Bang Dech

The owner-uncle might not be the most gentle and warm, but look past the grumpy service and you’ll realize the food here really is up there with the best. The khao mok (B50) is moist and aromatic—everything you need the dish to be. There’s a reason the place is more than 50 years old and now run by the second generation. Another dish not to be missed is the massaman (curry with beef, B60)—one of the best in town. The generous serving of beef is tender and the curry very rich and flavorful.
In front of Nakhon Kuenkan Soi 6, Phrapradaeng, 02-462-5983. Open daily 7am-4:30pm

Aisa Rotdee

This place is easy to miss amid the surrounding hustle and bustle. It’s situated down a side alley just past the 7-Eleven on Tani Road, on the other side of Rambutri. Look out for the sign in Thai only (non-readers can spot it by the red color and crescent and star logo). Seating is actually quite ample, but first you have to negotiate your way past their always-busy, street-side kitchen. The beef satay (B45), ox tail (B60) and khao mok gai (B40) are the highlights, and their beef noodle soup is super savory and chock-full of succulent chunks of beef.
178 Tanee Rd., 02-282-6378. Open daily 9am-10pm

Ahmad Rotdee

Ahmad is the real deal for khao mok (B50): fragant, not too fatty, with great rice and tender meat. The beef or chicken over rice goes great with a hearty bowl of oxtail soup. (If you prefer goat meat, khao mok pae [B200] is available only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.) Don’t forget to try the curries, too, while you’re there.
Rama 9 Rd., 081-811-4601, 089-076-7610. Open daily 9am-3pm

Khao Mok Gai Convent

Hidden among the many trolleys, this nameless khao mok gai stall draws in crowds of hunger-struck office workers at lunchtime. Their khao mok gai (B30) comes with a chicken drumstick, slices of cucumber and a smattering of fried chopped onions. The rice, though sometimes a bit too dry, is aromatic and well-seasoned and the chicken tender. Despite its look, the accompanying sauce is sour, not sweet, and a good complement. They also serve a sour and spicy chicken soup (B30), which is a must-have and the perfect way to wash down the khao mok gai.
Soi Convent (in front of Bua Restaurant), Silom Rd., 086-042-4645. Open Mon-Sat 11am-5pm

Khao Mok Gai Siam <BK PICK>

A list of the best khao mok gai isn’t complete without Khao Mok Gai Siam. Even though their many branches are situated around the outskirts of Bangkok, we think it’s definitely worth the trek. The chicken in the dish is very moist, fall-off-the-bone tender, and covered with spices. Of course, you should have it with guay tiew gaeng (noodles in curry, B35) to stock up on energy for the long drive back.
181/115 Sanambinnam Rd., 02-968-7447. Open daily 8am-4pm

Can you tell us a bit about Lost?
Lertsiri: Our films depict people who are lost in various ways. We specifically focused on people losing their memory, becoming lost in love and lost in their own ego. In the first, an elderly man tries to walk to a different province, thinking it is his home. Along the way, he befriends a runaway girl who has lost hope in life and has turned to drugs. The next story is about a couple, soon to be wed, going through a period of uncertainty. The situation escalates when the groom-to-be runs into his old girlfriend, and, for a moment, becomes lost in love. Finally, we have a story about an egomaniac working at an ad agency. He’s climbs the ladder of success and reached the top, but today he discovers what it’s like to fall. The movie is set in Bangkok and told within the timeframe of one day.

How did the project come about?
Lertsiri: I thought back to the days when I lived in NYC with my mom working at a nursing home. Seeing elderly people being left behind sort of drove a nail through my heart. When I came back to Thailand and lived in Bangkok, I saw that the hectic way of life meant many elderly people were being left behind. And every now and then you would hear news of people being lost in the city as they went searching for their loved ones. I decided to base the movie on this, and to take it up a notch by expanding the theme of being lost to feeling lost in love and getting lost in your own ego. Vutichai shared this vision and we wrote the script together. 

You're screening Lost at the Lido Theatre but only for one day. Why such a short run?
Lertsiri: Our film was sponsored by True Visions and they actually helped us with the project, so that it would become a feature presentation on True Visions this Christmas. But as filmmakers, Vutichai and I agreed that we should at least give it a shot on the big screen to realize our dream. So we forked out our own money to screen it at Lido. Due to our financial resources, we could only afford that one screening. But if demands are high, who knows.

Which films first got you excited about the possibilities of the medium?
Lertsiri: Run Lola Run, Jaws, The Killing Fields.
Vutichai: Cinema Paradiso, The Last Emperor.

