Review

Dara Cuisine at Anantara Layan Resort presents an inventive contemporary Thai taste innovation on traditional flavours. Fruits, herbs and vegetables are mostly sourced from the resort’s gardens and nearby sustainable farms. Upon arrival, guests may visit the powerful telescope in the upstairs observatory which after dinner allows visitors to gaze at the dark night sky constellations and galaxies. Keeping with the heavenly theme, cocktails are themed around the character of astrological symbols. Sagittarius, known as the traveller of the zodiac, is a tasty combination of gin shiraz, Campari, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitter and served in a mystery box with a colourful fragrant smoke. Chef Supakarn has created a 7-course degustation menu that allows guests to sample many of the delicious menu elements including grilled wagyu beef, thick turmeric curry of slow cooked beef cheek and soft-shell Phuket crab meat with organic avocado, roasted coconut, tobiko and tomato confit. From the à la carte menu, choose a beautiful pomelo salad topped with tempura shrimp, cashew nuts and pomegranate seeds, the luscious fried prawn cakes served with chef’s own chilli sauce and mango salsa or the yakitori style of organic chicken prepared at the table with a mild curry sauce and pickled cucumber. A special attraction is Thailand’s famous flavourful tom yam soup prepared at the table.