Closed for the Season!

A big thank you to everyone who supported the kitchen since its inception in December.  This is something i've always wanted to do, create delicious food with locally sourced ingredients for my old friends and new friends.  I hope that next season I can come back with a full fledged beachfront restaurant (cross my fingers).  I'm looking forward to cooking for you again!

Chorizo, Bacon, & Potato Tacos

My last special was a healthy and delicious Chef's Salad, today's special is far from healthy but so so good and is PERFECT for a hangover!  3 freshly made flour tortilla tacos filled with chorizo, bacon, potatoes, & capsicum with a roasted tomato-garlic salsa and a mix of mexican rice and adzuki beans (rice & beans not pictured).  Get it while its hot!

Chorizo, Bacon, & Potato Tacos 150THB

Super Healthy Chef's Salad.. and NEW items!

Ah, after a short break from chilin out at Old Town on the East Coast of the island for the infamous Laanta Lanta Festival (check out: Caouthouc, by far the loveliest hidden cafe on the island!)  I'm back in the game working on a new menu with some delicious healthy options.  But before I mention a couple new additions, check out the special today:  Chef's Salad - A fully loaded fresh salad with grilled chicken, salami, imported cheddar cheese, cucumber, capsicum, tomatoes, and salad with a light lemon dressing.

Chef's Salad 160THB

Although the new menu is not out yet, two additions are available to order, CHIPS AND SALSA and NACHOS.

Homemade (baked) tortilla chips and fresh tomato salsa 90THB

NACHOS are topped with spicy refried beans, loaded with melted mozzarella, homemade hot sauce and are delivered with a side of fresh salsa.  150THB for Vegetarian, +30THB for spicy chicken added.

Pesto & Balsamic Pasta Salad

Its been ages since my last post, i'll try not to neglect the blog anymore!  The past few days in Koh Lanta have been a bit overcast but the sun is peeking out today.  To welcome back the sunshine i've got a deliciously refreshing Pesto & Balsamic Pasta Salad:  Rotini tricolore, asparagus, chicken, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce tossed in a light homemade pesto served with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Pesto & Balsamic Pasta Salad 150THB

Best "Bur-Rios" EVER.

My Fire Roasted Yellow Pepper Salsa Ranchera Chicken Burritos are the bomb.com.  Yes its a long name.. but plain old "Chicken Burritos" are just not enough to convey the love put into these beautiful big burritos.  Tender delicious chicken legs simmered in a homemade salsa ranchera with fire roasted yellow peppers.  The chicken falls right off the bone and is lovingly wrapped in a handcrafted flour tortilla with refried beans, and Mexican style rice.  Best part about them is that EVERYTHING is made from scratch! YUM YUM YUM!  They were so great i'm doing them again as a special this WEDNESDAY the 13th of February.  150THB - 170THB with Imported Mozarella.  Two burritos to an order, delivered with a side of my homemade fiery hot sauce.  Pre-order to avoid dissapointment! :)

Keep an eye out for more Bur-Rio specials!

Grilled Salsa Roja Chicken Flautas

Taquitos are awesome snacks usually consisting of a meat rolled in a corn tortilla and deep fried.  A flauta is a taquito in a flour tortilla.  In an effort to keep it "healthier" I grilled them!  They're like mini burritos!  And not as heavy.  With a side of my homemade firey hot sauce.. Oh em gee, perfect snack on a super hot day.

Special Tomorrow, February 6th: 
Grilled Chicken Flautas
4 pieces of mini grilled flautas with shredded chicken sauteed in homemade salsa roja.  With your choice of refried beans and/or Mexican style rice.  Delivered with a side of homeade firey hot sauce.

Only 80THB

 With imported mozzarella cheese for only 100THB

Nicoise Pasta Salad

New special... coming soon!! I've always loved salad nicoise.. to me, a salad nicoise is lettuce, boiled potatoes, steamed green beans, egg, tuna, capers, and a citrusy dressing.  It's not the traditional version but its super refreshing - filing, yet light on a hot day.  I decided to omit the potatoes and turn it into a wonderful pasta salad.  Lettuce, bowtie pasta, tuna, egg, capsicum, and capers with a drizzle of balsamic and cracked black pepper.. sooo delicious!  Keep your eyes peeled for Nicoise Pasta Salad special :)

Fresh, Super Fresh!

