It’s easy, isn’t it? Any reasonably good restaurant can produce gourmet cuisine, can’t it? Import a few expensive food items, cook them up in the kitchen, arrange artistically on a plate and … voila! There you have it. A license to charge over-the-top prices for average fare to unsuspecting diners. But then, of course, you have the ‘real’ thing …

And Med@KC restaurant, at the opulent KC Resort & Over Water Villas, is a perfect example of a place that serves casual gourmet cuisine – the right way. Hardly surprising when you learn that the three main characters behind the show: General Manager – Andreas Kraemer; Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage – Martin Hohn; and the Executive Chef – Stephane Fieger, all have impressive backgrounds of working in some of the world’s finest gourmet restaurants in top-flight hotels.

For them, not only is the creation of an exciting gourmet menu an integral part of their business, it’s also something they take an enormous amount of pleasure in doing – and it shows! Every single dish here has been meticulously thought over, tried and tested long before it reaches you, the diner. Flavour and texture combinations, integration of the world’s best produce and, of course, excellent presentation have all been honed to perfection (there’s even a healthy and organic food selection featuring many of Samui’s home-grown herbs, fruit and
vegetables). And here are some examples of what you can expect at Med@KC.

For starters, two of my personal recommendations are the amazing Parfait of Dried Apricot, Kopi Luwak Coffee (the world’s most expensive) and Duck Foie Gras, with toasted bread and coffee caramel glaze, and the succulent Orange Powder-crusted Hokkaido Scallops with fennel cream, chorizo oil and fennel cress.

And, for main courses, do try the delicious Pumpkin Seed-crusted Turbot with broad beans and chanterelle mushrooms, pumpkin purée and veal jus, or the unbelievably tender Australian Lamb Shank, braised for several hours in Moroccan spices, with dried apricots and prunes served with creamy mashed potato. Either, alone, will make the trip to Med@KC well worth it.

And when it comes to desserts, it would be hard to find another restaurant Location in Thai:
on the island that goes to such lengths to ensure that this course is also a major gourmet experience. The refreshing Frozen Coconut Parfait with pineapple, chili jam and strawberry compote is quite spectacular and would be the pride and joy of most other top restaurants, but even this pales somewhat when stood sideby- side to the magnificent Warm Chocolate Fondant comprising a Kopi Luwak coffee ganache centre, homemade rum & raisin ice-cream with raisins fermented in Samui distilled rum, Bourbon vanilla sauce with Samui coconut and mango
crumble and golden Valrhona praline truffle, red fruit coulis with Himalayan Goji berries, served with a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. And this has got to be Thailand’s most exclusive dessert outside of Bangkok!

“… and Med@KC restaurant is a perfect example of a
place that serves casual gourmet cuisine – the right way.”

With an ever-increasing wine collection of excellent vintages from around the world and an eclectic drinks and signature cocktails list, Med@KC certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to gourmet cuisine (there’s even a good range of top quality cigars, too). But a total gourmet experience doesn’t just mean the wining and dining. Where you actually eat and drink is a major factor, too, and the restaurant’s décor and general ambience has to match. And at Med@KC it certainly does.

There’s seating for 30 inside the elegant restaurant itself and room for a further 20 on the outer terrace with an amazing view overlooking the mountains on one side and Chaweng Bay on the other, with the scene being sprinkled with twinkling lights at night. And before-and-after dining you can spend time relaxing in the adjacent Mata Hari Lounge, which is probably the most sophisticated and comfortable bar on Samui, and a great place for enjoying Med@KC’s excellent range of Piccolinis (mini-pizzas).

And now I’d better tell you where it is (I usually do this at the beginning of a review but in this case I, understandably, got carried away with the food!). As you’re heading north along the top section of Chaweng Beach Road, just after you pass The Briza Beach Resort & Spa on your right, the road will drop down and a further 60 metres along you’ll see a concrete road on your left (just before you reach Kandaburi Resort spanning both sides of the road). Take this turn and follow the road up for a few hundred metres and you’ll come to KC Resort & Over Water Villas.

And although it’s just a couple of minutes away from the main action in Chaweng, it’s quite and peaceful up here. A perfect place for enjoying excellent cuisine in great style and highly recommended.

Med@KC is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. For reservations and further information,
telephone the 24-hour culinary hotline 0 856 900 013.