Everything Random

A good friend of mine adores the Blackitch Artisan Kitchen, with whom she had a relationship for some time. When I had the opportunity to visit Chiang Mai on a work trip, I requested that she book me a table so that I could enjoy its culinary delights.

It’s a restaurant purely by reservation. When I visited, it had five tables in a 4-2-2-4-4 configuration, which I think can be rearranged depending on the reservation. The exterior portrays a modern-chic wood style, and the bar and dining area are designed so that as soon as you enter, you know that the kitchen is serious about its food.

I am no restaurant critic, so I don’t like to pretend that I have every word to say about everything that was brought to our table but I have a few notes to say that might probably interest you.

First, is the really good Plum Wine that I had while waiting for my friend to arrive, stuck in traffic for some time. I had the mistake to ask Chef Black who hovered around like a skilled party host if it was good. It’s his wine. So, the discussion was over right away.  But it was really good, topped with soda and an ice ball. It was so good that my friend and I ended up buying a bottle each to take home. Like this. 

Second, the food is really good and it’s evident that the curation of the menu was carefully done, to go with the theme and the promise of local sourcing of ingredients. That night was dubbed “Root Rhythm”. I failed to ask why. But I think it has something to do with the Chef paying homage to his ancestry and way of cooking but at the same time peppering the creations with ‘roots’ and tubers, like in the case of the starter “squid with coriander roots”, along with “pumpkin and pepper” and “seafood and garlic” (see below).

The menu consisted of 18 artful creations delivered to your table by attentive waiters and explained concisely by Chef Black, telling you how to move from one to another especially when three entrees are served at the same time. The food was a good companion to a hearty conversation and the flavours do not disappoint. 

Third, the dining area is artfully decorated and exudes a sense of familiarity and cosiness – small enough to feel like it’s just your neighborhood diner, and chic enough to signal an expensive place. The only negative factor is the noise that comes from a nearby bar. The place is not sound-proofed to limit external noise.

Finally, the price is really reasonable, especially when you consider what you ate and the kind of service you get. You might not be dining under the stars, or in front of the Ping River, but the taste of the food is enough to compensate for the lack of that Chiang Mai ambience. Worth a try. And worth booking another time.