Thai Family Restaurant, Cheltenham

How exotic can a Cheltenham restaurant be? Read on...

Chef Q&A

Name: Tina Plengvitaya Restaurant: Thai Family Restaurant Address: 48 Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2ND Tel: 01242 262761 www.thaifamily.co.uk

What is your earliest memory of food?

My family have a catering business in Thailand. We are a family of chefs, so it was almost compulsory for me to become a chef when I was young! I spent most of my time in the kitchen, so cooking has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Tell us about your menu.

My menu is authentic Thai. So it’s a real Thai taste, just as it should be. For example, Massaman curry has to be rich in peanut with a hint of shallot, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. I also do Chinese and Japanese-style food such as crispy calamari and prawns wasabi.

Which dish on the menu would you recommend to a customer?

For starter I would recommend Tom Yum Soup that is packed with flavour from fresh herbs and fresh chillies. For the main course it would have to be Massaman curry with chicken or lamb cooked in rich and aromatic curry sauce with peanuts, onions, and potatoes. Also newly added to the menu is prawns with wasabi sauce, served with salad and green apple.

How often do you change your menu?

I change my menu every six months. The new menu always has some new interesting Thai dishes, and some of the dishes are so traditional that they have never been introduced in any Thai restaurant outside Thailand.

What advice would you give to a novice?

Be confident in what you do. Always use the best ingredients and they will give outstanding results.

What’s in your fridge at home?

Extra spicy papaya salad, extra hot salami, bottles of Chardonnay, fresh fruits and lots of yogurt.

Why should people visit you?

At Thai Family Restaurant the foods are truly authentic Thai. Every dish is full of flavours as it should be. Also, the price is not expensive, with main courses starting at only �6.50.

You feel like you have been taken to Thailand when you step into the restaurant as it has been beautifully decorated by Thai craftsmanship: every piece of wood from the floor to the ceiling was custom-made and then shipped from the north of Thailand. Also, there are four tanks full of exotic fish to help you unwind. Come and find out for yourself!

What would you choose for your last meal on earth?

That would definitely be papaya salad (extra spicy) with grilled beef, sticky rice and a bottle of Malbec.

Sample Dinner menu:

Starters

Tom Yum soup �4.95Chicken satay �4.60

Prawn spring rolls �4.95

Thai dumplings �4.60

Spare ribs �4.60

Steamed scallop �2.50 each

House specials

Phed Makham – roasted duck breast, thinly sliced and topped with exotic amarind sauce, cashew nuts and crispy spring greens �11.50

Sua Rong Hai – marinated rib-eye beef on a hot dish, accompanied with special Thai chilli sauce �11.50