Pack for a Park
It’s that time of year again, when it’s safe to leave the comfort of our climate-controlled offices and homes for the great outdoors. And, as all that fresh air is bound to make you hungry, here are some ideas for enjoying the cool season with a little picnic.
Picnics are easy: for relatively little cash and only a smidgen of organization, you too can enjoy your lunch hour (or tea time, or pre-dinner snack) outdoors instead of staring off into space at your desk with a rapidly cooling bowl of hotpot noodles. Here, everything you need to enjoy a park near you.
Benjasiri Park
Sukhumvit Rd. between Soi 24 and Soi 22, 02-262-0810. Open Daily 5am-8pm
1. Mix 3 tablespoons (Tbs) Japanese Kewpie-brand mayonnaise with 3 Tbs ebiko (flavored shrimp eggs).
2. Cut, deseed and slice 2 fresh bell peppers into wedges—perfect for dipping into Japanese mayonnaise. Other ingredients ideal with this dip are asparagus spears, blanched mangetouts or peapods and hard-boiled egg wedges.
This park has it all: a skate park, jogging track, basketball and volleyball courts. You can bring your takraw ball for a throwdown with the ball-kicking locals who play here in the evening, or linger long enough for the evening aerobics session at 6pm every weekday. There are also not one, but two concrete playgrounds replete with sand, rope bridges, and slides so you can bring the little ones as you bask in the sunlight (or shadows, as the case may be).
What to read: You: The Owner’s Manual: An Insider’s Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger by Michael F. Roizen
What to bring: Sneakers, towels and water—you’ll be working up a sweat at the basketball courts or on the jogging track!
What to eat: Emporium’s informal reputation as Shopping Central for the Japanese housewife means loads of good Japanese snacks in the food court. Try the yummy okonomiyaki, a savory “crepe” loaded with different kinds of veggies (B100-150) at Towa and takoyaki, balls of octopus topped with mayo and a special sauce (B85 for 8 pieces), at Tako Dako at 5/F Emporium. Very nice pre-made sushi rolls (B10-60) are sold at Nippon-Ichi, just a minute’s stroll from the takoyaki and okonomiyaki vendors. And if you’re feeling especially ambitious, try making this easy Japanese-themed dip (see recipe).
Santi Chai Prakarn
Phra Artit Rd., 02-225-7612-4. Open 24/7
Groovy, hip and indie Santi Chai by the Chao Phraya regularly draws cool Thai hipsters with a regular diet of concerts, book fairs and even traditional Thai music performances (Sat-Sun at 5pm, with a special translation service for English speakers). Skateboarders meet weekly to show off their new moves. But if you’d like to opt for something more exciting, join in one of their capoeira circles every Sunday at 4:30-6pm.
1. Cut 500g filleted firm fresh fish, such as tuna, into cubes. Mix 1 Tbs olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, ½ teaspoon (tsp) dried basil and 1tsp ground black pepper in a bowl. Add fish cubes and marinate for 1 hour.
2. As fish marinates, cut ½ onion and 1 bell pepper (orange or yellow are good colors) into cubes.
3. Put fish cubes, onion and pepper on skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 1 hour first and fill up all space on skewers), alternating between the three ingredients.
4. Put skewers into preheated oven on “grill” setting (around 280 degrees Celsius) on aluminum foil brushed lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Grill for around 10 minutes.
What to read: Skateboarding is Not a Crime: 50 Years of Street Culture by James Davis and Skin Phillips
What to bring: A comfy blanket to sit on for the music performances, some hair gel and plenty of attitude. If you’re feeling especially frisky, dig out your old skateboard.
What to eat: Make your own special kebab for the picnic (see recipe). But why do it all yourself? Take away some beef or chicken mataba (B25 each) from local institution Roti Mataba.
Lumpini
(Rama 4 Rd., Pathumwan, 02-252-8035. Open daily 4:30am-8pm)
Welcome to the mother of all Bangkok parks, an oasis of green smack dab in the middle of Bangkok’s bustling downtown area. Some would argue Lumpini is at its best in the early morning hours: Chinese housewives doing tai chi, sweaty athletic diehards pushing dumbbells, elderly Thais arguing over the chess table. But Lumpini during the busy hours of the day is almost as good. Free aerobics classes are available at 6pm, and a half-hour spin in rowboats can give your arms a good workout on the lake for just B30.
What to read: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
1. Cook two carrots, peeled and sliced, and 1 onion, chopped, in ½ cup of water until tender.
2. Stir in 300 g sliced ham, 1 can white beans such as cannelloni, rinsed, 1 can black beans, rinsed, ¼ cup of dry white wine, ¾ teaspoon (tsp) dried thyme, 1 bay leaf and ¾ tsp dried oregano. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Remove bay leaf, and sprinkle with 2 tsp minced parsley and 1 cup bread crumbs.
What to bring: Shatterproof plastic champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne for the romantic boat ride. If you can’t swim, maybe get a life vest as well.
What to eat: Why not take advantage of the plethora of offerings available in the area and make yourself a French feast? (See recipe). Alternatively, buy some very good bread at La Boulange for their country bread loaf (called campagne, B60) or sourdough (montagne, B72). While you’re at it, take out their cold cuts platter as well (B320), an assortment of ham, rillettes, terrine and great saucisson. Voila! Your meal is finished.
Santhipab
Victory Monument, Ratchavithi Rd., 02-245-2461. Open daily 5am-8pm
This park is one of Bangkok’s best-kept secrets. Shaded lawns, a small lake, a multitude of benches and the looming silhouette of Baiyoke Tower make this park a perfect little getaway for romantic couples, especially those with a predilection for al fresco activities. There’s also a little orchid garden for flower lovers or you can just use the blossoms as inspiration for your next canvas masterpiece.
What to read: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
1. Melt 1 tbs butter in a pan on medium heat, and sauté 1 minced clove of garlic and ½ a chopped onion until translucent. Reduce heat to low, add about 300 grams of chicken liver and cook until livers are no longer pink (about 10 minutes).
2. Place liver mixture in blender with 2tbs of sherry or white wine. Add half a package of cream cheese, a few dashes of Tabasco and salt and pepper to taste. Blend it all until it looks like pate. Chill until ready to serve.
What to bring: A blanket for a romantic cuddling. If you are especially artistic, bring along some thick paper, brushes and a pack of watercolor paints and charm your significant other with a quick portrait.
What to eat: It’s romantic. It’s semi-private. Who cares what you’re eating? But if your better half is of the picky gourmet persuasion, why not have some fun with food you can feed each other? Make yourselves a little dab of paté (see recipe), buy some crackers, and you’ve got yourself a nice little meal with that bottle of wine. If you’d prefer to do more nibbling and less cooking, just go to the corner of the park and ask the amiable folks at B-Resto for some fabulous shareable entrees. Try the bruschetta (B80), penne with roasted dried chili and salted fish (B140), vegetable spring rolls (B85) and tiramisu for dessert (B75).
Your Very Own Picnic Soundtrack
Already living your very own movie musical, where you are the star and everyone else supporting players? Make that inner soundtrack a reality! The next time you head to the park for a solo picnic with that McDonald’s BBQ rib burger (B59), upload these picnic-friendly tunes into your iPod.
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