I learned this after a few trips to France.Not that the French got it wrong again, it rather is that different countries have “different filets” for the same name, obviously In German speaking countries and many other parts of the world,the filet is what the English-speaking eater expects when ordering a tenderloin. But in good old France the cook, yes the cook and not the chef – because chef is a French word and means nothing else than boss, would put a sirloin steak on the grill when the chef de cuisine (boss of the  kitchen) announces: “ Nouvelle commande: deux filets saignant [...]

Beef Translation  Rib Eye USA Rib Eye Deutschland Hohrücken Steak/Hochrippen Steak France Entrecôte Argentina Bife ancho Chile Lomo betado Brasil Ponta de contra file Peru bife ancho Mexico entrcot / rib-eye Short loin / Sirloin USA Short loin / Sirloin Deutschland   Zwischenrippenstück France Filet/Aloyau Argentina Bife angosto Chile Lomo liso12.0% Brasil Contra File Peru bife angosto Mexico nueva york Back ribs / Short ribs USA Back ribs / S [...]

Caffeine in coffee undoubtedly effects our bodies. Some of these effects are desired, but some are not as pleasant. For a few, it may lead to headache, upset stomach, or heartburn. The biggest impact, however, seems to be related to our sleep patterns. Caffeine can keep us up at night. Many people believe that espresso has way more caffeine than regular coffee. With good reason. What else could explain the buzz we get after drinking a shot of espresso? In addition, the taste of an espresso is much more intense than that of a regular coffee. This may seem logical, but is it true that espres [...]

I remember well the first time I tasted it. I immediately was in love with the salty and fishy flavor that topped a cracker with sour cream. My love affair with caviar has continued ever since. I know I’m not the only one in perpetual search for great caviar in Pattaya. What is considered the best caviar in the world? Caviar is a delicacy consisting of salt-cured fish-eggs. These tiny black pearls, so exquisite in flavor and texture, have become a symbol for luxury. Traditionally, the term caviar refers only to roe from wild sturgeon in t [...]

When you look at a dish in front of you, do you ever think about its history? How a dish got from its origin to the plate that is in front of you? I do it all the time and find the history of Thai food as interesting as the history of Italian and French cuisine. When food travels… It fascinates me that certain dishes have traveled long distances from their source before becoming a “national dish” in some remote country: Chinese slaves, brought to Italy by Marco Polo, introduced Pasta in all forms and shapes to the Italian pride. Spaghetti, noodles, ravioli, t [...]

You frequently see advertisements for John Dory in Pattaya…at unbelievable prices. Many of these are, unfortunately, quite misleading. In this article, I will show some of the reasons that may lead to false advertisement – sometimes unknowingly – and explain why Casa Pascal is no longer serving John Dory in Pattaya. What makes John Dory so special? Some people consider John Dory one of the most delicious fish you can get on your plate. In France, it’s called St. Pierre, Germans call it Sankt Peters Fisch, and Italians know it as Pesce San Pietro. This popular [...]

A normal goose or duck liver is usually small and not significant to a chef or a gourmet.  Foie Gras, on the other hand, is a treasured specialty. In this post, I provide insight into “Foie gras de canard” (duck) and “Foie gras d’oie” (goose). The Origin of Foie Gras Many people associate Foie Gras with French cuisine. Not surprisingly. Today France is by far the largest producer and consumer of foie gras. However, the technique of gavage dates as far back as 2500 BC. We now know that the ancient Egyptians began keeping birds for food and deliberately fat [...]

“Kobe” beef is a protected name. It can only be used for beef from the Wagyu Tashima-ushi breed, a black cattle from Kobe in the Hyogo prefecture. The animal must be born, raised and slaughtered in Kobe. Otherwise it can not be called and sold as such. That means not every Wagyu beef is a Japanese Kobe beef. Cross breeds with Wagyu cattle and other cattle such as Angus in the USA or Hereford in Australia are common but can not be offered as Kobe beef. Even in Matsusaka is Wagyu beef not sold as Kobe, but as Matsusaka beef, which is actually claiming to be e [...]

Fish is an important protein in the diet of many Thais. For visitors, it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what type of fish they are being offered – often because the Thai name is not translated.  The glossary below will help you with the translation of the most common fish in Pattaya. Click on the table below to enlarge it or open the document as PDF in a new tab. Download Fish Glossary as PDF [...]