Thai Pad peps up Jim Thompson's

Noble House is opening a Thai venue at one of its Jim Thompson's restaurants and bars in London. "Thai Pad" will replace a former oriental-style restaurant at the East Putney outlet which opened five years ago. Celebrity chef Ken Hom was scheduled to open Thai Pad tomorrow (Friday). A spokeswoman for the brand says: "The style of menu and the name of the restaurant are both new. The menu is still very much in keeping with the oriental theme and although the accent is more on Thai food, other oriental dishes are still featured." All the food is freshly cooked to order and head chef Sopan-Eleni Tsami is taking pride in creating authentic recipes. Thai Pad will offer customers a range of set menus including monk's vegetarian feast at £15.95 per person, which includes dishes such as pak chup pang tod ­ vegetables coated in a light batter served with a sweet chilli sauce; and kaeng kiew wan pak ­ Thai green curry with green chillies, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk and sweet basil. Other dishes include dragon dancer, spice merchant, Bangkok feast, silk trader and Jim Thompson feast. An a la carte menu is also on offer and has dishes such as satay ayam, skewered char-grilled chicken with a spicy peanut sauce (£4.95). Thai Pad will be used to trial a new range of wines by Ken Hom called Spicy Varietals, which have been designed specifically to accompany oriental food. Hom's wines have been produced in the south of France, and have been developed by the celebrity chef in response to constant demand for advice on which wines to match to the assertive flavours of oriental food.