The problem . . .it’s hot. Very hot. You need to escape the sun. You and/or your children are now a shade of bright pink. You need to cool off somewhere. You also need to keep them happy.
The solution . . . Bingsu at Cafe de Flora,
Bingsu is what South Koreans eat to cool off. It’s a dessert made from flavoured, shaved ice; ice cream; plus pretty much any topping you’d care to have. All piled up in a big bowl. You can have pretty much any flavour, from chocolate to green tea to fresh strawberries or mango. When it’s made right, it’s delicious and comes in at around a hundred thousand calories a bowl. Not the sort of thing you’re going to eat every day. But far more interesting than a Wall’s Magnum or a scoop of gelato.
Thailand also has a similar thing, ‘nam keng sai’, which roughly translates as ‘ice with jelly bits and some unrecognisable dried fruit’ . It’s cheap, colourful and cools you down for 20 Baht. Available at any market. But bingsu takes that to the next level. Go to any shopping mall in Bangkok and you’ll find bingsu cafes. However, on Koh Chang there’s only one – Cafe de Flora at Flora Italay Resort, Klong Prao beach.
It is more expensive than a normal ice cream. But a bowl can easily feed two children and a group of Thais will often just share a couple between a group of people, rather than one each. Needless to staff we’ve done extensive testing of the varieties of bingsu on offer and come to the conclusion that they’re all good *. ( * Except strawberry. Thai strawberries are always a bit crap – they look like strawberries, but lack any real taste. )
Go for chocolate or caramel popcorn if you want an unadulterated sugar rush. Matcha Green Tea for something a bit more grown up. Or Mango for something fruity and refreshing.
The cafe also sells all manner of coffee and iced drinks, but we’ve never bothered trying them. Only been for the bingsu. :-)
Price: $$ – $$$
Photos:
Location: Located in the lobby at Flora I-Talay Resort, Klong Prao beach.
These restaurant reviews are just my thoughts on a place at the time I visited. I’ll mention if I know the owner well or get any freebies. But for the most of the time I am happy to play tourist and don’t mention this site at all. Obviously it isn’t possible to sample every dish on the menu and the type of food you have for lunch will differ to evening. In addition, owners and more importantly chefs, can change and your experience may differ from mine. If it does, post a comment below.
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