Destinations

In this Phuket dining coverage from Avista Grande Phuket Karon – MGallery, Happy Hour Asia tests the ‘The Grande Indian Brunch’. It takes place on a hot April Sunday (Thai summer), but an atypical one, since Phuket is at this time still recuperating from a huge tourism downturn… But some of the resorts are fully operational like Avista Grande, which is nicely nestled on a hillside, a stone’s throw from wide and very long Karon Beach (close to its Southern End). And wow; there are drinking and dining offers too, such as an affordable and sumptuous Phuket Indian brunch on offer – let’s try it!

Combined with Avista Grande Phuket Karon resort this particular Sunday brunch entails experiencing a splendid blend of western and Asian cultures in a way that can easily happen in Southeast Asia and in venues frequented by travellers and tourists such as hotels, restaurants. In this particular case the historically it’s the mixed character of Phuket (called Sino-Portuguese based on the early seafarers the came there many hundreds of years ago) combined with the Portosino restaurant and then Indian cuisine that forms the lovely blend.

Here, in the Portosino restaurant, Indian cuisine is also on the daily menu but with this brunch it comes into focus. The chefs also blend it with Southern Thai cuisine, which very much so incorporates curry flavours per default. The food at this all-day-dining venue is a fusion of Sino-Portuguese aromatic Thai cuisine, international favourites as well as Indian specialties that use locally sourced products as part of the hotel’s ‘Love for local’ initiative. Phuket’s local favourite dishes are inspired by so-called ‘Peranakan’ cuisine, which is very much unique to the Straits area and stretching up to Phuket – which also makes this particular Indian Brunch to be rather special and enticing both for visitors from locally, regionally and internationally. You will notice examples of this in the dishes on the menu.

This M Gallery resort celebrates Phuket’s rich cultural history, which is an increasing and welcome trend among the hotels to do for guests among the visitors to the island, since the island has exciting heritage and architecture to offer (aside the usual focus on beaches and Thai cuisine). Avista Grande Phuket Karon describes itself as a blend of modern luxury and old world Sino-Portuguese enchantment, where its bars and restaurants draw inspiration from both the tin-mining industry and its elite tin mining families that thrive on the island still today.

Phuket Indian brunch: Portosino restaurant

Having taken the Portuguese into its name Portosino have touches of the tin-mining industry in the interior design, with subtle use of metal around the corridors, mining lamps, rivets on the tables, patterned partition walls and frames made of metal etc.

The flooring is partly made of brown wood planks, partly of black and white modern-colonial tiles. At the centre of the oblong restaurant is a thick brown-black veined marble wall with a large flower-shaped opening in its middle.

The furniture consists in brown wood upholstered armchairs and wall-mounted sofas in brown leather, as well as grey textile armchairs. Dining tables come with shiny black and white veined marble tops. The Sino-Portuguese interior is in particular enhanced by the table tablets, with lovely orange and blue pattern. The table setting also include transparent orange-hued drinking glasses. One side of the restaurant faces the resort’s pool garden and outdoor bar, while the other side faces the sunset beach side.

During the brunch an acoustic singer-guitarist duo entertains in front of the bar.

Phuket Indian brunch with free flow bubbles

Now let’s get those glasses filled with some chilled sparkling wine and begin picking the dishes, which is not all unlimited but where one gets to pick one or two dishes from each section. It is an intriguing selection forcing one to make some hard choices – as in life in general… But let’s not rush it, but start out with something from the all-vegetarian ‘Chaat Trolley’ (savoury snacks originating from India), with Samosa Chaat, Greek Yoghurt with tamarind is on the first ordered plate – served in a bowl with a lovely floral pattern. A great start, paired with the bubbles in the glass. And before that the chef serves a pre-starter: a beautiful square-shaped tofu, with edible flower décor, and a green vegetable.

The next choice is Dahi Bhala with Tamarind chutney, a sweet-tasting dish that does not look too dissimilar from the first one – served in a modern-Chinese porcelain bowl. Potato with pomegranate & Ppapdi chat, and Bombay bhel poori are some other Chaats to choose from.

‘Brunch Bites’ include a fairly large selection, including the vegan dish Onion Bhajji with coriander and chat masala. There is Lamb mince masala egg shakshuka with feta. Then there are three dishes with chicken, including Philadelphia cheese chicken malai tikka, and where the choice falls on the Tandoori chicken tikka classic, plus the vegetarian Pickled achaari paneer tikka – a dish which has a tofu-like square shape.

The sumptuous Tandoori is served in a black bowl patterned with white dots and with a triangle of green sauce poured aside the chicken and vegetables.

Then, more bubbles… while the entertainers play and sing. It is after all brunch so let’s savour the day, relax and enjoy the moment and the free flow. These dishes are cooked a la minute rather than served in traditional buffet style, so one can also request not to have all the dishes served at the same time.

From the mains I try Lamb chop Rogan Josh, Ricotta cheese kofta in saag gravy, and the wow-dish Phuket Lobster Moilee infused with coconut curry. Great-looking and great-tasting!

Other main plates are Butter chicken paneer, and vegetarian dish Dal makhni. Unlimited nan bread is presented on brown printed paper in bowls. The very long awesome basmati rice – it’s of course a matter of taste but this rice is awesome with this type of cuisine!

For dessert the choices are Parle G, malai kulfi Sandwich and rabri & berry comote; Nam dok mai mango shrikhand tart with fresh berries, or our choice: Hara nimbu sago kheer pudding served in Margaritha cocktail glass.

…which leads us to that this Indian Buffet also offers Special Cocktails with flavours of India: ‘Talli Ho’: Indian Whisky, Orange Bitter, Soda, Lime; ‘Coconut Wala’: White Rum, Coconut, Malibu rum; Darjeeling Express: Darjeeling Tea Infused Gin, Lime & Sugar etc. And for mocktail the ‘Holy Tulsi’: Basil, Strawberries & Ginger Ale. These drinks are not included in the price.

Once the brunch has ended it is nice to relax in the shade by the pool, and then to continue down to the beach for the sunset – the perfect ending of a perfect day.

Notice: With free flow bubbles included the price for the brunch was THB 1499++/person, THB 999++ food only. Guests are advised to check with the hotel about its ongoing dining and drinking offers!