White Beer'D Review - Thai Fusion and European Pub and Restaurant at CDC

White Beer'D - CDC : Thai Fusion and European Pub & Restaurant Draft Beer

Overall Score  7/10
Taste   3/5
Ambiance  3/5
Service  4/5
Value   3/5

White Beer'D - Pub & Restaurant on BuMRes.com (For more pictures, menu and info)

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If you were to find a community mall in Bangkok with a diverse selection of unique restaurants, non franchise, chill atmosphere, and full of beautiful young people, I am sure that many of you would have the CDC Crystal Design Center in your mind. The CDC at Liab Thangduan is a chic community mall that is full of cool restaurants as well as pub and restaurants. This review is on the White Beer'D, one of the many good pub restaurants at CDC.  

Hearing the name, you can probably tell that it is the restaurant with the focus on beers. White Beer'D or White Beard is the logo of this restaurant. There are so many selection of draft beers here; 9 brands and 11 different types. I have been to a few of this type of restaurants recently and this one actually has the most amount of choices. For bottled beers, there are about 22 choices, plenty of choices that will take you some time to decide. Thai people going out in large groups always share a tower of draft beer and White Beer'D surely has a few choices that can come in the tall dispenser tower. Tower of beer is of course the best bargain. 

About food, what they have to offer here is similar to most Thai pub & restaurant, serving Thai European fusion food. Most choices are the appetizer type that can go great with the alcoholic drinks. The menu at White Beer'D @ CDC is huge. Food prices are reasonable; main dishes cost around 300 Baht including vat + service charge and 150 Baht for snacks and appetizers. Mainly the atmosphere is divided into 2 zones; interior setting is like a older Western bar. The open air areas outside are nice, as long as the weather is nice. Sitting outside, you will get to enjoy the live music from the nearby restaurant, The Right Bank. Girl servers are dressed in dutch maid style, lovely costumes for Thai girls with slim bodies. They are sure a fine sight; a wonderful touch to the atmosphere for lonely guys. The servers may not know much about the food but they offered great service and they were friendly.

 We have tried almost every types of beer in the menu. My friends and I had five beers each. 

• Paulaner Oktoberfest - Style Marzen (Lager) (6.0% Alcohol - 230 Baht) : This one is a nice lager, less bitter than Singha beer and the foam is soft and fine. It tasted pretty nice. 
• Paulaner Hele-Weissbier - Style German Wheat Beer (5.5% Alcohol - 230 Baht) :  This one reminds me of the Hoegaarden, a fantastic wheaty beer with pleasant aroma. 
• Old Speckled Hen - Style English Pale Ale (5.0% Alcohol - 230 Baht) : This is a dark ale from England, tasted strong with the ale flavor. Ale lovers will sure like this one I suppose. 
• Bavaria Premium lager - Style Lager (5.0% Alcohol - 180 Baht) : This a a simple Lager. I am not the beer expert that can point out differences in beer flavors but draft Lager is always my favorite. 
• Foster's Lager - Style Lager (5.0% Alcohol - 180 Baht) : This Australian beer is a full bodied Lager, very similar to Singha beer of Thailand.
• Carlsberg - Style Lager (5.0% Alcohol - 180 Baht) : For a while Carlsberg disappeared from Thai market. The comeback is a surprise; it actually is a good beer. Now we can see Carlsberg in convenient stores.  
• La Trappe Witte Trappist - Style witebier (Belgium wheat beer) - (5.0% Alcohol - 250 Baht) : This one has been my favorite. The shop ran out of the original La Trappe glass, so the beer was served in Bavaria glass instead. I believe I had seen this Belgian wheat beer in pilsner type glass before. I like its fine foam and hoppy wheat beer flavor.  

We ordered many different dishes. I can tell you briefly about each one since I was mostly enjoying the beers and the atmosphere. 

