BK Magazine, 16th December 2011

Plat du jour

Everyone is now calling themselves a bistro and the past months have seen several small, casual, French restaurants open. Here are five authentic bistro dishes and where to enjoy them. By Grégoire Glachant.

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Cold Cuts (Assiette de charcuterie). You can probably get better ham in Spain and Italy, but France does do marvelous prepared pork specialties called charcuterie: rillettes, terrines, saucisse andd saucisson. What does it all mean? Rillettes is pork slow-cooked in its fat and served cold, as a spread. Terrine (and pâté) are similar, but usually using chunkieer cuts of meats, and not quite as much fat. Saucisse ans saucisson are dry, cured sausages that one cuts in thin slices, like salami. Have them before a meal, with red wine.

Have it at: Le Petit Zinc's assiette de charcuterie is B390/550 (small/large) and includes serrano cured ham, saucisse sèche, rosette de Lyon ( a kind of saucisson), rillettes de porc ans some duck or pork terrine. 110/1 Sukhumvit soi 23, 02-259-30-33. Open Tue-Sun 11am-midnight. Closed Dec 23-Jan 3.

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Urban Food Porn, November 2011

We tried out Le Petit Zinc without much background other than there was a nice, french bistro open in Soi 23. The decor was inviting and quite tasteful but it was the food that actually blew us away. We started off with the cold cut and cheese platter, a great way to begin the meal. The ingredients were of top quality showing off particularly the meaty, home made terrine. It was so good we ordered an individual dish of this separately. The baguette here is just awesome...served warm with a toasted crust and soft bread matching well with the salted butter. We actually asked for free seconds of the bread.

The veal ravioli was meticulously wrapped and the highlight of the dish was unexpectedly the broth. A clear but tasty soup which left us refreshed and ready for more food. The goat cheese salad was a bold offering of strong, rich goat cheese served toasted on a pair of baguette on top of a bed or rocket salad tossed in balsamic dressing. The mix of grilled eggplants and crunchy cherry tomatoes helped complete the dish. Our first main was grilled shrimp wrapped in bacon with ratatouille on pilaf rice. A pretty dish but also backed with a complexity of flavors and fresh ingredients. One of my favorites of the meal was the daily special, chicken stew in white wine cream sauce served with long grain rice. A nifty presentation with the chicken cooked to a perfect tender accentuated by the white wine aroma. Simply brilliant. Like all previous dishes, the duck confit was equally delectable served on top of home-style roasted potatoes and dressed in a balsamic sauce that works really well. The duck meat was juicy and fell off the bone while the skin dry and crispy. We closed the mains with the grilled beef skirt steak cooked to a perfect medium per our order and topped with matching caramelized onions. A simple, yet powerful dish proving you don't need the most expensive cuts to make great steak.

Our desserts were the creme brûlée and the chocolate soufflé. The latter being outstanding as the warm, rich chocolate fondant oozed out in harmony with the cool, vanilla ice-cream.

Le Petit Zinc is pleasant surprise. A rare, unpretentious French cafe which focuses on taste and delivers quality to each dish served. Highly recommended.

You can see the original article and the wonderful pictures by clicking here.

Bangkok 101, October 2011

Le Petit Zinc

Muriel and Thomas Dazard left France for a sea change and set up this chic little bistro in July. It hits lots of high notes, from the Art Nouveau ceiling under the mezzanine to cured meats hung from gallows on the bar. Diners sit at stylish bare wood furniture; there's a faux blackboard wine list; silent movies and patio windows sliding open to terrace seats.
The menu has stalwarts such as prawn bisque, duck confit, chocolate lava cake and a choice of five cheeses, plus a few surprises like a well made oxtail ravioli in clean, flavoursome beef consommé. In salmon and seabass tartare duo, the latter has a Tahitian twist, served in glass with coconut soup and coriander. Coquille St Jacques comes with plump scallops and tasty - althought oily - leek tossed with pasta. Entrecôte - a 300 gr slab of well-cooked medium rare rib-eye served on a wooden board with frites - is the most expensive main dish at B590; nearly all others are B390. House wines (B125/glass with 50 cl carafes from B450) are good drinkers, including a dry, light, acidic German Riesling and even a dessert wine by the glass.
A smart bistro with proper bistro prices: this will surely succeed. I'll be back. If I can get
a seat.

Sawasdee, October 2011

Parisian Glamor

Unusually fine dining usually comes at greeat expense - not so at the newly opened Le Petit Zinc where five-stars food goes for three-stars prices. French masterpieces like Coquille St Jacques (scallops on pasta with leek and saffron) and Magret de canard (grilled duck breast with potatoes) are skillfully prepared here. Wooden interiors blend with French doors and a stained glass-inspired ceiling for a taste of Paris in Bangkok.

Gavroche N°203, September 2011

Sur un petit air parisien

Thomas et Muriel Dazard, les patrons du Petit Zinc, ne sont pas des têtes brûlées : il travaillait dans la finance et elle dans le marketing. Leur projet, ils y ont longuement réfléchi, et ils se sont donné le temps de faire un voyage autour du monde avant de choisir Bangkok pour le concept qu'ils souhaitaient établir : un bistrot français en Asie.

