Apsara Dinner Cruise on Bangkok's Chao Phraya

Bangkok's Banyan Tree Hotel's Five Star River Dining Experience

Nov 17, 2008

Bangkok has many different dining experiences from sky-high restaurants to street food stalls to diner cruises on the Chao Phraya River.

A few of Bangkok’s five star hotels have converted rice barges that ply the nighttime river providing a different dining experience for their guests and others. One of them is the Banyan Tree’s Apsara rice barge dinner cruise. The Apsara's rice barge is broad of beam and generous in length with a capacity of 70 covers.

Most of the river boat cruises serve traditional Thai fare and the Banyan Tree’s ‘Apsara’ cruise is no different, providing four or five delicious courses that are predominantly seafood based. The wine list is extensive ranging from fine French reds to exquisite New World varieties. Whatever wine is chosen it will be excellent quality and a good vintage.

Nights on the river can be a little muggy so to cool off a refreshing lemon grass and citrus spritzer is a welcome ‘welcome on board’ drink.

Wine

The Australian Chardonnay is particularly suited to the food having a muted, subtle nose with hints of vanilla and apples. Chardonnay is typically associated with a sense of ‘smokiness’ but this is by no means universal and it can overpower some delicate dishes. The colour was of a creamy light straw.

Set Menu

The set menu is interesting and the first course is of a pomello and lobster salad in a tamarind sauce, all served in a ventrally bisected lobster carapace. This dish combines the subtle qualities of the lobster with the refreshing smack of tamarind and the pomello lending the dish just the right zesty endnote.

Thai soups can be so spicy that they may be unpalatable to western tastes but the Apsara's mild grouper soup is gentle enough for even the most delicate of stomachs. Spiked with tamarind and ginger both spices that will enliven any dish and add to the briny flavour of the grouper.

The following course is always a delectable chilli infused seafood soufflé served in a baby coconut shell the pinky soufflé disguises a cornucopia of varied fruits of the sea; at one bite a piece of pearly white squid at another a plump morsel of fish and another a marshmallow-like soft scallop, all enveloped in a coat of zesty soufflé.

Changing tack a little the main course is usually a roast duck in a red curry which is seductively and scrumptiously exotic. A portion of wok tossed al dente vegetables in a shallow bath of oyster sauce again compliments the main duck dish served with jasmine rice.

Rama VIII Bridge

At this point of the cruise the boat passes under the graceful structure of the Rama VIII suspension bridge and makes its sedate return to the River City pier. Time for the dessert trolley and a plethora of delicious delights awaits.

Glutinous rice with a heart of coconut wrapped in a banana leaf is a simple traditional rustic Thai dessert that never fails to please.

Famous Bangkok Sights

All along the cruise the barge passes some of Bangkok’s most impressive sights the Portuguese Santa Maria church. The impressive edifice of the Grand Palace On the return leg the boat will rest for one of the crew to take individual and group photographs of the guests a nice souvenir of a pleasant evening.

The Details

The copyright of the article Apsara Dinner Cruise on Bangkok's Chao Phraya in Asian Culinary Travel is owned by John Howe. Permission to republish Apsara Dinner Cruise on Bangkok's Chao Phraya in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.