LIU Restaurant - Keeping Classic Cantonese Flavour Right

LIU Restaurant in Conrad Bangkok is an eponymous Chinese restaurant that has been popular over the years in Bangkok because of the diversify of the menu that has been influenced from various regions in China especially its Cantonese gastronomic cooking that delivers and endures with such a classic flavour. mylifestylenews writes.

Located on the third floor of the hotel, it is an easy passage from the hotel lobby up the elevator and then at one end of the corridor you can’t possibly miss the entrance by its hue of red design settings. “LIU” literary translates as the weeping willows or the Liuzhou city of China hang on the stone wall on a transparent frame is clearly seen. The qui sait “neo-classic” Chinese fit-out and interior of LIU Restaurant is pretty full-on and the rather congested table setting that may look a little dated with the mid century style of chunky chairs sat with red silk and Chinese motif cushions, yet, LIU Restaurant does not try to be cutting edge new, but stays grounded in tradition with an abundant use of the auspicious red colour, traditionally styled antique Chinese furniture and an overt use of lanterns and hanging lamps throughout the entire restaurant.

The space is broken up with brick and wood separating the main dining area with various VIP rooms for a more intimate dining, decorated with metres high wild branches of pussy willows to add a more dramatic ambience alongside with other Oriental decorative ornaments. Overly dimmed and warm lightings also don’t help to add any vibes to the entire ambience as well as the dulled and old-fashioned piped-in Chinese instrumental music played in the background. A typical yesteryear Chinese restaurant that is more than satisfactory for locals and tourists alike for the stereotypical look of past century celebrated Chinese restaurant design and décor.

Nonetheless, the focus for dining in LIU Restaurant is their incredibly extensive menu that is rooted in the traditions of Chinese food, covering north to south. It takes the majority of its distinctive influence especially from Cantonese cuisine, reformed and modified from Sichuan, Shanghai, Beijing and Yunan as well as a hint of Thai flavour.

With Dim Sum being a well know drawcard for lunch, plus you can order a few selected Dim Sum dishes for dinner in which not many traditional Chinese restaurants would offer Dim Sum dishes for dinner, and then you have the length and breadth of cuisine which makes it difficult to decide what to order, as we had to focus on a good cross selection to savour and understand the Chef’s talent and ability for delivering the restaurant’s authenticity at its best.

<Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Sea Conch, Dried Scallop & Black Garlic>
A classic clear broth that is utterly tasty, rich in flavour and light on the palate extracted all the nutrients and flavours from the premium ingredients used. Simply comforting and enjoyable and a perfect way to warm up the appetite.
 

<Steamed Minced Shrimp & Scallop Dumplings with Mayonnaise Dressing>
Two giant pieces of shrimp “Siu Mai” topped with fresh scallops that was juicy and extremely tasty. It may be too big for a one go mouth full yet it is certainly an added value Dim Sum dish to order.
 
<Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Squid Paste>
This ‘black’ Har Gau is another eye-catching dish of its very striking presentation due to the ink squid paste used. While it may not add any distinctive flavour to the shrimp fillings yet it was perfectly steamed for a delicious bite.
 
<Steamed Shrimp Dumpling Topped with Salmon Roe>
Another bright and colorful basket of steamed shrimp dumpling topped with salmon roe was served. A generous three pieces of silky thin layer of rice dough wrapped with shrimps and steamed to the right texture.
 

<Steamed Rice Flour Rolls filled with Crispy Spring Roll>
Another highlight from the Dim Sum selection was this “Cheung Fun” in red rice paste wrapping being one of our all-time favorites. Its crunchy inner deep-fried dough being perfectly crispy as it should be, double wrapped over the fresh and delicate prawns filling that creates quite a delight in texture and exceedingly flavoursome.

<Crispy Glutinous Dumpling with Salted Lemon & Dried Shrimp “Ham Siu Gok”>
Presented in a Kum Kuat in shape and topped with mint leaves to give a more attractive presentation to this execution. Such an attractive look and executed on point – crispy on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside, the sticky glutinous texture was done al-dente and chewy at the same time on the palate which is the soul and essential must-have texture for this dish. A must-order.

