With our avowed intention to present somewhere
‘different’ each week, for this issue we went to a coffee shop. Not one
presenting just meals (though food is on offer), or one that just presents
coffee and snacks (though there are many coffees and teas) but one that has an
internet facility, a discussion lounge, spa products and a huge range of OTOP
certified goods.
The coffee shop is the Lilavadee Coffee Gallery. This is in
the front of the Northern Park Emporium OTOP showrooms, and directly opposite
the Chiang Mai Immigration Police headquarters, known to all the expats who go
there for their 90 day visa stamps. (You must not forget, Immigration Inspector
Kanokpun has already warned you!)
The building is very recent and the decor is in that clean,
uncluttered, chrome and minimalist Euro style, complete with high ceilings and a
mezzanine floor.
There
is a dining area outside, with wood decking and potted shrubs, while inside
there are five distinct areas. One is the coffee dispensary itself, along the
far wall, then there is a sit down dining area, plus another on the mezzanine,
whilst along another wall is an internet section and finally a stand-alone
section that is used to display books, spa products, including their own
‘Plumeria’ brand of creams, soaps and lotions. The internet is interesting,
working through an ADSL high speed connection, but the operation and timing is
automatic, done through coin in the slot meters beside each computer. It costs
B. 40 for the first 15 minutes and then B. 1 per minutes after that.
We went at lunchtime, but as the rain was coming, we opted
for the indoor air-conditioned section, rather than the ‘promenade deck’
outside. After a brief perusal of the OTOP products on show (just a small
portion of that available in the Northern Park Emporium) we settled with the
menu.
It begins with coffee (after all, it really is a coffee shop)
with the hot choices between B. 40-45 with all the usual espresso and cappuccino
favourites and lattes. The cold coffees are next (B. 60-65), and if they are not
cold enough, there is a section called “Frozen” coffees with all the choices
at B. 65.
Teas are next, with Earl Grey, lemon tea and green tea
choices, done in different ways (B. 40-55). Milk and milk shakes follow (B.
35-55) and then fruit juices with most at B. 45 (including carrot juice, more
correctly a vegetable drink).
The final page begins with 16 appetizers, ranging from
pineapple pie slices for B. 15 up to ham and cheese sandwiches at B. 45 to ham
fry with butter at B. 65.
After these there are three breakfast sets (it opens at 6
a.m. for the early birds, or those going home late) based on waffle, omelet and
ham, plus different drinks. These sets range in price between B. 79-99.
The final items are ice creams (B. 10-35) and beers with
small Heineken available at B. 50, or a large one at B. 90.
We began with iced coffees, which came in tall glasses,
complete with whipped cream and some triple decker sandwiches and a bacon fry
(similar to the old style Angels on Horseback if there had been an oyster
inside) which was very more-ish and tasty.
Some university style young people arrived for lunch as well
and took themselves off to the mezzanine floor, and the design of the venue was
such that we did not impinge upon each other in any way. Clever use of acoustics
preclude interrupting each other’s trains of thought.
Lilavadee certainly is somewhere ‘different’ and would
suit those who would like to do some OTOP shopping and finish with some OTOP
chatting over a coffee or several! Worth a visit to have a look at the Plumeria
products if nothing else. The clean ambience of the coffee shop will make you
stay for a while anyway! And the prices are very reasonable.
Lilavadee Coffee Gallery, Northern Park Emporium, Highway 1141 (Om Mung -
opposite Immigration office) telephone 053 202 571. Plenty of parking within the
Northern Park Emporium complex. Open 6 a.m. till 10 p.m.