Would you liken your style to anyone in particular?
Lertsiri: We really wanted to be unique from the start, but like, you know, everything has been done before. It is not so much of a style but rather our topics and issues that both Vutichai and I like to go in depth with. We both agreed that our interests in social issues is what defines our writing and vision. 

Do you predict any big changes for Thai cinema in the near future?
Lertsiri: We think that Thai films will eventually gain a more global audience. Thailand has so much to offer with many bright young directors. If only they were given the chance to prove their worth. I doubt that change will happen fast, but it will eventually come.

Finally, do you have any more projects in the pipeline?
Lertsiri: Before working on Lost, we had been building up a list of ideas and synopses for many movie ideas. Currently we are returning to our list of scripts and we’re working on three different stories at the moment: a romantic comedy, a children's fantasy and drama). For us, the process starts all over again, and it might take some time to find the right sponsorship or funding. But, hey, at least this time around we have some experience to guide us. interviewed by Dominic Hanratty

Ad Here 13th Blues Bar

13 Samsen Rd., Phranakorn, 089-769-4613, [email protected]. Open daily 6pm-midnight.
If your old man is a music lover then there’s no better place to take him than the spit and sawdust charm of Ad Here. This tiny little shophouse, a short walk from Khao San, remains one of the premium joints to catch some authentic live blues thanks to its constantly rotating line up of very talented, and often slightly gnarled, local and inter musicians losing themselves in the moment. Your dad will also love the impressive collection of classic vinyl covers that serve as the wall decorations.

Humidor

Lobby/F, InterContinental Bangkok, 973 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-0444. Open daily 8am-12:30am.
You’re not far from the Fireplace Grill to get that manly steak dinner and the Humidor has plenty of black leather and chrome to stay in the mood. But what makes this bar really special is that it’s also one of the rare places where you can puff on a big cigar indoors. Expect a solid selection of single malt whiskies to go with that stogie and live music Mon-Fri, 9pm-midnight.  

Brew Beers and Ciders

G/F, Seen Space, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2366. www.brewbkk.com. Open daily 4pm-2am.
What real dad doesn’t love a beer or two, and this place has arguably the most impressive collection in town. With a range of intriguing brews that come from America, Britain, Belgium and beyond, there’s sure to be one that tickles his taste buds. Grab a seat out in the courtyard and he’ll get the added bonus of being able to ogle the bright and beautiful young things that flock to Seenspace every night.    

Manhattan Bar

2/F, JW Marriott Bangkok, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700 ext.4230. Open daily 6pm-1am.
Located on the second floor of the JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, at the heart of Sukhumvit, the Mahattan Bar is run by the same folks behind New York Steak House, considered one of the top places for a slab of red meat in Bangkok. Start your night with something from the grill before imbibing a few of the martini offerings in the stylish gentleman’s club ambiance.  

While everyone is arguing over which B30,000 ultrabook to get, you might have missed out on how insanely cheap entry-level laptops have become. Lenovo S300 is one such PC, with enough power to get work done, but not much multimedia oomph.

Plugged:
· Nice keyboard design and spacing, accurate and easy to type on.
· Lots of ports, whether it’s USB 2.0 and 3.0, HDMI and a card reader.
· The One Key Recovery button allows you to back up your system to an image file and restore it, create a bootable recovery disc or reboot your computer to system recovery mode.
· Although the speakers are located underneath, the sound is pretty loud and clear.

Bugged:
· The track pad is not located at the center often leading to mixed up left and right clicks.
· Although it is designed to be portable, it feels both heavy and a bit flimsy.
· Shut down takes a bit longer than expected.
· Screen sharpness (1366x768 pixels) and clarity isn’t the best.
· You often need to refresh the wireless network list for your desired connection to show up.

Verdict:
If you don’t mind the weight, and can get used to the off-center track pad, the Lenovo S300 is one solid budget laptop. Perfect for basic operations like web browsing and all the usual Microsoft Office duties. But if you’re looking to do more heavy tasks like Photoshop, gaming and video editing, then the screen’s lack of clarity and the CPU’s low specs means the S300 doesn’t quite measure up.

Specs:
Intel Core i3 1.6GHz, Windows 7 Home Premium, Intel HD Graphics 3000 4GB DDR3 RAM, 720p HD integrated webcam, HDD 500GB, battery life 5 hours

B13,990. Available at Lenovo retailers nationwide, try 4/F, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., Bangkok, 02-640-7000.