7/30/2009

To Nobody Restaurant, fabulous German foods

To Nobody

But nobody should miss it

The Dining Out team had visited Joerg and his wife Sunisa almost a year ago, at the old To Nobody Restaurant. With their having shifted alongside the superhighway, it was time to review the new venue.

The building is open-sided, with a rotunda at one side in the front, followed by a covered section with “clouds” painted on the ceiling to continue the ‘airy’ feel, and there is an enclosed air-conditioned room as well. We arrived for lunch and chose the covered section. The tables and chairs are light coloured natural wood, with good quality tablecloths. The dishes are Lampang porcelain and good quality too. It is a restaurant, not a brauhaus!

With background Bavarian music we studied the menu. Yes, it comes in German (and English). And be prepared to spend a little while to wade through it all - there are 73 items, plus specials and beverages.

It begins with soups, around B. 100-120, including a Hungarian beef, and then into cold appetizers (B. 140-190) with the smoked duck breast on cognac-marinated tangerines, served with herb-baguettes looking very inviting. Hot appetizers follow (B. 90-180) with baked goat cheese with olives, chillies and garlic-baguette catching my eye.

Baguettes and sandwiches are next, around B. 150, then salads (B. 100-180) and egg dishes (B. 100-150) and then into fish. There are 11 choices between B. 180 for the herrings through to B. 325 for Royal Project trout with salmon filling.

These are followed by pork, poultry, beef and lamb dishes, most in the mid 200 baht region. There are dedicated vegetarian items, kids choices and desserts! Whew!

Our first dish was a German Weisswurst with sweet mustard, a Bavarian specialty, which came with its own pretzel and grated radish. The white sausage is made from veal and pork, and you peel them by slitting them lengthways and then popping the meat out. The mustard that came with this was sensational, and I could have stopped right there. Forget the rest, Joerg, I was perfectly happy already!

However, the second dish was on its way, a sample from the kids’ menu - a potato pancake with applesauce. Never mind the kids, this was great adult food too.

The next dish was Joerg’s beef olive, where he wraps the meat around gherkins, onions, bacon and mustard and then cooks it. The meat was very tender with an almost ‘smoky’ flavour, and it was served along with dumplings and red cabbage. This was one dish I returned to more than once, during lunch. Looking at my tasting notes later, I had only written one word: “Exceptional”.

However Joerg had not finished with us yet. There was the Rhoener style lamb cutlet to come. This was lightly done after marinating with garlic and rosemary and came with a pear with blueberry jam. The accompaniment was a sauce made from sour cream with onions and garlic, and this was another superb and subtle flavoured dish.

Despite all my pleas, dessert came next - a pineapple meringue with rice, to which I could do no justice. These Germans have big appetites if they can pack away one of Joerg’s meringues as well!
We finished with a coffee, which came in something that looked more like a soup bowl. Again a huge serving! We sat there, burped and marvelled at the meal we had just experienced.

Quite frankly, if all German food was like that which we received at To Nobody, I believe that German food would have been the world cuisine by now. Forget red cabbage, sloppy sauerkraut, hard boiled potatoes and sausage - that is not how Joerg presents his food. Certainly he can make some great sausage dishes, but he makes great anything dishes, with new tastes that seem far removed from the stereotypical German fare. He has elevated his country’s food to new heights. The man is a genius and Chiang Mai is lucky to have him. Very highly recommended. Just go and try!

To Nobody, 44 Soi Tewan, 500 meters from the Superhighway and before Huay Kaew Road, telephone 053 214 483, 01 993 8002, open every day, lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Information from Chiangmai Mail, thanks!!!

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7/29/2009

Opkhan or Ob Khan or Op Khan National Park

Ob Khan or Op Khan is a strange and beautiful natural sightseeing spot in the area of Maekhan River, near the boundary of Hangdong District and Samoeng District, where the office of the Ob Khan National Park is located. The sightseeing spot is originated from the erosion of cliffs on both sides of Maekhan River.




Activities :
  • Nature trail study
  • Cave/Geological Touring
  • Camping

    • Attractions:

    Huai Mae Win Waterfall is a 3-step small sized waterfall, situated in the central part of Mae Win River (between Ban Huai Yuak and Ban Khun Win, Tambol Mae Win, Mae Wang Sub-district, Sanpatong District). Step 1 of the Waterfall is about 10 meters high (approximately 20 meters away from Ban Huai Yuak or Ban Kariang), meanwhile, Step 3 is about 15 meters high and 9 meters wide (approximately 800 meters away from Step 2 of the Waterfall). Huai Mae Win Waterfall must be reached by walking from Ban Huai Yuak since there is no access road.


    Pha Oak Ma
    away from Opkhan about 200 meters with its special character of widespread rock besides Khan river...small and big rocks spreading around and the other side is a low rise cliff situable for relaxation and swimming...just not for rainy season.



    • General Information:

    Opkhan or O
    b Khan National Park covers the areas of Pha Samoeng National Conserved Forest including areas of Tambol Samoeng Tai, Tambol Mae Sarb, Tambol Borkaew of Samoeng District; Pa Mae Khan-Mae Wang National Conserved Forest including Tambol Mae Win, Tambol Ban Kard, Mae Wang Sub-district, Sanpatong District, Tambol San Klang of Sanpatong District; and Pha Chang-Mae Khanin National Conserved Forest including Tambol Namprae, Tambol Banpong of Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province, within an approximate area of 574 square kilometers or 341,875 rai. The geographical features of the National Park mostly consist of high mountains. And “Yod Khun Tien” is the highest mountaintop of the National Park, at the altitude of 1,550 meters. The National Park has beautiful natural tourist attractions and varieties of major plants and wild animals.

