TURNING OVER A FRESH LEAF

       Assuggested by the name, the new and humble catery Salad House at Bon Marche off Prachaniwet Road is a clean and green place to enjoy a healthy meal.
       Owner Arunee Phoorahong brings fresh red oak, green oak, cos and iceberg lettuces from her own toxic-free hydroponics farm in Pathum Thani to the restaurant everyday. After more than 30 years in the marketing business, she decided to go back to nature, started up her own two-rai vegetable farm and makes sure she consumes healthy food.
       "Inner beauty is pivotal. An ever increasing number of people suffering from cancer and intestinal diseases. That's because we are what we eat. I started the farm because I wanted to do something better in life after the stress of workign, Now, after years of cating planted of vegetables, I feel healthier and much happier. Good food has lots of potential in slowing down the ageing process," says Arunee.
       She also wanted to share her healthy lifestyle with other people so opened Salad House two weeks ago. The restaurant is decorated simply in white and green and has a floor that's covered with artificial grasses.
       The healthy vegetables, naturally enought, taste all the more delicious with the right dressings. Instead of looking them up in a recipe book, Arunee turned to her mother, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia. Mum consulted an Australian friend, a hotel chef and a major fan of Thai foods, who's created six salad dressings that can be adjusted to suit the thai palate.
       Customers can pick form in-house, caesar, clam, tuna, thousand island and cream. The in-house dressing combines olive oil and maple syrup and has quickly become the eatery's best seller. The vegetables are fress and crisp and are priced from Bt79 to Bt89 accompanied withyour choice of dressing. Salmon salad can also be ordered at Bt49.
       "We've made the dressings a bit of sour to attract customers. Because of that, everyone eats more vegetables," syas arunee.
       Soup is priced at Bt59 a bowl and there's a choice of corn, spinach, pumpkin, carrot and mushroom. For customers who want something more substantial, there are also ham and cheese sandwiches made with wholewheat bread.
       You shouldn't leave the eatery without trying the baked olive rice, which is deliciously soft and aromatic. the selected jasmine rice is baked with olive oil and various spices like pepper, garlic, coriander roots, ginger and galangal for a day.
       "After baking, we also sterilise it with the proper equipment. That means you can take it home and keep in the refrigerator for two weeks," says Arunee.
       To olive rice is best eaten with roasted pork ribs, prepared to a sexcret recipe from her mother's chef friend. All Arunee will say is that the meat is roasted with various herbs and it's certainly very tendr. There arfe many choices of lunch sets at prices that range from Bt129 to Bt139. A good selection is the in-house salad with roasted pork ribs and a blowl of soup.
       For drinks, there are six healthy smoothies, the names of which suggest the benefits they offer. Dry skin? Then sip on a "Skin Cate" which inelds lychee, guava, lemon, honey, ginseng and guarana. For digestive benefits, opt for "digest Plus"-a combination of banana, apple juice, blue-berry and vanilla yoghurt digestive booster. To keep the doctor away, Arunee suggests the "Doc Off", a combination of watermelon, orange juice and strawberry. Coconut jelly beads come in every glass and the dirnks are priced at Bt59.
       "The recipes for the smoothies come from my wet nurse who is now a cook in a Thai restaurnant in Hong Kong. Smoothies are popular over there and she's learned to make various drinks. We've reduced the sweentess though to suit Thai tastes."
       You can take some fresh vegetables home as Aurnee also sells her hydroponie goodies ready to go. The 100gm vegetable packs cost Bt45 and an eight-ounce bottle of salad dressing is priced at Bt115. the restaurant also a home delivery service, vegetable gift baskets and food catering and is a great place relex after a stressful day in the office.