<Shredded Spring Roll filled with Seafood & Mango>
This airy, flaky and light crisp of shredded spring roll is another wonderful appetizer to whet your appetite. Never mind its orangey roe garnish but the mango and seafood filling blended well with the golden spring roll infused with wasabi which is not that pungent and yet deliver a good kick to this creation.
 

<Peking Duck Roll & BBQ Pork>
LIU Restaurant version of Peking Duck roll is another innovative presentation with immaculately sliced of crispy duck skin sits on top and outside of the pancake. Superb! Equally tasty was the pork with a crispy skin on top and juicy, tender layer of meat and fat to follow through on the palate. Yum!
 

<Homemade Seaweed Bean Curd topped with Crab Meat & Crab Roe>
The tofu is incredibly silken in texture and so soft and cannot be faulted. Spears of asparagus was a nice cleansing touch as the crab meat and sauce are quite rich and dominating!
 

 
<Japanese Kurobuta Pork Ribs> - Seasonal Dish
Hot and sizzling! Five meaty Japanese Kurobuta pork ribs sits on a heavy and steamy lava stone alongside with some broccoli while it was presented to the table. The marinated meat was slow cooked to bring out the smoky flavour and the quality of the meat shining through, it was so tender and just fell off the bone. We suggest to enjoy it right away while the meat sitting on the lava stone continues to cook and to prevent it from getting further burnt or destroying the quality of the texture.

<“Dong Po” Pork Belly stewed in Chinese Wine>
This dish has one of the most stunning presentations. The pork belly has been braised in Chinese wine, sweet, thick and dark soy sauce and a few spices for a very long period time for its tender texture of the meat and also allows the meat to absorb fully from the condiments that creates a subtle yet distinctive flavour. The meat literally falls apart at the touch of a chopstick for the melt-in-your-mouth effect and the best accompaniment of steamed & deep-fired “Manto” buns and one of each was hung on a special serving dish through stainless steel spears for such impressive presentation. Expect a hint of sweetness from this dish as the caramelized sugar reduction onto the sauce is the way to enjoy this century old classic recipe. Simply divine!
 

<Fried Egg Noodles with Cuttle Fish, Tiger Prawns & Scallops>
This is an all-time favourite noodle dish of ours and it did not fail, with slightly chewy noodles, fried egg and other ingredients to create a harmonious flavour with a touch of dark soy and the balance of expertise was just right!
 

<Chilled Fresh Mango Pudding with Condensed Milk>
Unfortunately, the dessert has no surprises here and the mango with artificial texture and factory taste like palate did not win our heart that cannot be tweaked beyond the borders of the ingredients. Passed!
 

Overall, the evening was still quite enjoyable, although some of the dishes were very safe and predictable in taste, but there were some unexpected highlights that created a ‘WOW’ moment on the plate and on the palate, so there is the occasional spark of culinary genius and the ability to use high quality ingredients to create a special moment. You could argue that you are in Bangkok and just want to enjoy classic Chinese cuisine that hits the mark without surprising because you want comfort food and this is where LIU restaurant culinary team strive to excel. They have a very strong lunch market for Dim Sum and having tried some quintessential dishes they can punch above their weight in the food stakes, but maybe need more diners to challenge them, as it was near empty on the night we dined.
 

Subsequently, the attentive service could not be faulted especially we had Khun Lek who looked after our table without hurrying the delivery of the dishes to the table and gave us plentiful time to enjoy every moment and to admire and savour each dish presented. LIU Restaurant still deserves a round of applause by staying truthful to its authenticity of bringing classic Chinese/Cantonese flavour to win the Bangkokians’ demanding palate as well as looking after those who crave to have a typical Chinese meal that warms your heart and doesn’t veer too much off the beaten track. Recommended!
 