 Did you know I go to the local markets to handpick all poultry and vegetables to to ensure that only the freshest ingredients are used at Rio's Kitchen?  Now thats super fresh!

 Have you tried my BUR-RIOS yet?  Check out a stack of my flour tortillas handcrafted every morning.

MMMM!!! I do a pretty awesome Thyme-Tortilla.. you can turn any sandwich into a wrap!

And some fresh hand picked basil (from my garden!) for my oh so yummy Pesto:

Looking forward to filling your bellies!

RE-OPENING TOMORROW JANUARY 23rd

After a week and a half shut, the kitchen is finally going to re-open tomorrow!  Thank you for all your patience while I was in KL and healing up from my accident.  I'm launching an updated menu as well with some new additions and slight changes.  Please take note of the following: 

-  Due to some increased costs, the following are 10THB more:
Salami Melt and Cheese Quesadilla both were priced at 110THB, now 120THB.

-  The Salami Sandwich is now only 100THB from 120THB and does not include Cheddar cheese, cheese is 20THB extra.

-  The grilled cheese has changed to a pesto grilled cheese.

-  The AMC Sandwich, Summer Spaghetti, Chicken Parmigiana, and Stuffed Chicken Breast have been omitted from the new menu.

NEW ITEMS:

** Spicy Capsicum Spaghetti ** Chicken Pesto Sandwich ** Chicken Pesto Melt ** Tofu and Mushroom Burritos **

I'm looking forward to filling your bellies! :)

Opening up again... SOON!

It's been ages since my last post!  I'm sorry to say that I got in an accident a couple days ago which keeps me both off my feet and off my motorbike so the kitchen is closed until i'm on my feet again, hopefully in less than a week.

I've been getting alot of phone calls for orders, i'm so sorry to disappoint.  Going to Kuala Lumpur, then the accident right after I returned to Koh Lanta has left the kitchen closed for more than a week now :(  I hope that those of you that have rung the kitchen will still be here on holiday when I'm 100%.  I promise I won't disappoint with my handmade burritos or awesome sandwiches!

Thanks for your understanding!

New Additions to the Menu

Hi everyone, I haven't had any updates in the past few days - busy busy busy filling bellies and making changes to the menu to keep up with demand.  I have to make a hop over to Malaysia in a couple days so the kitchen will be closed for at least 3 days, i'll post when I know the exact dates.  After the trip, you will have some brand new sandwiches and burritos to look forward to!  Hint on the sandwiches... it involves fresh basil from my garden and its freaking tasty!

My New Spice Rack

Yet another gorgeous day in Koh Lanta.  The lunch rush is over, I might just head down to the beach with my kitten Tiny Dancer ;)  I felt a bit creative this morning and made a new spice rack out of reclaimed wood from our backyard aka the beach.

I'm going to try out making pita bread and falafel tonight, i'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.  If successful I might just have to add a new item to the menu!  Speaking of, i'm working on some new sandwiches as well.  I might have to change the menu a bit starting February 1st.. will keep you updated.

Irish Steel Cut Oats with Candied Walnuts and Bananas

This is seriously my absolute favorite thing to eat right now... and its completely Vegan!  Irish steel cut oats, soy milk, candied California walnuts, banana, and a drizzle of organic acacia honey.  I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.. fo real!!

So I just got some absolutely delicious gooey and wonderful mozzarella.  Try it out in any one of the MELTS or BUR-RIOS... Nom nom nom nom.. don't forget to pre-order!

I LOVE JUICING! Carrot Apple Juice

I do love juicing!  What a perfect way to start a day.. especially a GORGEOUS day like today.  After failing miserably at some whole wheat waffles (and whole wheat blueberry) I whipped out the juicer to make this super awesome refreshing, detoxifying, no sugar added Carrot Apple Juice.  Over a kilo of fruit and veg jam packed into one glass.  No deliveries after 4PM today as I have dinner plans of my own ;)  Have a great day everybody!

