Feast Thailand spent some time with Khun Apple from Laciana and asked her some questions.
How did your restaurant start?
It all started two years ago on a visit back to Thailand. I found this land and fell in love with the location. I had been wanting to return to Thailand to live and work, so this was the perfect opportunity. I purchased the land and Laciana By The Sea was born.
Is you background in food?
With my family running a restaurant in London, I was introduced to the industry quite young. I have been working in the restaurant business since age 20.
Why is it that you chose Italian food to compliment the Thai offerings you have?
Italian food, like Thai, is popular all around the world. Having spent so long in the industry, I became quite fond of Italian and saw the potential for a quality restaurant serving both Italian and Thai food to operate right here in Hua Hin.
How has travel shaped your outlook on running a restaurant in Thailand?
Travelling and working overseas gives you knowledge and opportunities to see something different and incorporate that into your cooking.
What is your most popular dish?
For our western guests, it is pizza. They can’t seem to get enough of our wood-fired offerings.
Amongst Thais, the most popular dish on our menu is Grilled Prawns with Rosemary. Succulent and spanking fresh prawns are seasoned with salt and pepper and simply grilled until still moist and juicy. The rosemary butter is applied liberally over the prawns prior to serving.
Our roles are quite well defined with Bas usually in the kitchen as his passion is cooking. I’m often found in there as well, but usually just to make sure all the dishes are served on time. It’s not too often I am caught behind a cooker these days. I guess I am more the face of Laciana and act as host to all our guests.
Speaking of your guests, who is your customer at the moment?
On weekends, there is the natural influx of people from Bangkok, but during the week it is a mix of locals and Western tourists. Of late, we have also been getting quite a lot of guests from Taiwan, which is quite refreshing.
How do you go that extra mile to keep your customers satisfied?
Our seafood is sourced fresh from the market daily and all of our other produce is sourced from the best suppliers we can find. It is paramount for us to be able to give our customers the best that is available. This keeps them satisfied, but it’s also about pride in what we do.
At Feast Thailand, we couldn’t agree more and can highly recommend Laciana By The Sea.
Here is a place that is quite at home preparing sensational food, be that Italian or Thai; their clientele spanning all parts of the globe.
You can experience some of the best that Laciana By The Sea has to offer on Feast Thailand’s 4 Corners of Thailand: A Taste Sensation Tour, which operates weekdays at midday.
Laciana By The Sea
Hua Hin Soi 3,
Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
Tel: 093 776 7997
Open: 10:30am – 12:00 – 22:00 Daily