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4/5

Design & Decor: 4/5

Service: 4.5/5

Food & Beverage: 4/5

Value For Money: 4.5/5

Experience: 4/5

LIU Restaurant Conrad Bangkok

3rd Floor, 87 Wireless Road, 
Phatumwan, Bangkok Thailand

Tel: +66 2 690 9999

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

CLINIQUE Christmas Gifting Boxset

 

CLINIQUE Xmas gifting spread happiness and share the joy by presenting a various exciting holiday gift sets including the No.1 Whitening Solution and Upgraded Hydration Hero, to illuminate your great and healthy over this festive season. There is always a special surprise everyday for the someone special and yourself with the exclusives skincare essential from this <24 DAYS OF CLINIQUE> advent calendar boxset from Cleansing Balm, Clean Liquid Facial Soap, Clarifying Lotion, NEW Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream to Blush Brush Deluxe Lash Power Mascara, Deep Comfort Hand & Cuticle Cream and more....

The <BLOCKBUSTER - DAY TO NIGHT SKIN CARE SET> includes All About Clean Foaming Facial Soap, Moisture Surge, High Impact Mascara, Shade: Black Clinique Pop, Shade: Plum Pop, Take The Day Off Lids, Lashes, Lips, Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, All About Eyes, Moisture Surge Lip Hydro Plump Treatment and 2 pouches.

<GREAT SKINCARE FOR HIM> includes Hydrator 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, CFM Charcoal Face Wash, CFW Face Scrub and Maximum Hydrator 96-Hour Hydro-Filler Concentrate.

Versace 2022 Novelties

Versace Medusa Amplified Multicolour influenced by Donatella Versace’s love of music, especially hip hop, the Medusa Amplified prints reimagine Medusa as a music icon. The design visualizes what Medusa would feel like as a song, rhythm, melody or beat. The Rosenthal meets Versace collection plays with bold, spring like colours, contrasts and size variations of the iconic Medusa.

With 30 colours, the extremely elaborate decor, the filigree ornamentation of the Medusa heads and the meander bands around them were a great challenge for the experienced lithographers at Rosenthal in realising the decor designs that require an extraordinary deal of knowhow and precision. The Medusa Amplied Gift collection contains three vases in different sizes, a service plate, an ash tray, a small dish and a small plate as well as the popular scented candle.

These short sets pay tribute to Versace‘s institutional Medusa, reimagined and amplified in fresh pastel colors. The iconic head is imposingly emblazoned in green, blue, pink and orange on Rosenthal plates framed by a classic meander band in gold. The short sets consist of various plates, cups and a cereal bowl in all four colors, namely Green Coin, Blue Coin, Pink Coin and Orange Coin, and are complemented by a coffee pot, teapot, creamer and sugar bowl as well as three vases.

ANANTARA Spa at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort - Revive Your Body and Mind

A relaxing spa treatment is always a good idea to pamper yourself while on vacation as well as to escape from the fast pace of the city life. Anantara Spa at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort is an oasis in the midst of Bangkok city offering multiple signature spa treatments for an uplifting rejuvenation. mylifestylenews writes.

The resort spa is located on the ground floor in a separate annexe off to the right of the main lobby building and nestled in a lush sanctuary that is calming and has a zen-like entrance with a meandering pebble path through a miniature bamboo forest that sets the mood for a soothing wellness experience in its own little oasis.

You feel you truly are escaping the pace of city life, to slow down, be ready to unwind and begin to indulge in the Anantara unique Thai journey. Thai Sala pavilion with reclining soft cushions is well allocated at the spa entrance and is ideal for pre or post spa treatments for further relaxing surrounded by the peaceful landscaping surrounds with occasional birds chirping taking you into the deep of the tropical forest experience.

While Anantara for years has had a strong reputation for their spa and wellness especially their very own creations of spa treatment products, on entering the spa lobby you feel like you have just walked into a retail space, as there are multiple product brands on display over a large retail shelf on both sides of the foyer, pretty full on bombarding by those commercial brands yet not seeing (or being hidden) any of the Anantara signature spa products and essentials which lost the entire essence of the Anantara Spa standard. Good try by doesn’t seem quite right for a spa reception setting.

