few boutique hotels on the ocean and a handful local restaurants, lined with stalls filled with freshly caught lobsters, large craw crabs and abundance of fish.

Ngwe Saung Beach by the bay of bengal

Don’t forget to bring new hundred dollar bills (no credit cards accepted here yet!) and dollar bills come in handy for tips.

Stay tuned on my Cambodia tips on my next post.

Travel: Asia Trip 2011-2012

Holiday Greetings!  Please follow me on Twitter & Facebook for the next three weeks for travel updates for my Asia trip this year.

In mean while, I have been busy this past month with holiday events at Saffron 59 as well as being my own travel agent; planning (numerous) connecting flights, itineraries, meeting with acquaintances and booking my old friends for breakfast on Chao Praya or dinner along the Mekong riverside.

I have not been to Cambodia since 1998. My main plan is to visit  the Angkor Hospital for Children to get a private tour from William, the Executive Director. I have been on their committee for over a decade. This hospital started as a small children’s hospital.  Today, they have treated over a million patients with a visitor’s center for those who travel from the far away villages. Last time I was in Siem Reap, there were only three hotels to open and some home inns.   Since then, there are now spas, French restaurants and trendy boutiques.

Angkor Hospital for Children Photo: Daniel C. Rothenberg, www.photoasia.org

And of course a stop in Burma to visit the orphanage in Yangon that I am involved in with my parents.

Orphanage in Yangon

We are also planning to hike to see the Naga, which are only one of the 35 tribes in Burma. 

A short stop on my trip will be to Bangkok where there are some great spots I will be visiting on the advice of Nancy Chandler as my go-to guide. Notable places such as the gallery at Attic Studios art gallery and workspace on Sukhumvit Soi 31; the often fully booked Old Bangkok Inn (B 3,200+); business and the artsy converge at the hip new all-suite Tenface Hotel (B 3,700+) and of course, food. I’m especially excited to try new Isaan restaurants that serve more than 20 different versions of somtam (a famous spicy papaya salad) at street prices.

And if we’re lucky we can maybe spend a few days in the Indian Ocean before returning.  I look forward to sharing these wonderful moments with all of you!

- Irene