Okay, okay quit with the sniggering. I will have you know that Supanniga is in fact the name of a Thai flower hey, it sure is memorable isn’t it? And if memories are anything to go by, the ones I have of our visit to Supanniga Eating Room in Thong Lo induce a mouth-watering, eyes lolled back, give me more type of reaction. Supanniga takes the recipes of owner Thanaruek Laoraowirodge’s grandmother and serves home-style dishes to the lucky patrons who walk in the door. The space is casual but chic- concrete walls, a canary yellow banquette and pretty crockery make for a welcoming dining space as do the friendly nature of the staff.
On our visit we drank a long and refreshing Horizontal Upright which was punchy with gin and triple sec but mellowed by sweet pineapple juice and lime and a boozy Supanniga Martini containing gin, dark rum, vodka, lime, brown sugar and mint. The cocktail menu is definitely worth sampling.
On the food front we were spoilt for choice from the enticing menu. We started with nam prik kai pu a spicy dip of sea water crab eggs and crab meat in which we dunked crunchy vegetables- cucumber, cabbage and beans. It was a starter full of texture and zingy flavour.
We ate son in law eggs, their fried exteriors sliced through to reveal gooey, golden interiors. These were some of the best I’ve ever had. Truly memorable.
The pa nang nue lai, a red curry of tender slices of beef shank which was fragrant with coconut milk and chopped kaffir lime leaves was equally mouth-watering. The thick curry sauce perfect for drizzling over jasmine rice.
Our first taste of stink beans or sa-taw arrived in the form of a pad nam prik sa-taw goong sod, a ‘simple’ (read incredibly complex flavour-wise) stir fry of prawns and shrimp paste. The prawns were juicy and had bite and the sa taw, reminiscent of a broad bean were delicate but full of earthy flavour. I’d eat them again.
There are countless other dishes on Supanniga’s menu worth sampling the ka lum tod nam pla for one which we ate the next day at Supanniga’s sister restaurant EAT – who knew fried cabbage could taste so good? All I have to say is put Supanniga on your Bangkok eating itinerary. You won’t look back.
Good to know:
Horizontal Upright 220THB
Supanniga Martini 260THB
Nam prik kai pu (crab dip) 190THB
Son in law eggs 130THB
Pa nang nue lai (beef curry) 180THB
Pad nam prik sa-taw goong sod 180THB
Rice 25THB per bowl
Supanniga Eating Room
160/11 Soi Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor)
Klongton Nuea, Watthana,
Bangkok 10110
Telephone: 02 714 7508
Open 7 days, 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5;30pm to 11:30pm
http://www.supannigaeatingroom.com
Images: Thomas Southam
