Cheshire Life Luncheon - Tom Yam Thai Restaurant and Bar, Poynton

The flavours of Thailand travel well at the Tom Yam in Poynton, as guests at the latest Cheshire Life luncheon soon discovered...

Great British Life: Jarinya Quinn, Khun Ton, Khun Noi, Matthew Quinn, Khun Goi, Khun O and Khun Naan Jarinya Quinn, Khun Ton, Khun Noi, Matthew Quinn, Khun Goi, Khun O and Khun Naan (Image: Archant)

There was an air of excited anticipation at the thought of trying the deliciously authentic Thai flavours at the Tom Yam in Poynton, that when I gave a short speech of welcome to our guests some of them were, shall we say, less than attentive.

Truth is, I always think the best speeches are brief ones and if I’m being honest, a lovely restaurant deserves our full-on attention, so I cut it short and soon we were immersed in a banquet of delights.

The restaurant is a relative newcomer to pretty Poynton , opened 16 months ago by Matthew Quinn and his wife Jarinya in a Fountain Square building which had been derelict for four and a half years. Now it’s a key feature of the re-developed village and testament to their dedication. Not only does it look chic but it fulfils what they originally set out to do - bring authentic Thai flavours to Cheshire.

Their mission has been helped by restaurant manager Khun O who having worked at some of the top restaurants in London has recruited a Thai team both in the kitchen and front of house.

‘It is unusual to have a totally Thai team but that all adds to the authenticity we were striving for,’ says former graphic artist Matthew, originally from High Lane.

‘To get the tastes right my wife gets vegetables flown in from Thailand it really is that authentic. Every dish is absolutely bang on.’

The name Tom Yam, derives from the popular Thai spicy soup of the same name, which seemed just right for a restaurant that aims to replicate as closely as possible the experience you might get in Bangkok or Koh Samui.

We kicked off proceedings with the Tom Yam mixed starter - generous platefuls of chicken satay, spring roll, golden bag pork spare rib with spicy beef salad and a meat-free version for the vegetarians. This was perfect sharing food , from the subtle creamy sweet peanut of the satay to the depth of flavours of the stickily coated ribs and spice of the salad.

For mains there was a chicken green curry, a delicately flavoured authentic dish that had been spiced with traditional Thai chilli. Other mains included a stir fried beef in oyster sauce with spring onion and mushroom and a sea bass sweet and sour, presented with cucumber pineapple and sweet and sour sauce. Another huge hit was a stunning lamb shank in massaman curry. The lamb had been slow cooked and fell off the bone, its intense flavour given more of that Thai authenticity with peanuts, potatoes, broccoli and shallots.

Here is food that emerges fresh from the kitchen and fragrant with herbs and spices. Perhaps not quite as intense and heady as a trip through a Thai market place but coming very close.

We may not have been on holiday but sharing food, wine and conversation over lunch at the Tom Yam could not on this occasion be rushed. The portions are generous and there were sighs of pleasure when dishes kept emerging from the kitchen. Like all great food it proved too hard to resist and in spite of attempts at self restraint we continued to enjoy the feast well into a glorious spring afternoon.

The people of Poynton must be delighted to have the Tom Yam on their doorstep. The rest of us now have every reason to pay the village a visit.

Details

Tom Yam Thai Restaurant and Bar

13 Fountain Place, Poynton SK12 1QX

01625 879577

tomyam.co.uk

Opening times:

Monday-Sunday 12-3pm, 5pm-11pm

Lunch

Main course £6.95, served with steamed rice; appetiser and main course, £9.50, served with steamed rice.

Early Bird menu

From 5pm-6.45pm, £15pp, includes a starter, main course served with jasmine rice and tea or coffee.