The Ambience neither made us feel like we were in a spa, but more like a cosmetic or beauty Clinic or Hair Salon. The mood immediately being taken away from the zen-ness but rather smelling the obligation to shop instead of entering the relaxation indulgence. The staff approach was also very robotic and lacking the calm and offering the spa zen and senses, plus they looked more tense than the guests who came for the treatment. On top of that, the reception hosts also were not that welcoming, rather rushing to finish their data entry or paper work without even much eye contact nor the warmth of gesture offering as most spas would.

We were then adjourned to lounge seating prior to our appointment and the male receptionist/therapist who checked us came back with dripping essential oil from one end where it was placed to where we were seated instead of bringing the entire tray of bottles in his preferred way. Obviously, we were not being offered any choice of essential therapy massage oil to choose but he had taken the liberty to present to us what had been determined. We were puzzled, confused and felt it was a rather pushy gesture! Not only did it fail on the presentation and this was followed by a lack of smiling from another female of the team who also forgot to bring the welcome tea to us without explaining but eventually turned up, left that on the table and walked away immediately. So, another touch point didn’t light up as we had expected and this has become the weirdest spa approach we have ever encountered.

We had confirmed the Anantara Signature Massage for 60 minutes and were escorted to our treatment room that had a garden facing outlook, so the room was still quite bright even with the blinds closed. While calming ambience is utterly essential for any spa treatment, not only to let you feel relaxed and to let go all your worries as well as to indulge into the sense of peacefulness and sometimes luxrious experience, the treatment room seemed very old and dated, entirely lacking in a spa sense of calm and well-being effect that creates a mood and ambience. Rather clinical in an old way with drab colours and overly starched linens that had created not a pleasant feel on the skin. They looked like they could do with an update and while some touches worked, some didn’t and the impressions given to us were rather disappointing all said and done.

However, we were introduced to our therapists and once settled began the treatment. The Signature Massage purpose is to immerse one into a deep state of relaxation that combines purpose-designed movements with the signature blend of oils. The treatment is meant to restore the flow of energy along the meridian lines. While they were perfectly adequate yet the ambience was less than expected and the flow of movements was not entirely consistent and some extraneous noises were made throughout the massage which interrupted our state of relaxation.

Overall, something seemed to be lacking and it was a shame, as many opportunities were missed, this didn’t quite hit the mark based on all our previous Anantara spa experiences.

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4.5/5

Design & Decor: 2.5/5

Room Amenities: 2.5/5

Service: 2/5

Value For Money: 2.5/5

Experience: 2/5

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

257, 1-3 Charoen Nakhon Road,

Khwaeng Samre, Khet Thon Buri,

Bangkok, Thailand

Tel: +66 2 476 0022 ext 1563

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

TRADER VIC’S at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort - Taste The World Sunday Brunch

Finding a chill Sunday bubbly brunch in Bangkok to unwind can easily be spoilt by choice and the TRADER VIC’S in Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort serves up a storm with Pacific Rim cuisine alongside with a river view that is here to please. mylifestylenews writes.

Anantara as a brand is well known for their various choices of food and beverage establishments as well as culinary skills, but sometimes it is fun to pair up with a franchise brand to spice things up a bit and so TRADER VIC’S, home of the original Mai Tai, brings world-renown cuisine to the tropical riverfront setting of Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.

As an international trademark, TRADER VIC’S has become synonymous with pacific tropical flavours and rhythms offering exotic tastes of the Pacific Rim, West Coast, Asia, Polynesia and Hawaii. Naturally, the iconic Sunday brunch at TRADER VIC’S Bangkok encompasses the opportunity to savour the world with everything from seafood, quesadillas, Asian street delights and gourmets to Hawaiian pork chops prepared in Bangkok’s only Chinese wood-fired oven, just to name a few over this overly wide spread sumptuous buffet.

