Our gracious friends and hosts at Infinity Beach Club invited us down to sample their new sushi menu which they launched earlier this month along with their new Head Chef Andrey and his talented skills.
Since launching, sushi has been flying off the counter and we can taste why! This is some fresh, beautifully presented sushi served in what we all know is one of the best locations on the southern part of the island.
We sat down with chef Andrey to find out more...
Hi Andrey so how have you come to be on Koh Phangan?
I came one year ago as a tourist and really liked the place, before this I had worked for ten years in Russia and then in Koh Phangan I found work in the restaurant industry so started there.
So how did you come to be at Infinity?
I worked before in a different resort and Mr Sak came and tried my sushi, after this he came and asked me if I would like to work for him.
What have you got planned for the menu?
Firstly I want to make a good menu for snacks and original, beautiful food.
Also good management for the kitchen for fast organisation, if we get more people eating then it will be no problem for the staff here.
Second is to have a good evening meal which is interesting, every month we will have a new dish.
I’ll continue to use local products mixed with european technical skills and have a good sushi menu.
I like funny food, not standard stuff, it should be original. We’re making special bamboo plates for the sushi, we’re the only ones that will have this as it’s my design.
We want to use very interesting materials for the plates, like shells for salad, bamboo caskets for smoking inside, it’s so standard when you just see normal plates, I like it different.
Where did you learn to make sushi?
In russia in a sushi bar, I was sixteen and it was my first chef job. I did this for six years and then studied european food.
I like it because it’s funny work and not difficult. I find it easy and it’s a new experience for fast food and I like the beautiful coloured fish, red, orange, the wasabi and pink ginger.
It’s good for the japanese way, smart food which is fresh healthy and beautiful.
I think for Infinity sushi is very good food to have on the menu for the people that come here.
What’s your favourite sushi?
Cream cheese with salmon.
Tell us about the ingredients you use...
I make sure we use good quality rice and soy sauce, fresh salmon not frozen, good tuna, local shrimp and crab.
Local produce is very important for sushi, fresh first and a good quality product.
It should have no smell, sometimes thai food has a strong smell but for sushi it shouldn’t smell so this is why it is important to buy the freshest fish.
So what’s your chefing history?
The master for me was last summer when I worked in Moscow at a restaurant called White Rabbit, this restaurant is number twenty three in the world, the first in Russian history!
We used small molecular fusions, modern kitchen techniques and would make a few fusion style dishes, european thai style which I think is interesting.
Have you been enjoying your new job?
I like the team, they are very good guys and I like the tools we have, it’s a good place.
It’s great for me as a chef as there are more tools than other restaurants, good ovens and equipment which makes it nicer to work.
And it’s a very beautiful view!
What do you like to do in your free time?
I don’t have any haha! Anytime I do I go to the beach and relax, I search around a lot for new ideas in thai cooking and thai kitchens, they’re very interesting.
Why should people come and try your food?
I like my work and I’m full power for food, no relaxing on it!
I’m always making more and every day I want it better and better, we can make mistakes but next time we will change, we’re always developing.
We made ourselves comfortable at one of Infinity’s sunken tables, overlooking the beach across to Koh Samui. With its white sails and lots of choice of seating it is perfect for a quiet formal meal or a more relaxed dinner by the pool.
The sushi menu is available everyday from 12pm to 12am and it really is delicious, you can taste the freshness of the fish and the quality of japanese ingredients.
Don’t forget that Infinity has a happy hour everyday from 6 - 9pm and daily special offers!
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