Set on Phuket’s stunning west coast, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort offers guests an all-round luxurious experience. Surrounded by sparkling beaches and refined dining inspired by local Thai cuisine, the resort is a true gem with endless activities for guests to indulge.
The resort has various dining options on offer, but one in particular that has caught the guests’ attention, is the pop-up beachfront al-fresco restaurant, Peranakan. Located on the beach, overlooking the magnificent Andaman Sea, Peranakan is all about local people serving local food.
How did the Peranakan culture evolve?
The resort area of Laguna was previously a thriving tin mine that boasted a vibrant Peranakan community. Peranakan are of Chinese ancestry and make up a significant portion of Phuket’s population, many of whom are descendants of the tin miners who migrated to the island during the 19th century. They integrated into the local community sharing their unique cultures and culinary secrets along the way. Peranakan culture can also be found in Singapore, Penang and the straits of Malacca.
The food seemed so inspiring that I recently went and sampled the intriguing menu. All of the dishes were a unique blend of aromas and a spicy fusion of Chinese, Thai and Malay flavours; all combining aromatic herbs and spices.
With our own private table set on the beach, decorated with flowers and romantic mood lighting, it truly felt like a private dining experience. First up, we were brought out some Pandanus leaf juice, a nice welcome drink, which was then followed by their signature cocktail, Peranakan Mojito.
The delicious appetisers consisted of Yum Som O (authentic Thai pomelo salad): marinated shrimp, pomelo, roasted coconut flakes and crispy shallots. This is something you will not find easily in Phuket, the pomelo complimented the taste of the fresh shrimps perfectly. It really was an excellent way to get our taste buds flowing. Some more soups followed, including Tom Yum Goong, a spicy, sour tiger prawn soup; along with Yum Goong Siab, a crispy smoked-dried shrimp salad.
The main course was absolutely divine, it consisted of barbecue chicken marinated in lemongrass, galangal, garlic, coriander served with Nam Jim Jaw and sweet chilli sauce.
Just when we thought we were almost done, they spoiled us some more and brought out this unbelievable barbecue seafood sharing platter. The platter included one whole lobster, one red snapper, two tiger prawns, one rock lobster, one tuna steak served with rice, as well as stir-fried vegetables, garlic and coriander sauce.
Next up, they brought out some delicious Poo Pad Poing Kala, an Andaman blue crab, cooked in curry powder, garlic, onion, spring onion, celery and Chinese wine.
I decided I was too full for dessert, but when they showed us what was on offer I knew I couldn’t say no. Beautiful Ice Kachang, which was a mixture of crushed ice, condensed milk, sweet corn, grenadine syrup, peanuts, red beans and palm sugar. Out-of-this-world.
Overall, the food was consistently fresh and the quality of ingredients was so impeccable, it was evident through the high grade food served to us. The combination of aromatic herbs and spices such as lemongrass, chillies, tamarind paste, shrimp paste and coconut milk are key in this menu, as it creates a rich cuisine of braised dishes, stews and curries.
Dine at the Peranakan and you’ll discover authentic local Thai/Chinese culture and food, that is commonly shared between families, through a menu that uses classic techniques and recipes.
The Peranakan is open daily from 6:30 pm to 9:30pm, except for Wednesday and Sunday. For reservations, contact the food and beverage team at +66 (0)76 360 600 or fbs.phuketbeach@outrigger.co.th