I keep forgetting that Long Chim is also a bar – we all know it has epic Thai food, undoubtedly the best in Perth. Last night I was invited to the launch of a special one-month only menu of bar snacks and I was reminded that Long Chim has got to be one of the best bars in Perth – with amazing bar snacks like these, it’s a winner.

On the Long Chim menu for the next month are bar snacks and other dishes by Andy Ricker, an acclaimed chef and mate of Long Chim’s talented chef/owner David Thompson – the reason being that the two pop up events the duo are holding – one bar snacks and one dinner – are completely sold out. No stress, eager drinkers and diners have a month to enjoy what we sampled last night.

Pictured above from L to R: Grilled salted beef with David’s sriracha sauce, Andy’s famous pok pok wings and deep fried cured pork ribs.

To that, add banging cocktails, many featuring Pok Pok Som drinking vinegar – yes you heard that correct, drinking vinegar, like an adult non-acoholic health drink – and a buzzing vibe and a good night is guaranteed.

You’ve all heard of drinking apple cider vinegar to help with a bunch of health / digestion ailments, well now there are other flavoured drinking vinegars in the Pok Pok Som range – pineapple, ginger, pomegranate, and more.

According to the Pok Pok Som website:

Pok Pok Som drinking vinegar is a refreshingly sweet and tart, fruit and vinegar-based beverage handcrafted in Portland, Oregon using quality US-made organic cane vinegar and fresh whole fruits, herbs and spices – no artificial flavouring. Pok Pok Som concentrate is most commonly served with four-parts soda water as a soft drink, at full strength as a mixer in cocktails, or incorporated into dressings and marinades. Pok Pok Som is available in nine signature flavours – Thai Basil, Apple, Honey, Pomegranate, Tamarind, Ginger, Tumeric, Pineapple and Chinese Celery, as well as a rotating selection of seasonal flavours likeCardomom Tangerine, Strawberry Thai Basil, Black Pepper, Blood Orange, and more.

Andy Ricker’s restaurants, including Pok Pok in NYC and Portland, Oregon, are renowned from coast to coast in the US. They have a cult following and have been acknowledged by Michelin and appointed a star, as well as an award by the James Beard Foundation.

Andy fell in love with Thailand and its food on a visit thirty years ago, just as David did. While David settled in Bangkok, Andy became fascinated by the north, and in particular Chiang Mai, where he spends a good part of each year.

Thanks Long Chim Perth for a great night tasting our way through your new bar snacks. As a chilli-weakling, and I mean total chilli lightweight, I only needed to scull water after one dish – the others were so super tasty.