By Claudia Richter
Chef Junnajet Hurapan, or Chef “Jett,” originally from Bangkok, Thailand, brings 30 years of experience in top restaurants in New York City and believes the “sky’s the limit” in
producing a menu that knows no boundaries in culinary creativity. Joining him at BLU is his wife and Pastry Chef Jiraporn Hurapan. She also adheres to a made-from-scratch with only the freshest ingredients philosophy.
I recently visited BLU to sample some favorite menu items and came away with an appreciation for the fresh and healthy ingredients, unique and flavorful sauces and the satisfaction of feeling that none of the dishes made me feel overly full or stuffed.
From the tapas and dumpling offerings, I tried the sweet potato samosa with a chili tamarind sauce. A samosa is a pastry dough filled with a savory ingredient. The samosa is really a tasty little bite, and this one is especially good with the phenomenal dipping sauce. Included in my sample was another samosa with a lamb filling and a crispy Saigon roll with chicken and shrimp and a plum sauce for dipping. There are several other varieties of tapas and dumplings on the menu, but I would order the ones I tried a second time.
Living up to the promise of European specialties, you can find calamari, steamed mussels, polenta and black bean soup, in addition to gourmet sandwiches such as a falafel sandwich with tzatziki sauce, veggies and a roasted chili sauce served with crispy fries.
For my next course, I tried the BLU Asian Salad. I loved the gentle miso flavor that complimented the mix of grilled chicken, frisee and napa cabbage and crispy wontons. You can also order it with crispy calamari.
BLU Crispy Fish
For my center-of-the-plate course, I was presented with a dish so beautifully prepared that I had to admire it for a few minutes before I began to eat. The crispy fish is a gorgeous dish composed of three crispy fillets, with tamarind, chili and basil. It was crispy but light, and the flavors were perfectly balanced and like many of the dishes, had a little kick to them. I noticed that the oven roasted sea bass also sounded good as it is served with red bell pepper, pineapple, shitake mushrooms, scallions, ginger and sake soy.
For business or a nice shopper’s lunch, there is a 3-course lunch special served Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm for $12 and includes a soup or salad, tapas or dumpling and a third choice that includes Kobe Beef Sliders, Massaman Beef Short Ribs, Tamarind Cashew Chicken or pork, Mexican-style Tacos and some additional entrees. There is also a selection of rice and noodles including a wonderful Pad-Thai and Hong Kong Fried Rice. The menu is far too extensive to include here. I had a quartet of four chocolate truffles for my dessert, and they were a great little treat that was just the right size.
If you want to visit BLU for brunch, the menu is amazing. The brioche used in many of the dishes is made in-house and the fluffy omelets, classic Eggs Benedict, quiches and so on include a complimentary cocktail such as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, “479” Iced Tea or Cucumber Lemonade.
BLU has a selection of signature cocktails that can be enjoyed in the wonderful lounge, and you can also enjoy a large selection of beer, wine, cordials and fine liquors. Private parties are always welcome, and BLU can accommodate large groups.
Whatever you do, don’t miss out on exploring a whole world of flavors right here in a friendly neighborhood-feel, soon to be favorite hot spot!
BLU Restaurant + Lounge
2248 Texas Drive
at Sugar Land Town Square
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281.903.7324
www.blusugarland.com
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