• Chicken knuckles in red whisky sauce - 120 Baht : This one is delicious with its sweet and sour sauce. If it was more crispy, it would be perfect. 
• Squid fritter - 150 Baht : Simply done deep fried squid was enjoyable with the beer. It was different from calamari since it was sliced into strips. 
• Baked spinach with cheese - 180 Baht : A basic baked spinach with cheese with quality standard. There is nothing outstanding about it. 
• Spicy salmon with lemon grass - 180 Baht : The server recommended this dish and I totally agreed. The flavor was very Thai and very intense. For Thai people, this kind of spicy dish is always the favorite. Cube Salmon was mixed with fresh Thai herbs, chili paste, with lime juice and the Thai yum dressing. 
• Hot and spicy salmon - 180 Baht : A popular menu that is available at many pub and restaurants in Bangkok. Made with green oak and thin slices of Salmon and topped with Thai spicy dressing. Simple dish but somehow didn't hit the spot. 
• Spicy german pork knuckle salad - 200 Baht : This one was one of the worst dish tonight. The pork was chewy and tough, and how it was served with the chinese kale just wasn't a match. The flavor of the salad dressing was weird.  
• Black pepper salmon steak with wasabi sauce - 360 Baht : This dish was just not so tasty and it was too pricey. The small size salmon fillet was fried with black pepper sauce. The salmon wasn't fresh and the sauce didn't taste good. Moreover, the side salad on the dish is like a street side steak shop, selling a full option of steak, fries, and salad for no more than 100 Baht. 
• Pork Chop - 250 Baht : This one was like the Salmon steak except the porkchop was niced grilled and tender. The side salad was the same, cheap salad. 

White Beer'D @ CDC is good spot to chill with friends and drink beers outdoor, enjoy a nice night of Bangkok. The vast selection of draft beers and the lovely servers are a plus. Thai appetizers are great but some of the main dishes were a disappointment. Well, I guess they want to concentrate on the beers and the snack food. If you want to get to know a variety of European beers, the White Beer'D is a good place to go. 


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Shio Yoshoku - Cafe and Restaurant at Sukhumvit 49, Bangkok


Overall Score  7.5/10
Taste   3.5/5
Ambiance  4/5
Service  4/5
Value   3/5

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There are so many Japanese restaurants in Bangkok, especially in Thonglor and Prompong. You can find any types and grades of Japanese food in this area but there is one style that is so hard to find, the Yoshoku style, Japanese with Western influence. Yoshoku originated from the time that U.S. submarine stationed at the gulf of tokyo in the year 1850. During that time, Japanese absorbed some cultures from the Westerners, including food. The new age of Japanese cuisine or Yoshoku became popular at that point in time. A great example is the Omu Rice that came from the Omelette; or Curry that is similar to the stew; or Tonkatsu that is from the crispy fried pork loin German style.

Eversince, Yoshoku Japanese cuisine became widespread across the nation that Japanese thought it was their common Japanese cuisine. Unlike in Thailand, the Cook Shop or a Thai restaurant that served western influenced food is not as popular and diminishing day after day. Only the old ones of past continues but there is no new ones open up. Personally I really like Thai Cook Shop food.

The Shio Yoshoku - Cafe & Restaurant in this review. From the name, it is obvious that they serve Yoshoku style Japanese food. This restaurant is fairly new. It is located in Soi Sukhumvit 49. If you come from Sukhumvit road, the restaurant is on the left side before you get to the Smitivej Hospital. In the front there are a few parking spots. The restaurant opens up for business three times a day. At lunch is a set lunch at budget price; in the afternoon is tea time with cakes and coffee; and at dinner time, Shio Yoshoku serves Japanese - Western food. In my knowledge, this place is the only Yoshoku.

The head chef is the owner, Khun Yada. She is a young Thai chef who spent time cooking in Japan and fell in love with the charms of Japanese Western food, so she brought the delicious Yoshoku food for people in Bangkok.

The Shio Yoshoku in Soi Sukhumvit 49 has a spacious interior dining area. The indoor has about 20 tables and al fresco dining has four tables. Japanese customer who smokes would love to sit outdoor and enjoy a lunch set. Two choices for the lunch set 259 and 359 Baht, with a variety to choose, each set comes with salad and a soft drink. At dinner time, there is a la carte menu with appetizer, sandwich, salad, grilled, paste, and more. Since they have cakes and bakery items for the afternoon tea, these choices of sweets are always available at dinner time. Special items with a mix of Japanese and European style would be the Roll cake, Fruit Crepe cake, Shortcake, and more.

We review this place at dinner time. We got two choices of cocktails. 

