Abu Dhabi: One needs no greater reason to pledge his palate to Thai delights than dining at Sontaya, the seductively beautiful restaurant at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island resort.
Allow the sweet smelling breeze to caress you as you ensconce yourself at one of the floating pavilions overlooking the Arabian Sea or choose a table next to the beach. The wooden interiors, which are discreetly lit with soothing yellow hues, will lend elegance to the irresistibly romantic ambience.
The Southeast Asian restaurant is hosting a 10-day festival from April 18 until April 27. While guests can savour the delectable specialities that highlight the delicate balance of sweet and spice aromas distinct to Thailand, every evening they will also be treated to a dash of Thai culture with the traditional art of puppetry from Thailand’s famed Joe Louis Theatre.
And if luck would have it, you might soon be enjoying a three-night stay at The St. Regis Bangkok plus two tickets on Etihad Airways.
Allow me to digress. Joe Louis Theatre is an internationally renowned group that has revived the dying Thai art of puppetry by perfecting the puppet movements to make them appear more lifelike.
Under Master Sakorn Yang-khiawsod and his nine children — all trained by their father — the puppetry has regained its popularity so much so that the Theatre has performed all over the world. Joe Louis is coming to Abu Dhabi for the first time and it will indeed be a cultural add-on as you relish the Thai delicacies.
Coming back to food, there is a Thai-inspired set menu available at dinner only during the festival. It is priced at Dh300 per person plus applicable taxes. An à la carte menu highlighting Thai cuisine will also be available during lunch and dinner.
Gao Le, the Restaurant Manager who painstakingly put together the special menu, took us through a culinary journey by explaining the nuances of Thai cuisine and the Vietnamese, Indonesian and Chinese influences on it.
After a deliciously spicy and sour Tom Yum Goong soup (I insisted on chicken instead of the prawn soup on the menu), we were treated to a well-presented appetiser platter which included Khong Guang Ruam (Phuket grilled chicken skewer on prawn toasted with peanut sauce), Udon style roasted marinated beef with lemon grass and spicy saw coriander dressing, Ayuttaya fried marinated prawn wrapped with spicy pappya tamarind and Sanpatong glutinous rice in Pandan leaf.
The expectations were already set high and there was no letting down as the main course was laid in front of us.
Marinated beef in red curry with round eggplant, carrot and potatoes (Geang Nue), deep fried spicy crispy duck with cashew nuts and dried chilli in Thai chili paste (Ped Phad Med Mamuang Himmapan), stir fired spicy seafood with spicy Thai basil, steamed mixed vegetables with soy been dip and steam jasmine rice with pandan (Kao Suay).
We were spoilt for choice, but with each dish and its distinct flavours, it was indeed an expedition into the diversity of Thai cuisine.
The mildly sweet Thai desserts haven’t so far tempted me to shift my loyalty from chocolate, yet the baked Taro custard (Mor Kaeng Puek) is my personal recommendation.
The water chestnut panacotta and mango Sorbet complete the dessert platter.
Location: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
Area: Saadiyat Island
Cuisine: Thai
Contact: 02-498 8254
Timings: Lunch: Noon to 3pm; Dinner: 6.30pm till midnight