Ce changement de cap s'est fait assez naturellement. Thomas est un fin cuisinier, depuis toujours. Sa passion, c'est de concocter des recettes originales pour des amis, et c'est aussi un grand connaisseur en vins et alcools. Il peut vous en parler pendant des heures !
La formule était trouvée : des plats simples avec de très bons produits, un bon rapport qualité/prix et une carte des vins très étudiée. Le lieu ne fut plus, ensuite, qu'une question de recherche: le Petit Zinc était né et c'est une réussite. L'ambiance et la décoration d'un bistrot parisien, avec un beau comptoir où pendent des saucisses sèches, des meubles chinés à Chatuchak, des banquettes rouges, de beaux volumes pour une ambiance lounge, terrasse et mezzanine : bref, un endroit où passer à n'importe quelle heure et qui colle avec toutes les humeurs.
Côté cuisine, charcuterie à profusion et tartare de saumon et avocat, bar accommodé en salade tahitienne, Saint-Jacques sur fondue de poireaux et pâtes fraîches, tartare de boeuf parfaitement assaisonné, tiramisu aux speculoos ou tarte tatin. Tout y est, service et sourire compris !
S'ajoutent à cela les soirées "Zapéros" du jeudi, de 17h à 21h, qui viennent de démarrer et devraient devenir prochainement le rendez-vous incontournable des amoureux du genre.
Au programme : boissons à prix réduits (vin, 1664 à la pression) et mini-tapas à 10 ou 20 bahts pièce (charcuterie, fromage, amuse-bouche...) spécialement concoctés pour l'occasion. Ouvert de 11h à minuit tous les jours, sauf le lundi.

Best dining and entertainment N°215, September 2011

Le Petit Zinc

Le Petit Zinc is the antithesis of an uptight and stuffy French restaurant. Instead, it is a relaxed and casual venue with modern design elements and a fresh and youthfull energy that makes you instantly feel like you are in a trendy Parisian bistro. It is airy and open with a fantastic sliding glass door deck, comfortable upstairs lounge, and the iconic zinc bar which is a nod to late 1920's Parisian tradition. With a daily Happy Hour that includes discounts on wine, beer and cocktails from 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM. Thursday night "Apéro" specials (like tapas) and plans to start a weekend brunch over the next weeks; there are more than a few good reasons to try this nex French Bistro.
The cuisine at Le Petit Zinc is simple yet accessible French fare and all diners are uniquely treated to a complementary bowl of green olives once seated. Look for imported meat and cheese platters, hearty salads & soups, steak or salmon tartars, as well as classic French favorites like Duck Confit or Apple Tartan. Recommended dishes include the Scallops with leeks & Saffron, the Prawn Bisque, which is quite a large pportion and the Salad Perigourdine which is a scrumptious combination of crispy confit gizzards, smocked ducj breast, lettuce, cheese and potatoes. The prices are very reasonable with most starters under 200 THB and most main courses priced under 450 baht. Le Petit Zinc is a relaed and comfortable bistro that is the perfect place to hang out with friends over a meal or cocktails any day of the week.

Gavroche N° 202, August 2011

Bistrot Français Futé

Le Petit Zinc, ouvert depuis juillet sur Sukhumvit soi 23, ne saurait tarder à prendre sa place parmi les adresses favorites de cuisine "bistrot" à Bangkok. Des plats simples, de très bons produits, et une attention particulière portée aux vins et alcools : la formule a de quoi séduire. Un menu midi à 350 et 450 bahts, le soir une carte variée avec les entrées à 190 bahts, les plats de résistance à partir de 390 bahts et les desserts à 160 bahts. plus q'un bon rapport qualité / prix, c'est un vrai coup de coeur ! Dès le 4 août, des soirées "apéro du jeudi" commencent à 17h pour retrouver vos amis et prendre l'apéro servi avec assiettes de mini-tapas. 110/1 Sukhumvit soi 23, le-petit-zinc.com

BK Magazine N°401, 26th August 2011

Open Door : Le Petit Zinc

The buzz: Tucked away in the offshoot of soi 23 (turn right after Giusto) this french bistro offers very simple, classic fare in a setting that feels fresh and contemporary.That's despite the numerous nods to turn-of-the-century Paris, such as Toulouse Lautrec posters and art deco motifs. Run by an, adorable French couple with no previous restaurant experience, its goal is to deliver affordable French food without the usual fine-dining fuss.

The décor: A mezzanine sists in the middle of this otherwise very high-ceilinged space, providing a cozy dining room distinct from the bar area, whosse counter and high tables are more conductive to nibbling and drinking than proper sit-down meals. In fact, come on Thu nights (5-9pm) for B50-100 small plates of olives and cold cuts and B100 wine by the glass (net). Upstairs, one can lounge in cozy sofas which would be perfect for an after-dinner cigar - only you can't smoke there.

The food: Chef Thomas has introduced a few personnal creations, like a salmon and seabass tartare, but the menu is otherwise typical café favorites: hearty appetizers (most of them at B190) like the meaty salade Perigourdine (conffit gizards, smoked duck breast, cheese, salad, potatoes, B290) and comforting mains like a duck confit with mashed potatoes (B290). They also have Spanish pata negra ham and various French saucissons on displays (B190-290 per plate). Lunch sets B350 (two courses) and B450 (three courses).

The drinks: The wine list with extensive tasting notes has clearly been crafted with great care, and prices, from B790-2,490, are very reasonable, particularly since the selection is mostly French. We also like the B350 deal which gets you desserts and a glass of dessert wine.

The crowd: The Francophone community is already onto them, along with both thais and expats in the neighbourhood. Grégoire Glachant. You can also read this article by clicking on this BK asia link.

BK Magazine N°401, 19th August 2011

Flavours : Un Petit Nouveau

It's over a month old but it slipped under our radar - a serious omission our Francophile friends tell us. Zinc is that coppery metal that covers old school bars in Paris, so you can expect Le Petit Zinc to go for a bistro menu with classics like salads Perigourdine (the kind of protein-heavy salad that defines the French paradox) and the good ol' steak tartare. Lunch is B350 (two courses) or B450 (three courses) while a la carte mains are mostly reasonable B390. Open Tue-Sun, 11am-midnight. 110/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02 259 30 33.