- Midori Sour - 280 Baht : It was an easy to drink cocktail with the midori color, green. The flavor is mostly sweet, probably not most preferred by gentlemen but it was a delicious cocktail. 

- Japanese Ume Mojito - 280 Baht : Mojito is one of my favorite cocktail. This one came with a slight brownish color. It was the plum wine and plum in it. At first, it tasted kind of weird but after a couple of sips, it tasted good with the carbonation, sour, and sweet. 

For the main dishes, we had five items

- Salmon Carpaccio (Thinly sliced salmon with a touch of spice from mix bell pepper and onion, served with ponzu dressing - 320 Baht : The meal started with a little bit of disappointment. The salmon was sliced too thin. Well, it is supposed to be the Carpaccio but the sauce was a bit overwhelming. The garnish was good looking but didn't go so well with the salmon and the soy sauce. The salmon wasn't bad but it was the sauce that was too runny and too much of it. 

• Crab Cream Croquette - light crispy outer panko shell with a creamy crab sauce and crab meat inside - 450 Baht : This is a standard Croquette, served in good size. The outside was nice and crispy. It could be more stuffed. I like it full of stuffing as I bite through it. 
• Dried Curry Rice - a tasty curry fried rice dish with ground pork, scramble eggs and fresh vegetables - 270 Baht : This one is different; omu rice and kare (or curry) together. The taste is basic, standard good. The impression was very Yoshoku, the omelette, the rice, and the curry. I liked it; this dish will be a perfect breakfast for me. 

• Beef Stew (Slow cooked beef ideally served with mashed potatoes, boiled vegetables, and steamed rice - 550 Baht)  : This stew was so savory and delicious. The beef was chunky and tender and the sauce was rich and flavorful. The vegetables came with it and the mashed potatoes were absolutely enjoyable. Having the stew beef with the mashed potatoes gave a wonderful Westernized feel. I'd definitely recommend this menu. 
• Kurobuta Saute (Sauteed Berkshire pork served with Japanese style sauce and grilled vegetables - 440 Baht) : This one is the last of the main dishes. Kurobuta pork was perfectly cooked, came with slightly sweet sauce. And again, the vegetables were amazing, slightly grilled. The two meaty Japanese Westernized dishes were fantastic. 

For dessert, we got three pieces of cake. 

• Strawberry Shortcake (3 layered sponge cake with cream and fresh sliced strawberries in between - 170 Baht) : The popular cake of Japan, Shio Yoshoku did a great job in presenting this cake. The cream didn't have the strong scent but the texture of the cake was perfect. 
• SHIO Caramel Rare Cheesecake (Japanese style no-bake cheesecake with salted caramel cream inside - 150 Baht) : This one is the highlight of the cake. How the cheese cake hadn't been baked is rarely found. The cheese was soft and amazing. The caramel inside was a nice surprise; it melted out as I cut through the cheesecake. This cheesecake was super delicous, I loved it. 
• Mixed Fruit Mille Crepe (Layered mille crepe filled with fresh cream and various kinds of fruit - 185 Baht) : This crepe cake was made with four types of fruits; banana, kiwi, cantaloupe, and strawberry.  The fruits stood out the most, more than the crepes that are a bit dry and not much flavor, so what I liked about this crepe cake was the fresh fruits, not really the crepe. 

Shio Yoshoku Cafe & Restaurant is one good restaurant. A remarkable point about this place is the food, a type of Japanese cross-culture with the European, which is hard to find in Bangkok. This kind of Japanese food is found randomly in modern fusion restaurants but there is not really one that concentrate on only the Yoshoku style. Thai people may not be so familiar with this kind of Japanese food. For those who have lived in Japan and miss the Yoshoku, I would recommend the Shio Yoshoku. I bet this restaurant attracts many Japanese people living in this area. With the variety of dishes in the menu and the reasonable price, you will sure find your favorite Yoshoku dish here at Shio Yoshoku located in Soi Sukhumvit 49.  

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American Deli Cafe and Restaurant - Dean and Deluca, Sathorn, Bangkok

Dean and Deluca - American Deli Cafe & Restaurant at Mahanakorn Building, Bangkok

Overall Score  7/10
Taste   3.5/5
Ambiance  4/5
Service  4/5
Value   4/5

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Dean & Deluca - Gourmet Supermarket & Cafe is a famous brand from U.S. that has been flourish ing Bangkok for a couple of years already. I am sure that many Americans who live here know about this place, as well as Thais that have had their years in the states. The main concept is to be the compact gourmet market.  There are classy things like Caviar, Cheese, Foie gras, and more.  Other premium merchandise for the kitchen are also found here.

