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Sister to the original L’Elephant Bleu,
which was established in Brussels in 1980, Blue Elephant London
first opened on the site of a former Victorian factory in 1986.
Almost a contradiction, this distinctly fashionable restaurant is
located in the distinctly unfashionable area near Fulham Broadway
Tube station. But if you’re looking for an idyllic oasis, far from
the madding metropolis, then this is it.
The unassuming frontage disguises a world of lush, tropical foliage,
limpid pools and waterfalls, and sparkling fish that leap, in almost
synchronised formation, to greet you as you pass over the charming
series of bridges to your magnificently laid table. This is a
heightening of the senses and a show that’ll leave you gasping for
more.
As enchanting as this delightful scenario is, the main attraction is
the sorcerer himself, chef Sompong Saejeaw. Relying on his vast
international experience and following the principles of
Bangkok-based corporate chef Khun Chang, he delivers a magic show
that illuminates the wealth of patterns and flavours that defines
Thai cuisine.
We’re treated to an imperial feast of dishes such as chicken satay –
as good as anything I’ve tasted in Singapore, the home of the satay
– foie gras (seared French goose liver with a piquant Thai tamarind
sauce), which is one of Sompong’s innovations, the genuinely exotic
and esoteric running crocodile (stir-fried, Thai-spiced crocodile
meat with chilli, basil, fresh peppercorns and palm heart), bamboo
fish (fillet of sea bass marinated with herbs and grilled in a
bamboo case), a flavoursome, must-have tamarind duck (delicate
slices of marinated magret of duck, served rare on a bed of seaweed
topped with an exotic sweet and sour tamarind sauce) and that Thai
staple, green chicken curry (chicken fillets with freshly pounded
green herbs, coconut and Thai aubergine).
And it’s all so good and it’s all so fine! The service is, as you
would expect, being ensconced in this wonderful world of Thailand,
exceptional, thanks to the fantastic staff, headed up by gracious
general manager Tham Prawattree. With branches in Bangkok,
Copenhagen, Dubai, Kuwait, Lyons, Malta, Moscow and Paris, Blue
Elephant can give you a warm and accommodating welcome all over the
world, while this one maintains its status as London’s premier Royal
Thai cuisine venue.
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