For ABC Essence in Eatery, the key concept in introducing a wholesome cuisine option to the Bangkok market is “Make it simple, but significant!”
by Percy Roxas
Nina, the brains behind ABC Essence of Eatery.
Like most Thai yuppies, Nina Pakamon Somboonvechakarn loves to eat out. But probably unlike most of them, she believes that eating is more than just filling the stomach. “It’s an art, a sensory experience, a simple happiness that restaurants can share with their customers,” Nina says. Five months ago, Nina turned that belief into action. She opened ABC Essence in Eatery.
“ABC represents everyone’s memories of the first childhood lesson to learn a language,” she explains. “In this sense, our restaurant, ABC, represents the starting point of the most basic ‘essence’ of eating.” For Nina, that means serving delicious cuisine, wholesome fusion food that satisfies the stomach, heart, and soul; food that is delicious in taste, nutritious, and cooked with the highest quality ingredients available in the market.
Located on the third floor of 9:53 Community Mall (Tel: 02 262 0876, 083 096 0426), ABC is like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. The eatery – some call it a café because of its intimate size – looks
simple but sophisticated. Following the brand concept of “making it simple but significant,” the dominant color scheme is white, as Nina says she doesn’t want anything to distract from the food.
As one gets curious however, one realizes that the white 3D decorations represent the biological view of food cells, which gives an interesting counterpoint to the striking marble floor and unique chairs.
Indeed, the overall feeling is modern yet cozy. And if one sits near the large glass window, there is a pleasant view of a beautiful garden area outside, giving the place a private feel although it is located in the food and wine hub of Bangkok.
The range of the all-day menu served includes salads, wraps, pasta, soups, varied main courses, and desserts – so the place fits those into the health lifestyle perfectly. The signature house dish is the “Skinny Sumo Salad (THB 300),” which is Asian fusion salad with chicken yakitori, tempura tofu, seaweed roll with kimchi and cheese, grilled mushroom and homemade ginger-sesame dressing. This is a unique ABC creation – and definitely a must try!
ABC’s signature house dish, the Skinny Sumo Salad
Another is the “Weekend Wrap (THB 280),” which is pulled grilled rosemary chicken, lettuce, sweet corn, sautéed mushrooms, and grilled asparagus served with Thai chili sauce and truffle cream, wrapped in a warm tortilla; and still another must-order is the “ABC Duck (THB 420),” which is confit duck, slow-cooked for eight hours for crispy skin and succulent meat, served with prune risotto and sautéed spinach, and topped with beetroot sauce and Parmesan foam. As you can guess – they are very filling.
Besides the wholesome cuisine, ABC serves specialty coffee brews, from coffee grown and processed at the owner’s coffee plantation, Omkoi Estate in Chiang Mai, but blended and roasted in Bangkok. There’s an extensive beverage menu including hot and iced coffee, blended chocolate, fruit teas, and more.
If you are looking for a new place in Thonglor to hang-out, maybe for a hearty lunch, a satisfying afternoon coffee while working in a relaxing space, or perhaps a light dinner, drop by ABC Essence in Eatery.
It’s a great place for enjoying wholesome comfort food in utter conviviality.
