• 
• 

Published on July 22, 2007

I spend most of my time there visiting friends and getting massages, but perhaps my most important occupation during these visits is enjoying the cuisine.

Last month I returned to Chiang Mai and chose to stay at a friend's resort and spa at Baan Saen Doi. Though the food there is about the best you can find in the Rose of the North, I had to at least venture out and try new things.

I'd heard through friends that a certain nong (an affectionate term for a younger friend), had recently opened a small restaurant called Guzzy's Kitchen, so obviously I had to try it.

Her place wasn't hard to find, even though it is tucked away at the back of a small shopping centre near the Nong Hoi intersection.

The restaurant itself was bright, clean and airy, so naturally I was intrigued by the food on offer.

I told Guzzy that I wanted to taste everything on the menu, but since there were only two of us at the table, we opted for a selection that we felt we had to sample.

We started off with some one-plate meals, among them was the tom yum goong style shrimp fried rice. It was just spicy enough and very tasty, but since I knew we had ordered far more than we could eat, I limited myself to just three helpings. With some lime squeezed in for added tartness, I found it absolutely delightful.

The ground pork and Chinese olive fried rice was quite a contrast, but made all the more delicious by mixing in the accompanying condiments - diced lime, cashew nuts and chopped chilliess. The nutty crunchiness of the cashews nuts rounded off the taste, the sourness of the lime reduced the greasiness of the pork, while the Chinese olives added a delicious earthiness.

Next up was mee sua, stir-fried Chinese noodles with shrimp, a dish Guzzy cooks particularly well. She takes care not to overcook the shrimp and her noodles don't get mushy.

I also enjoyed her flat noodles topped with stir-fried fish in fermented black bean sauce. I loved the texture of the noodles, the aroma of the fermented black bean sauce and the crispiness of the vegetables.

Guzzy has a talent for many styles and her chicken teriyaki served with garlic fried rice was truly wonderful. The teriyaki sauce wasn't too sweet, the chicken wasn't overcooked and the fragrant fried rice really complimented the chicken and the sauce.

Many farang customers have started frequenting this small restaurant because Guzzy offers a mean, inexpensive grilled strip steak as well as other western dishes that remind them of home-cooked meals.

I suggested that Guzzy should expand her menu and include brunch and Western favourites like roast and stews, all the while offering some of her more inventive Thai dishes.

She could also consider cutting down her menu and offering a range of daily specials.

At any rate, Guzzy's Kitchen is well worth a try because the food is great and not at all expensive. You have to be patient though. She makes all her dishes with a great deal of care so it might take a little longer than you'd expect. However, the tastes are well worth the wait.