There's a brand-new supper club in town that you’re not going to want to miss out on. Our intrepid food editor, Julia Head, better known as The Nottingham Food Guide, paid a visit to Bang Pa In’s communal supper table where dishes come with tales of Thailand, and she’s here to spill all the delicious details…
Bang Pa In has brought a reimagined Thai dining experience to Nottingham, and it’s the good folk from Prad Thai who are behind it. Many of you will have already experienced their Thai dishes at street food markets all around Nottingham, but if you haven’t been fortunate enough to try their chicken satay or pad thai yet, make sure you keep an eye out for their next pop-up. I promise, you won’t regret it. Or, better yet, book a seat at the next Bang Pa In supper club table to experience it firsthand.
My first question when booking a ticket to the supper club —after poring over the menu—was: “What does Bang Pa In mean? Or rather, where is it?”
Speaking with siblings Gemma and Jamie Praditngam, the masterminds behind Prad Thai, along with their brother, Dom, I learned that Bang Pa In is the name of the area in Thailand where their ancestral home is found. It's named after the Royal family's summer palace that was built there, and their house on stilts along the Chao Phraya River has served as a gathering point for the entire Praditngam family for generations.
Their first supper club was held afterhours at The Specialty Coffee & Eatery, but I managed to grab a ticket to their second supper club that took place on 25 April before it sold out, with the evening hosted at one of my all-time favourite bars, The Berliner in Beeston.
Like most supper clubs, you're seated at a communal table, which only adds to the convivial atmosphere. An eclectic mix of guests, ranging from students to nuclear physicists, came together for one thing: good food.
This all felt rather serendipitous, seeing as The Berliner was where I tried Prad Thai for the very first time, back in their early days of pop-ups, and subsequently fell in love with their Thai food. In fact, Prad Thai single-handedly changed my perceptions and aversions to street food, opening a whole new world of exploration in Nottingham for me. So really, I owe a lot of gratitude to them.
Since that momentous day, I've witnessed this terrific trio's journey go from strength to strength – from their humble beginnings in a yellow tent in Wollaton serving street food during lockdown, to hosting unique and sold-out supper clubs that offer traditional yet elevated Thai dishes.
Like most supper clubs, you're seated at a communal table, which only adds to the convivial atmosphere. An eclectic mix of guests, ranging from students to nuclear physicists, came together for one thing: good food. Conversation flowed, laughs were had, and no doubt new friendships were forged, with numbers and Instagram handles exchanged by the end of the evening.
Priced at just £35 per person for five courses, this is a steal, considering most supper clubs charge upwards of £60. Throughout the evening, we were brought an exciting collection of Thai dishes; some individual plates, some shared platters, and a central dish that the whole menu was based around.
It’s worth mentioning that The Berliner also flexed their mixology skills by creating two Thai-inspired cocktails for the evening: a Thai margarita, and a sabai sabai with Mekhong (the spirit of Thailand), sugar, Thai basil and soda.
While the menu may change for future suppers, a standout dish for me was the khao soi: a spicy chicken curry broth served with slippery handmade noodles, fresh herbs, lime, and the most delicious, crunchy cracker that soaked up the rich broth. It was unbelievably good and very ‘slurp-worthy.’
Other highlights included son-in-law's eggs: tamarind-glazed quail eggs served in a nest of crispy vermicelli; chargrilled chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce and pickle; grandmother's pork salad: a small medley of fresh herbs with grilled pork tossed in khun yai's sauce with toasted coconut. The mango sticky rice dessert, made with imported mangoes from Thailand and India, was a sweet finale that left a lasting impression.
There's an innate sincerity and humility in the preparation and presentation of the food. Perhaps it's the team's balanced blend of modesty and passion for their craft, or the history behind how they learned to cook from their dad, Gung, who owns The Thai Kitchen in Long Eaton. Or perhaps it simply comes down to the fact that they’ve become more like friends to me over the years, and have retained the same humble attitude they’ve had since day one.
I'm certain that everyone present that evening would join me in applauding the outstanding food, Jamie's culinary prowess in the kitchen, and Gemma's captivating storytelling that transported us to Thailand with each dish.
Keep an eye on the Bang Pa In socials or their website to see when the next supper club will be. I am forewarning you that these are going to be in demand, so you’ll need to be quick when reserving your tickets!
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