At TRADER VIC’S, more is more so is its interior and maximalism is definitely talking here. Pacific Tiki settings are scattered in every corner of the entire restaurant from crafted wooden pillars, oversized rattan fan chairs, giant wood barrels, long beam high roof ceilings to ornamental wood crafted statues, fish cages, hanging long tail boats, sea shells hanging lamps as well as an indoor tropical garden that truly creates the Polynesia ambience and vibe to fascinate diners.

In addition, when the pretty full on interior is the contrast between the spare simplicity of the exterior and veranda dining, the congenial intricacy of the interior with the uninterrupted view of the bustling Chao Phraya River is another added bonus for this franchise in Bangkok.

This is all about indulgence in a relaxed tropical atmosphere to graze at your own pace while enjoying the sights and sounds of the Chao Phraya River, as well as some live beats to create the ambience that makes brunches even much more enjoyable.

 

We opted for some bubbles to set the mood on a very warm and sticky day. After getting settled we surveyed every buffet and cooking station and were blown away by the variety.

Options are aplenty, so you can take in the river breeze while feasting on signature cuisine of the Pacific Rim, Australian prime rib roast, Alaskan king crab, imported oysters and homemade pasta from the cheese wheel, plus sizzling teppanyaki from Benihana – the award-winning restaurant on property – that joins in the brunch fest with a delectable selection such as their Tom Yum lobster thermidor, Australian beef tenderloin Rossini and many more to tickle the taste buds.

Also, the succulent seafood includes Alaskan king crab, river prawns, blue swimmer crab, mussels, oysters freshly shucked, calamari, tiger prawns, salmon and so many other offerings all a-la-minute and prepared to suit your liking.

Quite frankly you would be hard pressed to not be overwhelmed, because we were and we had to prioritize what was our favourites to ensure we didn’t forget to enjoy. For meat lovers there is a BBQ section and TEX-MEX station, plus some special premium butcher cuts. For cheese lovers there is a good selection with some piquant condiments to add a bit zing, as well as charcuterie to have that European taste and combination and the quality is top notch!

For the health conscious you have so many variety of salads to choose from while making your own combinations with dressing. Not forgetting, the most delightful local Thai station that serves all traditional local flavours together with an Indian food section for curries and tandoori as well as a colorful spread of dessert buffet and it just doesn’t seem to stop.

The manager urged us to savour as many nationalities as best as possible, we were pretty garrulous and attempted our very best to accommodate what we can in small serving portions to ensure we were able to understand a good cross section of the buffet despite we only have so much room to spare. The quality of food and variety is really impressive, not only catering for all kind of flavours from around the globe yet delivered in a well-managed gastronomic feast to pamper all diners taste buds which is incredibly amazing and with tremendous effort to put on a show like this.

The service was very switched on, as you can quickly create a mountain of seafood waste with the shells and these were quickly cleared and keeping their eyes on those empty flutes that needed to be topped up in no time. While there are many buffet options in many hotels in Bangkok, TRADER VIC’S at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort really doesn’t disappoint to cater for all appetites and certainly has created a point of difference on its culinary perspective and adds that exotic touch to the dining options at the resort. Simply delicious and indulging! It is never too late to pencil down your Sunday bubbly brunch date on your calendar chart.

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4.5/5

Design & Decor: 4/5

Food & Beverages: 5/5

Service: 4/5

Value For Money: 5/5

Experience: 4.5/5

TRADER VIC'S at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

257, 1-3 Charoen Nakhon Road,

Khwaeng Samre, Khet Thon Buri,

Bangkok, Thailand

Tel: +66 2 431 9488

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at Metropolitan Bangkok - Finding Serenity & Calm

Creating a cocooned environment seems to be the mantra and the wellness of finding peace and serenity in COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at Metropolitan Bangkok. The wellness spa is more than an oasis to nourish your soul and wellbeing. mylifestylenews writes.

