2012 Spring review: Cucina, Italian restaurant, JW Marriott Mai Khao, Phuket, Thailand

Apart from the serene environment of Mai Khao beach, the restaurants of the various resorts here are my important considerations in staying here. After quite many phone calls, finally I could fill up someone's cancelled booking on the last night that I was in Mai Khao. The restaurant did really have a good business. Glad to see it do so well in these 3 years. The first time I was here it wasn't that busy and they still had those semi-buffet of antipasti/dessert bar and a selection of main course from the menu.

I do miss their wild mushroom soup (photo 6) and beef carpaccio (photo 5) a lot. So we had these 2 again. Then I had the seafood salad, pizza with Phuket lobster and risotto of baby asparagus and blue crab meat. Among all these, the risotto deserves a 2 thumbs up. Some very fine sun-dried tomatoes were put in it to bring up the freshness of the blue crab meat and balance the slightly cream sauce.

On the dessert, we tried the panna cotta with mixed berries and chocolate vanilla Napoleon cake. Apparently these 2 were made in a very classic way that some sponge cake was blended into the panna cotta. The chocolate vanilla cake tasted also very classic that we miss in the old days. The only flaw of the whole meal is the pizza. Actually I shouldn't order it as I know Phuket lobster isn't that appealing. Should order something like parma ham or simply a mushroom pizza.

Pesto's, Italian restaurant and pool side bar, Holiday Inn Mai Khao, Phuket, Thailand

On the first day after check-in at this resort, I came here for a poolside lunch. Frankly speaking, this restaurant was a real turn-off and even upset me so much for the meals that I was going to have in the next few days of the whole stay. First I haven't tried such a horrible balsamic vinegar (dry, bitter sour) and the pad thai was the worst. The tamarind sauce is very strange, tasting like orange cough syrup. Check the french fried of the sandwich. It's soaked in oil, not deep fried. So greasy.

When it's about dinner time, I decided to give J's cafe a try. To my experience, quite many hotels/resorts have something in common. They often have something pretty extreme. Turned out I would stick to J's cafe, as posted earlier.

Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao, Phuket, Thailand

This resort provides a very wide range of activities and facilities and even some I forget - watching movie on the lawn (the last 2 photos). It shows 2 movies each night with some very nice surround system and a nice big bed to sit back and enjoy the movies. Besides, the deli and minimart doesn't mark up the prices too much. At least you can get some sandwiches or cakes at just THB50-80. In general, the resort is quite beyond my expectation. Their spa isn't expensive either. At least you can get a massage at THB500 to 800 or a spa program at THB1,500 to 2,000. The only complaint I would have (not against the hotel) is during my stay unfortunately there were quite many foreign guests who are in another cultural world that I can't fit in. Have to say that the cultural revolution is not exclusive to the Mainland China.

Breakfast at J's cafe, Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao, Phuket, Thailand

The breakfast has a daily selection of freshly squeezed fruit juice. Another impressive food is their honey glazed ham, very aromatic and juicy in a nice texture. The noodle soup and the bread are not bad either. Even the fruits are quite selected. The breakfast is at just about THB350++ if your room rate doesn't include.

The swimming pools, Holiday inn Resort Mai Khao, Phuket, Thailand

The kids' pool and the main one are surrounded by the low rise wings on the 2 sides with a nice view to Andaman Sea. Not only the pool but also the gardening of the whole area are maintained pretty well.