Dining Out In Phuket

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-04-21 12:20:33
Countries: Thailand

DINING OUT / Phuket Gazette Magazine

Phuket is Restaurant Paradise - one could eat in a different restaurant three times a day for a year and still not discover the entire range of tastes offered on the island. When I'm asked to name some of my personal Favorites, the choices narrow to those places that have delicious, healthy food, good ambiance, and a charming owner with whom I can pass the time.

Almost directly across from the Chalong Police Station is another new place that offers tasty food, in this case from the Middle East. The Family is run by Ovadia Shicartzy and Moshe Yakob, two gentlemen from Eilat, which is at the north end of the Red Sea in Israel. They met four years when looking for new wives at a singles club. They didn't find new wives, but they did find each other. "We were both just retiring and ready for a new life. We decided to settle in Thailand", reported Ovadia. "We started a dive-boat business, but one day in Bangkok it occurred to us that there was nowhere in Phuket to buy Falafel, Houmous, Gyros, or other Mediterranean foods." The two enterprising Israelis began importing the special spices that turn ordinary Chicken and Chickpeas into tasty Mediterranean cuisine.

The Family offers such enticing treats as the Tahini plate (crushed sesame seeds mixed with lemon And served with Paprika pepper) and Shawar (traditional rotisserie chicken basted with secret middle eastern spices). The Chalong Plate is a bargain combination of falafel balls, hummus, eggplant salad, Tashini and a big vegetable salad for only 120 Baht. "Many visitors have found out about The Family and they insist upon the taste they are used to at home," explained Moshe. "If they are not happy with the food they may refuse to pay, or even throw their plates." "Fortunately we are told that our Mediterranean food is better than they can find at home."