Gram Café and deli offers American, English, Italian, French, and Thai dishes with more than a pinch of style.
by Coco Lavender
I like breakfast and travel, and every time I travel I try new places, whether it is abroad or in suburban Thailand,” explains Vasinee Ukkachartkul, AKA Gam, a fashion designer who owns “It’s 9 a.m.”, a womenswear shop in Siam Center.
Some time ago, Gam helped a friend to open a Japanese fusion restaurant, and the customers started liking the dishes she prepared. That’s when she realized that she wanted to have “a café with an outdoors area, kind of relaxing, cozy.” And that was the start of the all-day diner, Gram (1st floor, The 49th Terrace, Sukhumvit Soi 49, Bangkok, 081 884 8554).
Having tested her good cook hand previously by jams and baked goods that she sold successfully at the Bangkok Farmers’ Market, in December 2013 Gam opened this small kitchen, still in soft opening, that serves around ten tables at The 49th Terrace shopping plaza, near Prompong BTS. “I can’t define whether it’s American or what, because we also have eggs Benedict, English breakfast, egg-white frittata, so we kind of mix everything together.” Add to this a gram of Thai-ness, too.
“When you cook for your mum or for friends, you always want them to have the best food. And good ingredients give you good taste as well. I like to eat this way, and I want people to eat the same way, that’s how I pick the ingredients,” says Gam. Lindt Swiss and Callebaut Belgian chocolate, Greek-style yogurt, TWG tea, and French butter and cheeses such as brie de Meaux and Camembert de Normandie are just some of these ingredients, which can either be bought or tasted in one of the restaurant’s dishes.
Some favorites among the expats, families with children, office workers, and teenagers who hang out there to the rhythm of indie pop are eggs Florentine (THB 180), mixed fruit pancake (THB 220), honey lemonade shake (THB 110), and strawberry banana yogurt smoothie (THB 120). On the healthier side, the menu also offers quinoa salad, Portobello mushroom salad, granola yogurt, and homemade jams.
Although The 49th Terrace has trees in front, and Gram is located on the first floor under the stairs, you will not miss its Broadway-style lights. And you’ll never be late for breakfast, either.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.
