Evil Penevil

Inspired by MM's review, a friend and I ate dinner last night at Bite Me Bisto. I don't think MM has any telepathic powers of suggestion, but I ordered the same two dishes as he did. Bruschetta and seared tuna are both favorites of mine. I agree with what MM said. Bite Me Bistro is a welcome addition to the Pattaya food scene. In terms of flavor, seasoning, freshness of ingredients, preparation and presentation, BMB is punching way above its weight class for such a modestly priced restaurant. I've had much less expertly prepared food at far higher prices in Pattaya. Bottom line: Both my friend and I thought it was one of the better meals we've had in Pattaya in the 450-550 baht range (two courses and a bottle of beer). The owner, Ewan from Scotland, is very friendly and more than happy to talk about his plans for BMB. He has wisely chosen a limited menu (four starters, eight mains and three desserts) that he plans to change frequently. The bruschetta was excellent; thin slices of grilled bread topped with tomatoes and roasted eggplant and onions. It had a subtle hint of herbs which I liked. But it has to mentioned that this isn't the chopped tomato bruschetta with which many people are familiar. It was a touch heavy on the olive oil for my taste, but nothing serious. I would also have preferred slightly thicker bread as the base, but focaccia, the type of bread most often associated with bruschetta, comes in many forms. In all, the bruschetta was reasonable at 150 baht. The sesame seared rare tuna was my "main dish," although I took it in starter size at 195 baht. Fresh, high-qaulity fish on a salad of pickled vegetables with ponzu dressing. Ponzu is a Japanese citrus-and vinager-based sauce that perfectly complements (but doesn't overwhelm) the flavor of the tuna. My friend had the sea bass fillet with white wine dill sauce and Mediterranean vegetables. He eats a lot of fish in Pattaya and really enjoyed that it was poached and not fried. It cost 290 baht for a substantial slice of fish. He had the strawberry shortbread dessert. He had no problem breaking the shortbread with his fork. It wasn't as soft as say Walkers shortbread, but it wasn't at all difficult to eat (he gave me a little piece). It cost 120 baht. I didn't have dessert but contented myself with an excellent glass (not cup) of coffee latte. I'll definitely be back to try more of the main courses, with the Moroccan lamb skewers and the New York strip steak at the top of the list. A big and from me. Evil

Some Pattaya bars and restaurants may be suffering during the during the 2015-16 high season, but the Pattaya Beer Garden can't be among them. On Tuesday night at 8 pm, it was literally full to the very last seat, both at the bar and in the dining area. It thinned out a bit at the bar between 8 pm and 9 pm, but the dining area remained full. Every time diners finished and paid, new customers took their places. Considering the size of the crowd, a friend and I were surprised how quickly the food got to our table, about 20 minutes. We had steeled ourselves for a much longer wait. My friend really likes the PBG and eats there several times every visit. I like PBG as a bar and for some of its food, but have found it to be quite inconsistent over the years. There can be a big difference in the quality of the same dish on different days. Case in point- Here's a pic of the chicken korma I got about 18 months ago. It had been tasty, with a lot of chunks of chicken in a nice sauce. Compare that with what I was served Tuesday. Very little chicken and it had been cut stir-fry style. A lot of potato in big pieces, most of which had large bad spots. I should have sent the dish back, but I didn't want to create a hassle for myself on a busy night. The sauce tasted OK and I spooned some of it over the rice. Not a very satisfying meal. But my friend thought his chicken cordon bleu and garden salad were very good. He thought it was a large portion and great value for money. Bottom line: The PBG is much as it's always been: busy, convenient and cheap, but inconsistent regarding the food it serves. In the future, I'll probably avoid it on nights when it is crowded. On a separate note, I did see a few freelancers sitting at the bar, but PBG has never really taken off in that department. Evil Some pics:

Looks good. I'm going to try this one, maybe tonight. Thank you for the review. Evil

I have a monthly payment from a U.S. source that is deposited directly into my Thai bank account. Unless there is a regulation which prohibits direct deposits of U.S. military pensions to banks outside the U.S., it shouldn't be hard to arrange, as it is all done by Swift codes and account numbers. Evil

