Get it while it's tasty

Tessa Terrace, one can say, is a baby version of the full-blown European sister restaurant Tessa on Thong Lor Soi 23. In both restaurants, home cooking techniques are taken to a high level of artistry.

Frequenters at Tessa Terrace like the home-made chicken liver pate, smoked ox tongue and duck as well as their fabulous English-style corned beef. If that sounds too exotic, Terrace also has a Thai menu, baked favourites and home-made ice cream.

Though the eatery is small, it is a bright and airy place with welcoming rattan table sets.

"I wanted this new place to be another outlet for Tessa's home-made baked items and ice cream," says owner Jutaporn "Yui" Tejapaibul, who runs four Tessa restaurants, including two outlets at Central Chidlom and Sports Club, and a cooking school. (Tessa is derived from "asset" spelled backward.) "We decided to make this venue a bit more laid back in terms of the atmosphere and the menu."

Tessa Terrace's menu includes daily specials such as soups, spaghetti and Thai favourites such as guaytiew lot (stuffed noodle rolls, Bt65 to Bt95), guaytiew moo sab (fried rice noodle with minced pork curry, Bt95), fried rice and salted beef and somtam (Bt160), and deep-fried chicken wings (Bt90). Home-made dressings are from Yui's mother's recipe books and here you can order smoked ox tongue salad or smoked duck breast salad at Bt180 to Bt200.

Our hungry team was there for a late breakfast and we wanted to start the day with something hearty. We chose Tessa's home-made waffle with ham and egg (Bt125), a grilled corned beef sandwich (Bt180), mushroom crepe (Bt95), coffees and a refreshing summer detox drink (orange, strawberry, peach and grape juice; Bt75).

Everything was quickly prepared in the home-style open kitchen. The corned beef sandwich is our favourite - the beef is aromatic and deeply flavourful.

In everything we ate, we could see why the restaurant was voted by Thailand Tatler as the best restaurant this year and last. Their sumptuous sandwiches make a good meal any time. The waffles are warm, rich in taste and fulfilling. With a thick piece of ham and egg, it makes a full breakfast. Waffles are served with honey and maple syrup.

The mushroom crepe is satisfying in a simple way. The mushrooms are cooked to perfection with herbs that makes the crepe irresistible.

Yui, a former lawyer, learned tips and tricks of baking from her mother. After graduating with a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, Yui furthered her cooking passion at La Verenne in France where she was exposed to authentic French cooking and eating culture.

Eventually, she gave up her law books entirely for the kitchen.

Terrace also serves beef and lamb stews, tacos, wraps and fish and chips. To gain some hands-on cooking experience from Yui, call and ask for her next cooking class. Yui says she wants her kitchen to resemble a home's because "then my students can go back and perform what they learned without having to adapt anything".

Tessa Terrace

M Place, Thonglor 13

Daily, 11am to 2pm, 6pm to 10pm

(02) 712 9922

Sirin P Wongpanit  

For more reviews, go to www.ohsirin.blogspot.com.