Introducing… Zaheer
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Since it opened five years ago, Salt and Pepper Bistro on Soi Day and Night, adjacent to the Hotel Flamingo in South Pattaya, has become a very popular place to have a meal or a snack.
Although not a “gay” venue, this casual spot is frequented by a large number of gay customers. Zaheer, who runs Salt and Pepper, along with his wife, Tai, who does most of the cooking, ensures that his customers are well cared for. In addition to making sure all orders are just right, the affable owner enjoys conversing with his diners on various topics of the day. Many patrons are repeat customers and Zaheer says that he, his wife, and seventeen year old daughter, Michelle, have come to think of them as family. The café offers a wide variety of Thai and farang food at very reasonable prices. Favorite dishes are the red curry, basil chicken, chicken with cashew nuts, tom yum goong, and the all-American favorite, hamburger with French fries. The hamburgers are so popular, they often run out. As the vast majority of customers are farangs, all the dishes are geared to the western palate; although many of my Thai friends say that the food is “arroy mak” (delicious).
The two shophouse-wide establishment is also an art gallery of sorts. For sale are original and reproductions of cartoons by Michael J Baird, Pattaya Mail’s popular illustrator who satirizes Pattaya’s expat life, especially the sex scene. All proceeds go to charity. In addition, Zaheer makes wooden models of cars, trains, trucks, and ships. You can check out Zaheer’s work on www.modelsinwood.com.
Zaheer, who originally hails from Pakistan, came to Thailand twenty-one years ago as a tourist, fell in love with the country, and the rest, as they say, is history. He and Tai have been married for nineteen years. Zaheer, who speaks fluent Thai and English, has lived all over the world, including the USA and Saudi Arabia where he worked for GTE and was also operations manager for the Bobcat Tractor dealership. Tai comes from Rayong, where her family is in the gift shop business, and their daughter, who is a student, helps out in the restaurant during school holidays.
So, do yourself a favor. When you stop by Salt and Pepper for something to eat, leave a little extra time to view the arts and crafts. Zaheer will make you feel welcome and, if you like, give you a tour.
SALT AND PEPPER BISTRO, Soi Day and Night next to Flamingo Hotel, South Pattaya 038-428169