Otowa, the Japanese restaurant perched on the rocks
over-looking Patong Beach, was recently married. Otowa has fallen for
someone who isn't Japanese. Cross-cultural marriages can be difficult, and
she has apparently gone loony tunes over a smooth-talking Frenchman. But
she's so delicate, and everyone knows how demanding the French can be —
particularly when it comes to food and affairs of the heart.
Phuket Magazine visited the couple just before the
big day. We descended the stairs to Otowa's familiar open-air dining room. A
soft breeze was blowing, as usual, and the sea view was predictably
spectacular. The dining room looked pretty much the same, but the lights had
been turned down, giving the place a more romantic feel. This must have been
the Frenchman's idea. Everyone knows all they can think about is sex. Otowa
was radiant and gushed on a bit about some ideas she and husband to be had
for changing the interior.
No sooner had we sat down than Otowa shocked us by
ordering a bottle of wine from New Zealand. This was obviously
you-know-who's influence. Otowa used to be reluctant to drink, and here she
was ordering wine with a fancy French name. The Sauvignon Blanc turned out
to be delicious, a perfect companion to the food we subsequently ate.
Although everyone was giggling and the conversation was turning a bit
risqué, we found it impossible to say no to the two additional bottles she
decided
to order.
When it came time to eat, Otowa was quick to point out
that we were trying some dishes that she and Frenchy might serve once they
officially tied the knot. The first thing we tried was a vegetable and
salmon paté. It was radically different from anything Otowa had ever served
us before, but we found it much more than merely palatable, and actually
found ourselves looking forward to the next dish. This was a real shocker,
but it made us all decide that the Frenchman might not be so bad after all.
When the sushi with a slab of pan-fried foie gras on top arrived, we all
ooed and ahed then dug in. Delicately sauced, it was spectacularly
delicious.
Our favourite dish, however, turned out to be a platter
of steamed clams drenched in garlicky butter like that used to dress
escargot. This dish put us over the top. Frenchy had to be ok. Anyone who
could whip up something like this was bound to be a good companion for
lovely Otowa. We quickly decided to tell Otowa's brothers, Baan Rim Pa and
Da Maurizio, that they had nothing to worry about.
Although we never met Otowa's significant other, when we
passed the kitchen, we heard Japanese coming from the kitchen. When we asked
Otowa about it, she smiled sweetly and said, "You are assuming he's French;
maybe he's really Japanese."
Japanese or French, this is going to be a marriage made
in heaven. Drop by the Otowa when you get a chance and discover what it's
all about.