Yes, definitely. But there is always the risk no upgrade will be available. Evil

Just a reminder- it's not too late to join the visit to the Camillian Center on Dec. 22, departing WS at 3.00 pm. If you're in town, it's a great way to start the holidays. Send me a PM and I'll get back to you with the details. Santa Penevil

If HB turns up at Pattaya Orphanage, I think we'd see some very unChristian-like behavior from the staff. They are not at all happy he keeps trying to link the Orphanage with his various scams. Santa Penevil But for Harry and all those who sail with him, I am definitely: Krampus Penevil

No, the baht buses stop short of Pu Pen, but it isn't an impossible walk. You can also bargain with the driver to take you the rest of the way. That must be J Daeng. You can read more about it here. I've always found the food at Marine Seafood on Soi Lucky Star just off WS a dependable option. It's open between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. If you want a quick seafood meal, then Govit Seafood, a pop-up eatery on Soi 15 between WS and Sapphire is OK. There's also a Thai-style "food court" on Pattaya Klang between 2nd Road and Soi Bukhao which has many reasonably priced seafood options. Santa Penevil

For those who have messaged me about making a donation from outside Thailand, please take a look at the Web site of the Camillian Social Center. On the left side of the page, towards the bottom, you'll see a place to click for donations via PayPal. For severfal reasons, it's not a good idea for me to collect any cash money to pass on as a donation. In the eyes of the Thai authorities, there's a big difference between inviting people to accompany me to an institution and soliciting cash donations. Santa Penevil

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Santa Claus will be heading to the Camillian Social Center in Rayong on Dec. 22 and anyone who wants to join the is welcome to do so. The Camillan Center does a fantastic job in caring for 80 orphan and rejected children living with HIV/AIDS and this is a good opportunity for visitors to Pattaya to show their support. What or how much you donate is up to you. I don't get involved in that side of things. After the flooding in October, the Center's biggest need is for cash donations, but if you prefer, donations of foodstuffs and other supplies, they will be gladly accepted. And the kids are always happy to get small gifts of toys and candy, but Santa already has that angle pretty well covered. Cash donations are made in private directly to a member of the Center's staff. It's you business and your business alone how much or little you donate. You'll be given a receipt that is accepted by tax authorities in most countries as proof of donation, as the Camillian Center is a registered and transparent charitable organization. This will be the third year I'm visiting the Center. Everyone who's been along agrees it's a very positive experience to see the kids who've been dealt a very bad hand in the game of life enjoying themselves. The Thai GFs/wives who've accompanied BMs have been among the most enthusiastic about the visits, as it's fun for them and a way to make merit. It's also a very meaningful way to kick off the holiday celebrations that will follow. The nitty-gritty: The Center will provide transport to/from Rayong for those who need it. We'll gather at a point on Walking Street at 3.00 pm. and be back in Pattaya between 7.00 and 8.00 pm, depending on traffic. Of course, if you have your wheels and prefer to go on your own, you're perfectly welcome to do so. Drop me a PM if you want to join or have questions. Merry Christmas! Santa Penevil Here are some pics from past visits to both the Camillian Center and the Pattaya Orphanage. This was an enthusiastic and generous group of Pattaya Talk members. I blurred the faces as I don't know if they want their pics on the board. S

I certainly hope I'm not one of those you wish to see choke on their turkey! But in case it does happen: Evil

... to everyone, whether you observe Thanksgiving or not! Special Thanksgiving wishes go to U.S. military personnel wherever they are serving. Your sacrifices on this and every other day help preserve freedom for all of us. Evil

Chik N Coop does a good Thanksgiving buffet that's always well attended. With so many choices, it's hard to decide where to go! Evil

It's open, but they have discontinued the all-you-can-eat buffet. Evil

It depends a bit when in January you'll be coming, but it is possible to get condos in View Talay 6 (2nd Rd, next to Central Festival) for less than 36,000 baht for three weeks. In late January last year, I paid 7,000 baht for a week for one-bedroom condo (about 80 sq m) with a great balcony view of the bay. I think it was on the 18th floor. It even had a jacuzzi. Evil

Pancakes and maple syrup are extremely filling; no need for beans. That's why lumberjacks used to eat them for breakfast. In the days before motorsaws , a lumberjack could burn off 10,000 calories a day. Nowadays, a sedentary person only needs 2,000 calories a day and maybe 500 more for a moderately active person.