Phuket deli delights: A day at Delish Cafe

PHUKET: Delish lives up to its name. Since opening last December this little cafe in Rawai, next to Fisherman Way, has carved out a firm following with expats and tourists as the place to go for a fix of fresh. Here are 10 reasons why the Phuket Gazette tips its hat to Delish.

Ice Coffee: Start the day straw-in-mouth slurping a Delish Ice Coffee (95 baht). A hulking scoop of vanilla ice cream bobs in this man-size glass. Wonderfully bad for you, this will wake you up and threaten to send you to sleep at the same time. The ice cream is optional.

Tortilla: If you’re potty for patatas, then the Tortilla (130 baht) with salad is a perfect light order for brunch. While you gorge, why not make use of the free WiFi.

Splash of citrus: All those work emails will have invariably made you thirsty. Try a Delish fruit juice, lovingly squeezed on-site: apple, orange, watermelon, pineapple, carrot, pomelo (small 80 baht, large 120 baht).

You can even add spice to your tipple with celery, ginger, mint and beetroot. Juice boxes seem to be banned here. The very sight would no doubt go against the Delish fresh ethos.

Toastie time: Salami, Parmesan, mushroom, rocket and pesto in a toastie (110 baht) is a Delish idea for lunch, and one we fully support. The Gazette likes to dip its toasties in soup, and the Soups of the Day here (served with croutons, 125 baht) are perfect bedfellows for the toasties.

Interior: The interior is simple: Walls (four, one red), Delish logo, one blackboard menu, one giant plant, scatterings of black wooden tables and chairs, ice cream freezer, coffee machine, two sizable deli counters encasing a treasure trove of pastries, quiches, cakes and other delights. There are even cookie jars to dip into and a deli corner with sauces and jams for sale.

Aussie charmers: Australian co-owners Greg and Alexander ‘Sandy’ Johnston, along with Greg’s wife Liz, bring a bit of down under charm to Delish. The family not only has a wealth of knowledge from experience in the hospitality industry, but also seems popular with their band of expat faithfuls. Restaurant Manager Angela Palma and super-happy waitresses Niphaporn Promso and Bieb Sheeluang complete the Delish team.

Veggie values: Vegetarians are well served here. Not only do salads come fresh and flavorful, but other diners around you will most likely have some green on their plates. You’ll feel out of place if you don’t. But there are plenty of choices for non-meat eaters. Check with the Delish team for recommendations.

Now for the meat: You don’t have to be healthy here, in fact as the afternoon rolls around, why not try a Delish Burger (beef 220 baht, lamb 240 baht), add some French Fries and order a cold brew to wash it down. Or, if you like all-day breakfasts, then try the Farm Fresh Eggs (poached, scrambled, fried, 90 baht) and add extras of bacon, roasted tomatoes, hash browns, beans, sausages (25 baht each), mushrooms (35 baht) or salmon (55 baht). Splash on some HP sauce and you’ll be glad you did.

Sweet tooth: Brunch, lunch and late lunch down, it must be cake time. Try one of the “Delish-ous” sweets on offer: chocolate and carrot cake, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, the list is as long as it is sweet and reasonably priced.

Location: It’s nice when places are easy to find and Delish is: In the corner of the Fisherman Way Business Garden (the new complex), just off Wiset Road on the way to Rawai coming from Chalong. Parking here is plentiful so bring your friends.

Delish is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sundays. T: 076-384680.

— Fraser Morton