samoon prai (local sea bass deep fried with aromatic
herbs), gam poo phad pong kari (seafood curry) and
i-tim kati zoong krueng (traditional Ampawa young
coconut ice cream topped with pumpkin, roasted
peanuts and palm seed) were some of the dishes we
enjoyed – making us feel as though we were sitting
around a local family’s dinner table.
We go to bed feeling like we couldn’t possibly eat
anymore, but awake revived from a good night’s sleep.
We’re chauffeured to the heart of Phuket for another,
culturally immersive – you guessed it – culinary tour.
Buried in the chaos of Old Phuket Town, south of the
island, are three iconic restaurants – Roti Taew Nam (a
breakfast cafe), Hokkien Noodles (lunch restaurant) and
i46 Old Town (sweets and museum) – all still owned by
their respective founding families.
The appetising adventure is part of the Food Hosted
Experience run by the Trisara resort. We are driven
between the historic venues tucked away in little nooks
of the busy hub, which would have been easily missed if
it hadn’t been for our experienced guides, giving us a
glorious, behind-the-scenes taste of Thailand.
But Trisara is so much more than a never-ending,
eat-until-your-pants-don’t-fit gastronomic affair.
The ultimate private tropical oasis spans two
kilometres of pristine Andaman Sea coastline across
16 hectares, with 39 breathtaking pool villas and
30 privately owned residential villas (a very lucky
few actually live here). And for good reason, 90 per
cent of guests don’t find the need to step foot outside
the resort.
When you experience the perfectly private run from
your custom-made, extra-large king-sized bed (featuring
300-thread-count bed linen and an extensive pillow
menu) to your sparkling infinity pool; the earthy outdoor
shower, an electric buggy driver at your disposal and
next-level attention to detail; USB ports beside the bed,
clean towels by the pool, natural mosquito repellent,
and beach bag and thongs in the cupboard... trust us,
you’ll never want to leave.
And don’t worry about prying eyes when you’re
taking your daily nude dip. Each villa is deliciously
secluded, surrounded by canopies of historic jungle so
pristine it’s common to cross paths with a giant monitor
lizard or crab on your walk to breakfast.
Indulge in an aromatic massage at Jara Spa – a
wellness centre enveloped by a century-old ficus tree.
You can’t go past the 90-minute, soothing, detoxifying
Thai Thermal aromatherapy massage.
Or work up a sweat with a Muay Thai lesson led by
a former professional boxer.
It’s easy to see why the likes of Roger Federer,
Hillary Clinton and Kylie Minogue seek relaxation and
respite at Trisara – the home of Phuket’s first and only
Michelin-starred restaurant.immediately immersed in a world of traditional
Asian meals where we learn the art of Thai cuisine
at a private cooking class. Armed with aprons and
a sharp knife, Chef Khun Rat teach us how to cook
an authentic three-course Thai meal; tom yum soup,
fish cakes and pad thai.
Being guided by a man with knife skills so nimble
it’s astonishing he still has all 10 fingers is slightly
intimidating for a budding cook. But Chef Rat patiently
leads us through a cooking storm, sharing little tricks
along the way.
Our three-day gastronomic adventure is far from
over. After heading back to our individual ocean-view
pool villas for a quick swim, we are ready for more
food – just. This time, like Mama makes.
Sitting in large, white rattan chairs around an
outdoor table with the gentle sea breeze as nature’s air
conditioner and soothing sound of salt water meeting
the sand in the not-too-far distance, Seafood is the
perfect spot to dine on southern Thai heirloom dishes.
Oysters on hot coals, tom som ragum pla (sour
broth tropical soup with amberjack fish), mong gone
phad prik gleau (sautéed Phuket lobster with fresh
tumeric, salt, chilli, garlic and coriander), pla tod
Thai star | INDULGE