COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Chances are that unless it’s home, you’ve only gone to Bang Na for Ikea or the convention center.
Just because much of it lies beyond BTS range doesn’t make the district some kind of distant outback. Far from that, this area is in fact home to a host of cool new places packed with hip, young crowds.
Still wondering how things could be so vibrant in Bang Na? Well, let’s consider how many residential developments are in the district alone, plus all those in neighboring Samut Prakan province. Bang Na is therefore a strategic location to start a lifestyle business – restaurants, cafés and whatnots.
Just last year, Amatissimo was added to the mix. Located right next to Paradise Park mall, this coffee shop is a serious business. The coffees are exceptionally high quality, and the pastries might be better than any single café you’ve ever been to downtown.
I first heard about Amatissimo because of its take on Cronuts – a pastry hybrid of “croissant” and “donut,” and hence their name – “CD.”
Highlight this text if you don’t get it: Seriously? Did you even think about it?
Not being able to hop over to New York to sample the prototype of this invention, my backup plan was to drive over and take a taste. It didn’t disappointment me.
When I arrived at 3 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, I was just in time for the last of the Cronuts. One was a Bael Fruit CD with raspberry filling (THB140), and another was a Mango Salsa CD (THB140), both of which were greatly satisfying. It’s nice to see local fruits like Bael make it to the pastry shelf as it does greatly to add to the variety.
I later learned the Cronuts – like all the pastries here – don’t always come in the same flavors. Amatissimo chefs pride themselves on their creativity and are adventurous with new ingredients. Come summer’s mango season, you can count on finding mango on your CD, french toast and tart. It’s a great way to keep customers on their toes. Now I have to come back every time I see a new color of frosting on their pastries.
Other than the CDs, I also ordered the famous Blueberry Apricot French Toast, which turns out to exceed my already hefty expectations. The caramelized sugar is crisp on the outside, and the brioche is incredibly soft and spongy on the inside. Surprisingly, this is even better than the Cronuts that brought me here in the first place.
Over an hour, I witness fresh-baked pasties come rolling out from the kitchen just upstairs every 30 minutes or so. From time-to-time when this happens, there’ll be a customer who looks to scoop up the entire batch to take home. It does make one wonder what these people add to their dough to make us go this crazy.
Just when I think I am satisfied with my trip, I take a look around the café, quite mesmerized by what else they have to offer. I know I can’t leave just yet.
There is an array of coffee-making gadgets presenting themselves like objects of some sophisticated sorcery. Made of fine metal and brittle-looking glass, some kind of fancy boilers/drippers/distillers (I have no clue what they are called) are showcased and put to use every now and then. Some funnel-shaped drippers/filters/brewers (again, I am quite clueless on this) line up in front of the counter seats; they are dripping droplets of coffee to be served at the table nearby.
It’s a beautiful cafe indeed. Just by watching all these weird-looking tools being put to work, I could lose myself here for hours. Aside from the beautiful ambiance, let’s not forget that we are here for the something much greater: The Coffee!
I went straight for the owner’s recommendations: Espresso Soda (THB130) and Sumatran Wahana Estate Coffee Set (THB180).
Allow me to elaborate:
Espresso Soda is quite a creative invention. By mixing a shot of espresso with a cold glass of club soda, ice and a small shot of syrup, an intriguing result emerges for an unconventional way to get a caffeine fix. Thinking I may not like it, I actually finished the whole portion and wanted more. The drink is refreshing and novel.
The Sumatran Wahana Estate Coffee Set was for more serious coffee drinkers. The set comes in two courses: an espresso course and a cappuccino course – both made with the same Sumatran beans from the Wahana Estate in Indonesia. From his perch at the bar, Amatisso’s owner enthusiastically shares why it’s so special.
“The coffee tastes like tomatoes!” he proclaims.
Hearing that, I know I would be kept awake at night if I left without trying one. As it turned out, the coffee does have a tomato-ish aftertaste, especially in the espresso course, where the sourness is more pronounced. Just like wine, you don’t taste tomato juice in the coffee; it’s just a layer that you can relate to the actual taste of a tomato.
I’m not a big coffee expert, but this experiment is a lot of fun.
On a final note, please keep in mind that Amatissimo is spontaneous with its menu. If you’re looking for something specific, don’t be upset if it’s not there when you go. Better yet, give them a call before you set out.
FIND IT:
Amatissimo Cafe
10am – 8pm
Tel: 085-482-9977, 081-898-0070
Srinagarindra Road, Soi Srinagarindra 55 (Behind Paradise Park)
