DESTINATION PANCAKE

       While studying in the US, actor Chartayodom "chai" Hiranyubthiti was a regular customer at IHOP, as the International House of Pancakes is known for short, and became something of an expert on its classic combos and variety of desserts. Meanwhile, Wisarut Sriratanaprapas, a Thai student in Melbourne, used to join the long queue in front of the Pancake Parlour, a place of pilgrimage for Australia's pancake fans.
       Chai, Wisarut and three of their pals share such a passion for pancakes that when they decided to start a business, their choice of venture as logically a cafe with the pancake as the star.
       Now they're aiming to make the Pancake Cafe in new mall Nawamin ci6ty Avenue Bangkok's favourite destination for crepes. Decorated in pastel shades of pink, gold and brown with comfy sofas upholstered in floral patterns, the parlour offers hotcakes doled up as both savoury fare and sweet treats.
       "There is no cafe specialising in pancakes in Bangkok, so we want to test the waters. Many people think it's comfort dessert that's easily made at home. In fact, the pancake mix you find in the supermarkets ostly comprises artificial ingredients. Here, at our cafe, we use ony fresh ingredients and we make the batter everyday," says Wisarut, a graduate in marketing and commerce from Melbourne's Deakin University.
       None of five partners are trained in cooking or pastry-making but have learned by doing, reading books and surfing the Net.
       'Initially, we wanted to buy a franchise of the Pancake Parlour but right now, this Melbourne family-owned business is not interested in expanding intofurther franchises. So we decided to do it on our own. We've come up with a pancake that is thick, fluffier and less sweet and has a pleasant odour of milk and butter," adds Wisarut.
       It took about six months for these pancake lovers to come up with a batter that goes well with th selected syrups and vanilla ice cream. At Bt120 to Bt220 a dish, prices a bit steep but the ingredients are , as Wisarut says, of the highest quality.
       "We use only the highest quality products to get the perfect combination. We never substitute our core products with lower-cost ingredients to save money. That would destroy our products. Food presentation is also a core concern."
       As the restaurant, which has been open just one month and has yet to build a large clientele, the menu it not extensive. Three savoury dishes are offered at Bt220 a pop. Opt or the allday breakfast and you will get two butter-milk pancakes, grilled Vienna sausages and ham, fried egg and grilled potatoes. Other options are grilled veal sausages and pancakes served with gravy and vegetable salad, and pancakes topped with hot ham cheese.
       If a sweet threat is more to your liking, order an "Angel and Demon", two chocolate lava pancakes served with fresh strawberry, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for Bt180. Girls might fall in love with "Sweet Dream", butter-milk pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for Bt160.
       For a more classic taste, order "Good Days", buttermilk pancakes served with vanilla ice cream, maple sysrup and whipped with pieces of bananas and whipped cream and homemade butterscoth for Bt160.
       You can also customise your own dish wiht side orders. To get one more buttermilk pancake, just add Bt35 or pay the extra for Bt30 to upgrade from the buttermilk to chocolate pancake. One more scoop of vanilla ice cream costs Bt40 and an additional serving of chocolate chips is Bt35. Extra whipped cream and whipped butter cost Bt10 and Bt15 respectively.
       For drinks, you can choose from Lavazza coffees,
       Dilmah teas and smoothies such as peach and strawberry yoghurt. Fro those with a thirst, Wisarut proudly presents "Mrs Smith", fresh juice made with granny smith green apple topped with a salty Chinese plum. The taste is pleasing and not too sweet.
       While the granny smith appel originated in Australia from a chance seedling propagated by Maria Ann Smith hence the name of the apple Wisarut says he's named his drink after the Hollywood movie "Mr & Mrs Smith".
       "The fresh apple juice and the salty plum are a perfect blend. There's no sugar so you body can be as fit and firm as Angelina Joie's," he says with a smile.

       >> AT A GLANCE
       - The Pancake Cafe is in Nawamin City Avenue mall on KasetNawamin Road and is open daily from 11am to 9.30pm on weekdays and from 10.30am to 10pm on weekends.
       - Call (082) 796 4556.