Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, Thailand's newly refurbished suite, bungalow and villa oasis, is adding to its exclusive island appeal with a range of exquisite dishes served at the resort's four stand-alone restaurants – Api, The Beach House, bean/Co and Ruan Thai.
Culinary Director, Jerôme Chautard, has designed a range of new menu choices that not only redefine the authentic resort dining experience, but also take guests on a taste journey around the globe.
Chef Jerôme was appointed Culinary Director in February 2017 and brings a wealth of gourmet food expertise to the role with 16 years of experience in locations as diverse as Greece and Africa. He fine-tuned his fine dining skills at top class restaurants in St Tropez on the French Riviera, and later spent close to seven years running kitchens at high-end restaurants in Thailand.
Api is the resort's all-day dining spot right by the soft white sands of Loh Ba Gao Bay and offers the ultimate beachside eatery with an extensive and appetizing breakfast spread to fuel guests' island adventures. The restaurant's international lunch and dinner choices include a popular Angus beef burger, a delicious salmon risotto, as well as pasta dishes, pizzas and classic salads. The chilled-out beach bar vibe is casual and cosy during the day, then livens up a notch with live music and delectable cocktails served at Api Bar as the sun goes down
Chef Jerôme says, "The highlight of the breakfast buffet at Api is the bakery and pastry station with fresh-baked breads, croissants, Danish and mini cakes. The chocolate croissant is a must-try and you can balance that with a visit to the juicer station for a healthy fruit and veg mocktail. Later in the day when its time for something a little stronger, the signature cocktail at Api Bar is made fresh with a local ingredient called baitoey, or pandan extract. The perfect sundowner has to be the Cool Sensation, made with whisky, white chocolate, banana cream, pineapple, lemon juice and grenadine."
For a romantic oceanside feast, The Beach House at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is an ideal choice and serves up a succulent surf-and-turf grill with fresh seafood and melt-in-the-mouth imported meats. The incredible al fresco dining experience is made all the more appealing with tasty cocktails and live music performed right by the lapping waves of the Andaman Sea.
Chef Jerôme comments, "We are just about to launch a new menu at The Beach House that will include a tank of live Boston lobster so diners can order the freshest seafood cooked exactly as they like it. We also serve a daily catch and grilled surf & turf platters to share."
The tranquil hillside setting for Ruan Thai restaurant, surrounded by tropical greenery, is the perfect location to savour the exquisite taste of authentic Thai cuisine with dishes served in a traditional Thai house.
Chef Jerôme explains, "Our diners have good taste when it comes to Thai food and the top 3 ordered dishes are an assorted Thai appetizer platter for two, tiger prawns served in a tamarind sauce, and one of my personal favourites, a classic Thai dish you have to eat by the sea, which is steamed whole sea bass with garlic, soy, lime and chilli."
The resort's new bean/Co cafe serves specialty teas, coffees and a range of tempting desserts. For high resolution version, click here.
To complement the fine dining, an all-day cafe and lounge called bean/Co offers specialty teas and rich coffees including Bon Cafe' premium blend and Cafe' Classica roasted coffee. The menu also includes homemade ice cream and sweet tooth treats galore. Chef Jerôme recommends the chocolate brownies, chocolate-filled doughnuts, carrot cake and chocolate mousse at bean/Co, washed down with a Thai tea frappe or salted-caramel iced coffee.
"Holidays are all about indulgence and when you are surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery in the world it is only fitting that the cuisine should also be varied and inspiring," says Chao Treenawong, General Manager of Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort.