The thought of a salad drink could be a turn-off for some. Just imagining the blended combination of green leaves and savory dressing in a tall cup is enough to elicit “ugh” and “ew”, maybe even “blech”. But at vegetable café and bar PAAK, this may not be the reaction.
Located within The Commons Saladaeng, the venue is fully dedicated to reshaping the way we eat vegetables. The PAAK team collaborated with Chef Vipittichak “Nick” Pitthayanont to come up with a contemporary plant-based menu that includes salads, soups, rice bowls, fresh juices, cocktails and, yes, salad drinks. All of these promise, not only photogenic presentations to attract Instagram likes, but delicious and palatable flavors as well.
PAAK is pretty much an all-day option. You can start your day with one of their cold-pressed juices such as Bokin (B180), a blend of bok choy, pineapple and mint; Carranger (B140), which combines carrot, orange and ginger; and, our hands-down favorite, W&M (B120), a refreshing mix of watermelon and mint.
Their lighter fare can be appealing for mid-day. Try their Broccoli Caesar Salad (B180) or Mexican Taco Salad (B220) if you just feel like grazing for lunch. If you want something heavier, order the Namphrik-Ong Ratatouille Fusilli, a dish that was conceptualized with Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn of Michelin-starred Le Du. Priced at B280, it’s a scrumptious East-meets-West affair that mixes spicy northern-style chilli with al dente fusilli and tender roasted chicken.
But let’s get down to the star of the menu: Hail Caesar (B220). This salad drink is essentially a salad bowl disguised as a smoothie. Every sip gives you a viscous blast of cos lettuce and parmesan cheese, blended with a tinge of homemade Caesar dressing. It’s basically an energy boost on the go.
PAAK is also ideal for post-work, happy hour sessions. Creative, vegetable-oriented cocktails are on the menu, including Bojito (B320), a mojito given a twist with the addition of betel leaves, and Bromance (B320), a sipper that mixes coconut rum with broccoli and pineapple juice.
Whatever you think about vegetables, disregard them and come to PAAK to get a whole new sense of what good, plant-based food tastes like.