    • Geography
    The geographical features of the National Park consist of high and low mountains, extending from mountains in the area of Mae Chaem District, Chaing Mai Province. The majority of mountains in the National Park are not much high. And “Yod Khun Tien” is the highest mountaintop of the National Park, at the altitude of 1,550 meters, followed by “Doi Khun Huay Prachao” at the altitude of 1,443 meters, and “Doi Khun Win” at the altitude of 1,424 meters above the medium sea level, etc. The National Park is the source of major rivers and gullies flowing into Ping River including Nan River, Lan River, Tien River, Win Gully, Mae Toa Gully, Mae Kamin Gully, Lah Luang Gully, etc. Most areas of the National Park are mountains at the average altitude of 800 meters above the medium sea level. There are small plains along rivers and gullies, including hillside plains where villages are situated.


    Climate

    The National Park has the tropical weather condition, i.e., summer is the longest period of the year. The weather is rather hot in summer and cold in winter. And there are frequent, short rains in the rainy season.


    Flora and Fauna

    Since the geographical features of the National Park consist of high and low mountains, there are various kinds of forests within the area of the National Park, including arid, evergreen forests, virgin forests, pinery, and mixed forests. Major plants include Irvingia Malayana Oliv. (Krabok), Anisoptera Costata (Krabak), Indian Mahogany, Pometia Pinnata, Sompong, rubber trees, clustered plants, Michela Alba, Talo, Cinnamon, Benzoin, Pinus Merkusii Jungh (two-leaf pines), Pinus Kesiya Royle Ex Gordon (three-leaf pines), teak, Leguminosae (Pradoo), Lagerstroemia (Tabaek), Schleichera Oleosa, Vitex Pinnata Linn. (Teen Nok), Terminalia Chebula, and different kinds of bamboo. Wild animals found in the National Park include gorals, Muliacus Muntjak, bears, fishing cats, mouse deer, masked palm civets, wild rabbits, wild boars, monkeys, slow loris, mongooses, porcupines, squirrels, tree shrews, rats, etc.

    • Location and contact address"

    Op Khan National Park
    Nam Phrae Sub-district, Amphur Hang Dong Chiang Mai Thailand 50230
    Tel. 08 6181 1068 E-mail reserve@dnp.go.th


    How to go

    You may take the routes around the area of the National Park, which are used as borderlines of the National Park, including Highway No. 1269 (Hangdong-Samoeng), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12066 (Samoeng-Borkaew), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12040 (Borkaew-Maehey), Ror.Por.Chor. Road No. 12039 (Maehe-Sobwin), Highway No. 1103 (Sobwin-Sanpatong).

    2 routes from Chiangmai

    1) from Chiangmai, use canal road from Ton Payom Market toward Hang Dong district around 15 Kilometers then turn right on the Ror.Por.Chor road no. 12066 (Samoeng-Borkaew) or Ror.Por.Chor Rd No. 12040 (Borkaew-Maekey) about 12 kilometers.

    2) from Chiangmai, use hang dong street # 108 (Chiangmai-Hod) about 9 kilometers then turn right at the intersection toward Samoeng District about 2 kilometers, turn left along the canal road for about 6 kilometers then turn right to the Ror.Por.Chor road no. 12066 (Samoeng-Borkaew) or Ror.Por.Chor Rd No. 12040 (Borkaew-Maekey) about 12 kilometers, totally 29 kilometers

    Information from National Park Organization and rearrange by Patrick Smith

    Taxi Chiangmai: Local call 081 617 2116 oversea call: +66 81 617 2116

    7/15/2009

    Chiangmai the 5th best cities in the world

    The Northern city of Chiang Mai-Thailand, is a city of diverse cultural complexity and natural beauty. The north is the home to the hill tribes, whose cultures are disappearing daily while modernization steps into place. It's also known for its magnificent national parks, elephant conservation centers, butterfly farms and some of the highest mountain peaks in Thailand along with an excess of 300 temples

    e.g. Number 1 highest peak of Thailand called Doi Inthanon which level 2,500 metres above sea level and it is so breathtaking as well as located very nice King and Quen Chedi and Waterfall.

    Traveling to Chiang Mai is considered the keystone journey to make when one visits Thailand. In 2005, the magazine TRAVEL & LEASURE ranted Chiang Mai as the 5th best cities in the world to visit.

    Centered in a valley about 700 kilometres northwest of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is often referred to as Thailand's second largest city, even though its municipal population of around 250,000 - ranks it fifth nationwide. In terms of the cultural role it plays in today's Thailand, Chiang Mai is easily the nation's "second city" after the capital, especially in the fields of arts, architecture and design. Chiang Mai has long been a simmering pot of multiple cultural influences which forms the basis of its unique and interesting style. Enriched as a trade entrepot along the mule caravan routes from China to Myanmar, the city expanded its status and influence after an alliance of three Thai princes consolidated power over the region in the 13th century. Following this time, as capital of the Lanna kingdom, the walled and moat-encircled trading city initiated a fusion of regional arts that is still metamorphosing today.

    Over the centuries, influences have been absorbed from near and far--from hill tribes coming down from their highland homes to trade in the city to Thai tribes migrating across the Mekong River from southern China and northern Vietnam, as well as from the artisans of Thailand's neighbouring lands.

    No journey to Chiang Mai is truly complete without a visit to Wat Phra Sing, a 14th-century monastery renowned for its ancient temple murals, exemplary Lanna architecture and exquisite Phra Singh Buddha. Post-modern, functionalist and industrial styles imported from the West also add to the current blend within a design ethos that encourages their fusion with traditional northern Thai design elements. This approach means that the essence of "Chiang Mai style" will remain forever in flux as it continues to borrow inspiration from old and new sources.

    Taxi Chiangmai - 081 617 2116 or neomart@gmail.com

    Information from abroad-crwf.com/