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| Primo Posto Del Khao Yai: Italian Treats in a Tasteful Tuscan Setting |
| UPDATE : 18 November 2009 |
Youthapong Charoenpan
Located in the Sankambeng Mountain Range in Khorat (Nakhon Ratchasima province), Khao Yai National Park has become a magnet for the rich (and possibly famous), as well as attracting its fair share of international tourists and city residents looking to escape the hustle and bustle, particularly on weekends.
And it's not difficult to see why this is the case as the park boasts some incredible examples of natural beauty, along with a large number of luxury hotels and resorts, and even a number of vineyards. The park's popularity has also given rise to an increase in the number of restaurants located within its boundaries over recent years, which cater to the tastes of a growing number of visitors and residents alike.
Roman holiday
Primo Posto Del Khao Yai opened its doors in 2004 and has become an incredibly popular dining choice among both groups. The inspiration for the restaurant really came about when one of the co-owners was on his travels in Tuscany, one of Italy's best known regions. Inspired by the Tuscan landscape and the architectural styles typical of the area, he decided to create a similar property on his return to the kingdom.
Primo Posto, which means 'first gate' in Italina, perfectly illustrates this Tuscan influence in terms of its food, architecture, and beautifully landscaped gardens. The restaurant's elegant principal building stands within the property's own vineyard, only adding to the authentic feel.
Brisk business
I visited Primo Posto during a sunny lunchtime and the eatery was pretty much packed. I opted to start with a fairly common Italian dish – Spaghetti Carbonara.
I get the feeling the chef at Primo Posto knows what he's doing since this dish featured al dente ('just cooked') pasta. It's not unusual for pasta dishes served up in the kingdom to be somewhat overcooked since locals often prefer a softer texture, so I was impressed with the authenticity of this particular dish. The sauce, made with a carefully balanced blend of eggs and Parmesan cheese, was absolutely superb, and of just the right consistency.
For a main course, I actually order something slightly less Italian and more 'generic' when it comes to international cuisine. However, it turned out to be a good choice since the grilled salmon steak with mixed vegetables, with a flavorful yet light sauce, was both succulent and very tasty.
I decided to give the delicious yet highly calorific dessert offerings a miss on this occasion, instead opting for a crisp and light Caesar salad. Again, this turned out to be a good choice since the croûtons were suitably crisp, while the dressing was excellent (and not too creamy). Again, the restaurant's authentic feel shines through, as evidenced by its decision to use top quality Parmesan cheese.
Customers who enjoy the sweet course will be pleased to learn that Primo Posto boasts a long list of dessert options, along with coffee and all the usual alcoholic beverage options you can imagine.
'Just so'
Finally, I'd like to refer to the restaurant's overall feel. While Primo Posto comes across as a typical Tuscan restaurant, offering fine, authentic-tasting Italian fare, it manages to do so without being overtly excessive. The colorful buildings are representative of what you might come across in the central Italian region, but it does not 'cross the line', as many others do, by appearing rather tacky. So you won't find any mock Roman column here, which is a real blessing since the layout, design, décor, landscaped gardens and, most importantly, food manage to perfectly encapsulate the Italian concept of beauty.
Although the restaurant only opens from Friday through Sunday, this makes perfect sense from a business perspective since these are the 'peak' days for visitors. And whether you're a resident of Bangkok, or a visitor to the kingdom, a visit to Primo Posto will certainly satisfy your taste buds, or your taste for all things Italian.
For further information or to reserve a table, call Tel: +66 (0)84 035 8554, or visit http://www.primo-posto.net.
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