But the tables are turned now with more and more British travelling to far-flung places especially to affordable Thailand. Their tastes for foreign fare have widened and they have become more adventurous in their palate.
Thai cuisine is now the new Indian as a plethora of Thai restaurants have opened everywhere in London. But Mango Tree has elevated Thai cuisine and its popular street food to a new height of sophistication.
Since its opening as a London branch of its sister restaurant in Bangkok sixteen years ago, it has enjoyed great success and popularity attracting an upscale clientele.
A Buddha clad in mirror mosaics stands sentinel at the entrance. The funky bar makes the best cocktails using exotic fruits, herbs, lemon grass, mint and even chillies in addition to the great selection of wine. Soft shell crab tempura served with Thai mango salad and sweet chilli sauce. Meung Kum a traditional snack and royal dish of assorted ingredients served in a wrap of betel leaves with sweet tamarind sauce. Mango Tree is celebrated for its exquisite authentic Thai cuisine that is visually and orally pleasing with every dish beautifully presented as art on a plate.
The basis of Thai cuisine is the subtle blend of fresh herbs notably mint, lemon grass, Thai sweet basil, coriander and chillies with lashings of fish sauce enhanced with smoky palm sugar to create a fresh and vibrant taste. They are packed with flavours of fragrant lemon grass romancing sweet basil spiced up by hints of chillies. It is culinary marriage made in heaven.