There are three branches of Dean & Deluca in Bangkok. The largest one is at the Mahanakorn, the flagship and the first one. Its current location is in the Ritz Carlton Residence and the store is in the process of expanding; expected to finish by October this year. The expansion will make this headquarter 5 times more grand, to follow the mother location in New York.

For a restaurant, the space is not small but having divided into supermarket and the take out counter sure made the whole setting rather tight. The restaurant is a self service style; everyone orders at the counter, get an numbered tag, find a table, and the food will get served on the table. The food selection is mostly western style with a great variety of bakery and cakes, similar to other deli cafes in Bangkok.  For the price, large portion food is a wonderful deal. The fact that there is no vat or service charge is great.

In this meal, we can separate the review in to beverages, main dishes, and bakery.

• New York Strawberry Soda + Ice Mint (95 บาท) : I wished is was more carbonated but the rich strawberry flavor is fantastic. 
• Coffee Latte (90 บาท) : Standard quality latte feels like a coffee from a premium brand like Starbucks - not as great as some fancy cafes in Thonglor area. 
• Ice Matcha with Red Bean Syrup (180 บาท) : I am a bit curious about the price of this cup. The price is twice higher than other drinks. I must admit that it is a delicious iced green tea. The matcha scent is prominent and the taste is well balanced, not too sweet and not bland. To green tea lovers, this one is recommended. 
• Iced Latte (100 บาท) :  Similar to the hot latte, nothing to get excited about. I mean it is a good coffee, a kind that can be found anywhere. Good for local office people, no need to travel across town for it. 

We have four dishes on this visit.

• Salmon Teriyaki - 250 Baht : The restaurant told me that this one is the best seller. What it is is a salmon fillet, seared on the surface and the inside is still rare. On top is the teriyaki sauce and on the side is the salad of romaine lettuce with vinaigrette dressing to contrast the rich flavors of the teriyaki sauce. In my opinion, the salmon is awkward, it could be more charred on the outside. But the salmon and salad really go great together. Not bad for a best seller. 

• New York waffle Tower (New York style waffle layered with fresh berries, creme anglais and mixed berry coulis - 250 Baht) : This is a one fancy waffle with lots of strawberry sauce. The texture of the waffle is slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. For a guy like me it is hard to finish a sweet main dish like this, I usually prefer the savory dishes. The girls might like it more. Especially Thai girls who are so crazy with desserts. 
• BLT Sandwich (Smoked bacon, beefsteak tomato, iceberg frillace cross lettuce on toasted Kraftkorn with aioli - 190 Baht) : For this one, the first impression is amazed by the size. It is probably three times bigger than Big Mac. The meat and the fresh veg in it are delicious. The toast though, a bit thick and touch. So don't let it sit, eat it while it is warm. 

• Maple Ham & Cheddar Cheese Pancake (Maple glazed ham, sharp cheddar cheese, emmental cheese sauce & microgreens on a whole grain savory pancake - 190 Baht : This menu is the unique breakfast created by Dean & Deluca. The base is pancake, then a fried egg. toppings are diced ham and microgreens. I had this menu in the afternoon and it is really delicious. I bet it would be perfect to have this in the morning with a cup of black coffee. 

For dessert, we had two pieces of cakes. 

• Rainbow Cake - 165 Baht  : Colorful cake it is, looking delightful and delicious. The taste is amazing. Sweet flavor is contrasted with the sour. 
• Chocolate Strawberry Crepe Cake - 145 บาท : This crepe cake is fabulous, I must say. I like the strawberries stuffed in between layers. The real chocolate sauce poured atop is a highlight. Girls will love it.  

The food at Dean & Deluca may not my most favorite but overall the quality of the American food here is acceptable. For what you get, the price is surprisingly reasonable, compared to the cafes with no names in Bangkok. If I were working nearby or in the Sathorn area, I wouldn't mind going there for lunch sometimes. About the expansion, I will look forward to see how extravagance it will be and hoping to find more choices in the supermarket department.  

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