Colour me Thai, Amarin at Mid Valley

We gathered at Amarin in Mid Valley Megamall on a Monday evening, a rah-rah session for a pair of friends about to embark on an exciting business pitch the following day. I'd barely survived the catastrophe of starting the working week still shattered from the weekend so if there was a colour to ascribe my disposition as I walked over from the office, it'd be BLACK.

I'd never been here and was pleasantly surprised by the interior as soon as I entered; it felt like I'd exited the strain and sensibilities of the mall. Warmly lit, the space oozed soothing hospitality. The place reminded me of an eyeshadow powder palette, with fresh roses in cornsilk yellow, Amaranth pink and sunset peach.

We started with Mieng Kam, a platter offering a delectable burst of Earthy tones, disparate distinct flavours for wrapping in a betel leaf. Mel's shock of a pink nail colour (OPI's I'm India-a Mood for Love) dives right in for added spunk.

The Heavenly Thai appetizer platter is reassuringly Golden, with no excess grease yet the parcels, tofu and fish cakes were moist and stayed crisp even for the late-comer.

The Geang Keaw Wan Gai (Green curry chicken) was a solid concoction of Milky Green coating profuse chunks of chicken breast and eggplant. I would've preferred the use of thigh meat, like these guys here but really, not something I can hold against Amarin.

Do-good Green - the kind that puts our mind at ease for the evening, that says we're doing right by our bodies.

The Tofu Song Krean is a Mechanical Brown, for an admittedly predictable dish. Good as a non-extravagant filler, but not much else.

The real shade of Thai however is the shade of Tom Yam Talay (Seafood), the Red of Sin, of fire and angst, of rapture and joy, the red of Agyness Dean's lips.

Does Amarin's deliver? It's hard to say. The seafood, especially the prawns, were handsome but I've honestly had better. Amarin's tomyam had a tinge of sweetness to it, and the spice factor was extremely conservative, both of which I associate with cowardice and faint-heartedness.

But by no means let that put you off. With the service and the price thrown in (came out to less than RM30 per pax, with HSBC discount for a hearty dinner), the ultimate shade of the evening was Success. The result of Jen and Mel's business pitch the following day proved as much!

All the best to them for whatever comes next!