Market Day

Living in Hanoi, Vietnam is most definitely the most significant life changing experience of my life.  I've learned, gained, and lost so much in my short 3 1/2 years of living there.  One thing I miss is the bustling of the city well before the sun rises and day light breaks.  The locals power walking around Hoan Kiem lake, propaganda blasted on loudspeakers, tai chi in Lenin Park, but most of all seeing market vendors and suppliers pack anything and everything on the back of their motorbike.  Check out the book Bikes of Burden, photos of the various impressive and awesome crap locals can stack on their bikes.  I also miss the fact that everything opens crazy early.. I don't know if its just Koh Lanta but its frustrating the markets arne't in full force until after 1PM.  Which means as a market day today only dinner deliveries are available.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Its 2013.. CRAZY!  I hope everyone had a wonderful new year surrounded by friends and family.  I had a bit of a later one than I expected so Rio's Kitchen is definitely not in full force to nurse your hangovers today.. I'm trying to nurse my own!  Drunken Sailors is open in Kantiang to get your Western fix ;)  In the meantime, check out this super refreshing Adzuki Bean Pasta Salad.  Rotini tricolore, adzuki beans, green beans, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, with an herb vinaigrette... NOM NOM NOM NOM.  Until tomorrow folks!

Adzuki Bean Pasta Salad

Quinoa and Adzuki Bean Salad... and PRE-ORDERS!

After some heavy eating (and drinking) during this past holiday i've been feeling a bit worn down.  This crazy healthy and super delicious Quinoa and Adzuki Bean Salad was a savior!  I've had so much more energy today!  Although adzuki beans (red bean) are mostly used in Asia for desserts and sweets, they're not actually a sweet bean.  Adzuki beans are a great source of not only protein and dietary fiber but also magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese and B vitamins.  Apparently they are also widely known in Japan to help support the kidneys (better have a big bowl after a heavy night out!).  The quinoa is also super high in protein and contains all 9 essential amino acids.  With an extra dose of fiber and calcium from the green beans and vitamin C from ripe tomatoes.... Its seriously better than coffee.  Its amazing how whole grains, vegetables, and unprocessed foods can make you feel.  :)


A NOTE ON PRE-ORDERING:  To ensure timely delivery of your super fresh home cooked meal, please pre-order the morning you would like your lunch/dinner.  Sandwiches are almost always available for ASAP delivery however MEALS and MEXICAN take a bit of love and time.  I also always cook with the freshest possible ingredients.. which means some items will not be available all the time.  I prep everything in the morning and when i'm out, i'm out until the next day.  Thank you for your understanding.  If you know what you would like for dinner on your way back from the boat, send me a message and it will be ready for you when you arrive to your house/dive shop.  If you would like breakfast/lunch for the boat, please let me know by 9PM the night before and I can deliver it before you depart in the morning :)

CLOSING EARLY TONIGHT, LAST ORDERS AT 6PM.

VEGGIE PIZZA!!

My ideal pizza is a thin crust wood fired lightly topped slightly chewy nugget of deliciousness.. however i've never been great baking with yeast and I don't have an oven.  Using the premade rounds from my baker and my awesome cast iron skillet I made an awfully tasty thick crust pizza loaded with toppings.  Broccoli, oyster mushrooms, onions, tofu, mozzarella, and a few other secret ingredients.

Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia

YUM!  I discovered that my bakery that delivers my fresh whole wheat bread also has these lovely "pizza dough" rounds.  Drizzled with a bit of olive oil, sea salt, thyme and crisped in a cast iron skillet, VOILA!  Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia.  Super delicious on its own or interestingly paired with my spicy Hulled Mung Bean Dahl.. its India meets Italy.

Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia and Hulled Mung Bean Dahl... interesting!!

Dahl and Focaccia are available for pre-order.  Olive Oil-Thyme Focaccia is 70THB a round.  Spicy Hulled Mung Bean Dahl is 90THB served with brown rice or plain focaccia.

The dish is completely vegetarian and the Dahl is vegan friendly :)

Holiday Food Coma. . . . Ring in the New Year!

I can't believe Christmas 2012 is over and the year is coming to an end.  I hope everyone had a great holiday with family and/or friends.  The past few days on Koh Lanta has been jam packed with food - food - and more food the highlight being the super delicious Vegetarian Christmas day dinner at Mango House in Old Town.

Rio's Kitchen is back open today but with limited deliveries because its one of my favorite days of the week... MARKET DAY!  All items are available for order after 5PM but please pre-order if you would like timely delivery.  Limited items available before 5PM are:

Breakfast Sandwich - Veggie Crunch - A.M.C. - Grilled Cheese - Salami Melt - Salami Sandwich - Cheese Quesadilla

 Marshmallow, Oreo, almond chocolate chews!

Winter Penguins basking in the sun on the beach!