In good company

Published on September 7, 2007

Cafe Corp, started Sittpanai Asavavimol and his sister, Athmard, features great coffee and meals by Sittpanai, and desserts by Athmard.

With countless coffee shops opening up, it's easy get confused when choosing where to buy a cup of coffee. The good news is that owners of these cafes are trying hard to put a new spin on their place and try to lure in customers.

Take Cafe Corp, a coffee shop that is a corporation run by two siblings whose different skills of baking and cooking attract the crowds. Located in the quiet strip of Ratchawithee road opposite Chitralada Palace, Cafe Corp is a sanctuary for palace visitors looking for a nice place to chill out. There's a good array of drinks and, more importantly, good food. The owner, Sittpanai Asavavimol, explains the large menu.

"I am into cooking while my sister, Athmard, is into baking," says the Cordon Blue graduate Sittpanai. "So when we chipped in for this place, we each managed our skills to make the best out of the menu. The result is a comprehensive list of foods for those looking for a good meal and typical cakes and coffees for those looking for a place to chill out in the afternoon."

Cafe Corp is not a big place. But it is quiet and equipped with plenty of parking - a convenient feature for anyone who's looking for a place to set up their laptop and work with some exterior inspirations. The cafe also has free wireless Internet access and their hot chocolate, although small in size, is rich and satisfying. The place is airy with its glass-paned walls and you can just sit and watch the cars passing by. However, if you are hungry, this place has some satisfying homemade dishes.

"I cook most of the things myself," says Sittpanai. "From spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise, relish and salad dressing - there's nothing out of the bottle here for sure. We have so much food that many people recommended us to change the look to be a restaurant instead of a cafe."

At noontime on a recent day, there were groups of government officers streaming in for fettuccine with stewed beef (Bt120), fettuccine with corned beef (Bt120) or a plate of eggs benedict (Bt160) served on toast. Yes, indeed, breakfast is served here, all day in fact, and it includes such hearty items such as eggs, sausage and ham that will keep you going for the rest of the day.

For a typical cafe experience, Cafe Corp's coffee selection is Illy, chosen by Athmard, an avid coffee drinker, who likes the Italian brand's mild, aromatic taste. The drinks menu includes the refreshing lemon, lime and bitter drink, which is lime juice mixed with Sprite and alcoholic bitters (Bt85) or you can order a glass of Spider, a Coke served with big scoop of vanilla ice cream (Bt85) for a nice touch in the afternoon. If you just want something to nibble on, a bowl of their chili fries (Bt95) adds a nice savoury touch to the typical french fries.

Athmard's baking selections are quite small, however. But we got to try her "bomb" cake (Bt85), which is rolled sponge cake of orange liquor-infused egg yolk meringue covered with a thick layer of chocolate chiffon cake and served chilled.

The siblings' cooking skills have gradually gained more notice, and they've been asked to cater to some private parties. Sittpanai can design the menu according to your party's theme and cook for you at the table, if needed. He says people are now looking for a new experience in their party and they are keen to make your small special soiree a bit more memorable with their tailored special menu.

207 Ratchawithee Road, near the intersection with Rama V Road,

opposite Chitralada Palace

Daily, 9.30am to 8pm (02) 241 0671

Sirin P Wongpanit  

The writer can be reached at www.ohsirin.blogspot.com