Songkran festival is the Thai New Year celebration, taking place each year around April 15th. I’ve never taken part in it before, which I suppose is not all that unusual, given I live in London and not South East Asia. I love Thailand and Thai food though and so when I heard that Mango Tree restaurant in Victoria would be putting on an authentic Songkran celebration, I made sure that it was firmly in my calendar and headed over one April evening.
The Mango Tree restaurant itself is an absolute Thai institution in London. Its premises are super glamourous with a sleek bar and beautiful flower decorations everywhere you look. This success and glitz is evident in the numerous photos of celebrities lining the corridor on the way to the bathroom!
The Mango Tree restaurant itself is an absolute Thai institution in London. Its premises are super glamourous with a sleek bar and beautiful flower decorations everywhere you look. This success and glitz is evident in the numerous photos of celebrities lining the corridor on the way to the bathroom!
Mango Tree pulled out all the stops for Songkran. I was greeted with a photographer at the door, papping away at everyone who arrived. Next, a traditional thai water ceremony where we were invited by a tremendously beautiful Thai lady in full national dress to pour fragrant water over a Buddha idol. They’d also arranged a whole evening of live Thai entertainment to accompany the 4 course menu with wine being offered (£65); many different music acts, mesmerising dancing and a mc-host explaining each course and performance.
Let’s be frank. I love all this, but I was there for the food. First up; a bounteous platter of grilled pork skewers, marinated in honey, and a seared scallop on shitake mushroom with foie gras, fresh mango and cashew. I was sceptical about foie gras and scallop, both in flavour and texture, but it worked with the foie gras simply melting away to baste the scallop in its meaty juices.
Course two was a soup called Poh Tak Talay; spicy and sour, fragrant with lemongrass, lime leaves, tamarind and chilli, and packed with seafood. This made my lips tingle and my eyes water, luckily in a good way.
Course two was a soup called Poh Tak Talay; spicy and sour, fragrant with lemongrass, lime leaves, tamarind and chilli, and packed with seafood. This made my lips tingle and my eyes water, luckily in a good way.
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For the mains we chose the Weeping Tiger; rare sirloin steak in a tangy, hot tamarind sauce with papaya salad. I didn’t mind this, although I’m not much of a one for tamarind. The Choo Chee Goong Yai was much more to my taste: a gigantic grilled tiger prawn with a creamy, spiced sauce and jasmine rice. The prawn was excellent; succulent and deep in flavour. Yes, I sucked the head.
Normally I dislike Asian desserts, finding them too sweet, but Mango Tree’s was a pleasant surprise; black sticky rice with coconut milk and coconut ice cream.
Although this menu was a special one put on solely for Songkran celebration, it impressed me sufficiently to want to come back and try their standard offering. Tip top.
7/10
46 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7EQ
020 7823 1888
www.mangotree.org.uk