Inspiring commitment to a lifelong wellness is the motto of COMO Shambhala and their spiritual spa kingdom. This urban escape wellness retreat provides Asian-inspired therapies to treat mind, body and spirit and trust us, these are not just platitudes but actual outcomes from their holistic approach to creating a sanctuary.

The founder of the brand, Christina Ong, has a personal investment in wellness that began with yoga at her first resort/wellness retreat in 2000 at COMO Parrot Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fast forward to 2003 for the opening of the COMO Shambhala Metropolitan Bangkok and that approach to wellness is embraced in this urban retreat.

Indulging oneself in the spa journey is one of life’s pleasures and there is no better place to do this than in the COMO Shambhala Spa. While the spas at COMO resorts and hotels are not your average ones, you need to drop all your worries outside the room and surrender your weary body to the professionally trained masseurs.

Stepping into the tranquil sanctuary of COMO Shambhala at Metropolitan Bangkok, you will find serenity and calm from its tranquil and soothing décor. Immersing yourself entirely into the mood of total relaxation, the graceful spa receptionist is also one of the many therapists and expect a warm sweet welcome derived from the classic Thai hospitality delivered promptly to ensure your spa journey begins worry free.

Homemade herbal tea & a cold towel infused with natural aromatic essential oil was presented in no time to sooth our mind and body, once we were seated at the soft cushioned sofa looking toward an enclosed courtyard with minimal decoration that creates a zen ambience to allow you to switch off and focus on the journey ahead in a peaceful sanctuary. It is calming to look at to reorient your mind to an internal space that will be uplifting spiritually.

The spa menu is quite extensive, but you need to start at ground zero and for us that means trying the COMO Shambhala Massage, their signature treatment. This signature massage uses their in-house blended massage oils to completely calm the mind and gently rejuvenate the body. After a brief consultation on what suits for our treatments for the late afternoon, we were seeking something that offered a release of the mind and something for the body with a total rejuvenation after a very hectic day out and about in the bustling metropolis.

Soft and calming music is played in the dimmed treatment room to set the mood and you quickly forget about your cares and worries. Now before you think this is a cop out, bear in mind that your therapist will ask you what pressure you prefer, so if you just want to float off into a deep slumber you do not have to ask for much, but if you really want the therapist to get deep into the muscle tissue, your bidding will be done and for some this can be equally calming to know that the therapists’ fingers have managed to get into your bodies deepest tissue areas, which will go some way to rebalancing the mind and body, while letting the magic hands sooth your soul. The most well-trained COMO Shambhala therapists are on another level and never compromised the whole ethos of what such an experience is all about. That sensual magic touch truly urges you to have the immediately desire and book the next appointment by coming back to this hidden sanctuary of rejuvenation.

At the end of our massage, we truly felt we had had an uplifting experience that left us on another plain. We definitely had to stay in that zen-like zone after the therapists exited the room and left us in silence so that our minds could soak up the last remaining moments of our experience. Our bodies felt completely relaxed with the aromatic oils still creating their magic and the tired and stiff tissues vanished into thin air and we walked out feeling blessed with a contented smile from a total rejuvenation. A good 60-minutes has just gone in the blink of an eye but utterly well spent and you can have our word for that.

While COMO Shambhala emphasis is in a personalised approach to fitness and wellbeing, yoga is certainly worth exploring and they have a dedicated yoga studio and qualified coaches to guide you carefully at your own pace and to rediscover your inner soul, body and mind with daily morning classes.

Life is too precious to move on too quickly, so every second mattered while we were cocooned in such a wonderful sanctuary and this one opportunity to experience the COMO Shambhala wellness was worth more than words could say! Now, we are re-charged and ready to get changed and head out for another awaiting dinner get together.

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4.5/5

Design & Decor: 4/5

Room Amenities: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Value For Money: 5/5

Experience: 5/5

COMO Shambhala Metropolitan Bangkok

27, South Sathorn Road,

Tungmahamek, Sathorn

Bangkok Thailand

Tel: +66 2 625 3333

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.