Review

Bucha Gallery & Restaurant offers authentic Southern Thai cuisine that pays respect to historic Thai Buddhist culture, showcasing an enormous family collection of sculptures, amulets and the art of revered monks and Thai monarchs. Located opposite Wat Tai in Chalong district, Bucha is the creation of the Dechsakda family from Pak Phanang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Chef Wina Sriyaphong, the family matriarch, creates culinary magic using her grandmother’s recipes based on fresh local herbs and spices. She offers a popular massaman lamb curry stewed for many hours to get rich and satisfying full flavours. The menu showcases the rich variety of sea and shellfish found in local waters. Start your Bucha experience with an impressive fresh pomelo salad topped with large fresh shrimp. Also very popular is herbal rice salad, khao yum. Chef Wina visits Phuket’s local markets most days to select the many fresh tastes for this salad prepared and spiced at the table. Many recipes reflect the historic Malay, Indonesian and Chinese influence in the region such as yellow curry with sea bass and young coconut, fresh local squid stuffed with sticky rice and fermented fish curries from Pak Phanang. For dessert, sample the assortment of tasty dumplings or braised bananas in coconut syrup. A boutique wine list selected to match the flavours is available.