Iced Coconut Coffee & Warm Cashews

After a long day of viewing the sites of Old Town Phuket, Thailand, I happily came across the Downtown Cafe. It is on a busy street close to the clock tower in Old Town Phuket. I was craving Thai Tea to get me through the rest of the day. I was greeted by Ms. Tik, whom I found out was the cafe owner on a later visit. I ordered unsweetened Thai Tea, cashew salad, and an egg sandwich. The vibe of this cafe is calm and delightful amidst the busy street it sits on. The sound of water coming from a small fountain in front of the restaurant helps to drown out the sounds of the motorbike. Although, I found it entertaining watching the scooters fly by in perfect rhythm without incident. The cashew salad arrived warm and fragrant. I asked Ms. Tik why it was called a salad. There were no greens. Ms. Tik told me it was a cashew salad due to the mix of red chilies and green onions in the warm, lightly seasoned roasted cashews. I find the smaller red chilies in Thailand have a flavorful heat. Lucky for me, this dish’s heat level was perfect. After finishing my sandwich and Thai Tea, now fully satisfied, I continued to my next stop.

A couple of days later, I found myself thinking about the creamy unsweetened Thai Tea and calm retreat of the Downtown Cafe. On this visit, I experienced the shrimp-filled omelet perfectly cooked. The eggs were soft, silky, and fluffy. The tender sweet shrimp was moist on top of a small bed of Roma tomatoes with thinly sliced onion within the omelet. This was not just a heap of eggs with shrimp in it. It was shaped like a pillow with four corners peeling back, exposing the tender shrimp and other fillings. The omelet was presented to me made with skill and care. Each induvial ingredient’s taste came through separately; when combined, it produced a delicious memory for my tastebuds. I decided to enjoy a Jasmine Green Tea that was not sweetened by my request. The Tea was very refreshing. As I sat enjoying my lunch, a gentleman pulled up on a scooter with two bags filled with fresh coconuts delivered to Ms. Tik for her number one best-selling drink, Iced Coffee with Fresh Coconut Water. The coffee is rich similar to an Americano dark roast. The Coconut water is layered at the bottom of the glass, and the dark rich coffee is artfully poured on top, giving the drink a lovely presentation. I know why this is the number one drink; it packs a punch of energy!

Ms. Tik will customize the sweetness however you like. I choose my drink unsweetened. There is no guilt with this beverage: caffeine and the benefits of fresh coconut water. Remembering, I had just seen the coconuts arrive for the day was pretty cool.

I spoke with Ms. Tik about the cafe. Ms. Tik opened the Downtown Cafe, in Phuket, Thailand, five years ago. Doing all the cooking herself telling me she has been cooking since she was a tiny child. She learned by watching and putting her ingredients together to create her family dishes. One of her family and customers’ favorite dishes is her Coconut Soup, which has become a local favorite. Ms. Tik also offers a selection of vegetarian dishes. All of her dishes are made to order with fresh local ingredients. If you are lucky enough to find this gem of a cafe, you are in for a treat.

Old Town Phuket, Thailand, has recently experienced severe storms and flooding at the time of this blog post. Coupled with the last two and a half years of pandemic travel restrictions, it amazes me the resilience of women like Ms. Tik, continuing to do what fulfills them with a smile and serving their one-of-a-kind dishes with care. I feel it is crucial to support women and small family-owned businesses at this time to preserve these everyday recipes. These gems of cafes need our help to survive and flourish. I am optimistic every time I encounter a person such as Ms. Tik.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to speak with me, Ms. Tik, and share your story. It was a pleasure meeting your husband Mr, Cat, and all of you at the Downtown Cafe, Mortri Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Thailand.

I enjoyed your food, stories, and warm smiles. I hope to visit again soon. If you find yourself in this area of Thailand, try one of Ms. Tik’s specialties.

Let them Know The Food Scholar Sent you.