NO NEED TO TAKE A VACATION.............

This year Rosa’s Thai restaurants are celebrating 15 years and to celebrate has launched some new menu items.

Chief Saiphin Moore opened her first restaurant on the site of an East End ‘caff’ called Rosa’s. Out of respect for the previous owner (as well as no money for a new signs) she chose to keep the name.

And 15 years later Saiphin, the co-founder has also become known as Rosa.

At Rosa’s on the top floor of the Trinity Centre you can imagine you are taking a culinary vacation to far away shores as you enjoy traditional Thai dishes.

The main terrace space is relaxing with a functional but cosy interior. During the better weather you can sit on the outside balcony which looks over Briggate and watch the world go by over a pre-meal Thai inspired cocktail or a post meal coffee or hot tea or even dine totally alfresco.

The cuisine at Rosa’s couldn’t be more authentic as products come straight from Thai farms from Tamarind from Saiphins home province of Petchabun, which has the perfect soil for this and is the crucial ingredient that can make or break a Pad Thai Sauce.

The Jasmine and sticky rise come from the central plains of Korat and curry pastes from Trang with coconut milk and coconut sugar coming from Phetchaburi where the coconut trees grow and which has the best sugar farms in Thailand.

We decided to go for the Veggie Sharing Platter and we were not disappointed. First we sampled the pumpkin crackers which were a new taste and had clearly not come out of a bag!

The Sweetcorn Patties were absolutely melt in your mouth and delicious whilst the Salt and Pepper Tofu was very tasty with onions and peppers.

Fillings for the Spring Rolls were vegetable including celery and mushrooms and noodles and were obviously home made and very crisp a great sharing starter and excellent value.

My colleague chose the Cashew Stir Fry Pad Metmamuang. This was a classic stir fry wth soy sauce, cashew nuts, spring onions and mushrooms. A hot dish my colleague loved it but advised it was not for the faint – hearted.

My choice of Sweet and Sour Chicken Pade Priew Wan was a Thai take on a well known dish. This had pineapple, fresh veggies and cherry tomatoes in a tangy sweet ‘n sour sticky sauce. For me it was a tad too hot as I am not a lover of spicy hot foods but for most it would be perfect. We shared an egg fried rice which was so fluffy it simply floated off the plate!

The portions of both our meals was ultra generous and the presentation was amazing.

Desserts at Rosa’s are a must. I decided on the Chocolate Brownie served with coconut ice cream and a tamarind sauce on the side. This gave a whole new dimension to the tried and tested brownie – absolutely delicious.

My colleague had the Thai Churros, a Thai take on the Spanish dessert but more chewy than the Spanish version and served with a sweet and milky condensed milk. This was great to dip your Churros into and very very palatable.