We are two people, a man and wife team, who like to eat, Michelle and Harold Stephens. Michelle is Thai/Filipina and Steve is a long time resident of Thailand, having first arrived in 1961. Readers may remember us from Outlook in the Bangkok Post where we had a weekly travel page for more than ten years. We not only traveled to every corner of Thailand, dining on local food, but also to nearly every country in the world, sampling the food there.

We like that you call us Mitch and Steve, bylines we used when writing for the Post, and we will tell you some secrets about dining in Bangkok and beyond, secrets you would not imagine. Our motto is quite simple -- try it. Steve will put on a tie and coat and Mitch a long dress to dine at The Oriental Hotel’s famous Le Normandy or at the Shangri-La's Angelini, and we are honest when we tell you what we liked and did not like.

Nor do we always agree with one another, so do not mind if we argue in front of you. We have different tastes. But do not misunderstand us. We started off by telling you we dined at the Le Normandy and Angelini. That does not mean we limit ourselves to what the experts call the best. There is a noodle stall tucked away in the back alley near The Oriental Hotel that the experts do not know about, but we do, and we will tell you how to get there.

And we know everyone does not like to dine on monkey brains and elephant steaks (Mitch does not but Steve does) but we will tell you where you can go to find them.

To be honest, the experience of dining out in Bangkok is more exciting when you learn something about the history of the restaurant, how it got started, and what its aims are. Getting to know the owners and meeting the people who frequent the places that we write about are part of the fun, and we would like to tell you about them too. You will be surprised what tales, no, confessions these owners have to tell.

As food critics we get criticized too, believe us. We are often told, "You have restaurants wine and dine you, and so you can only write nice things about them." That is partly true, we are wined and dined, and quite well too, for that is our vocation. But we have an agreement. If we do not like the food, we do not write about it. It is that simple. So come along with us for some gourmet food you have never imagined, and if you think the French are being cute with frog legs, wait to what you hear some Southeast Asian dishes restaurants in Bangkok have to serve up.

Your comments are appreciated. Just e-mail us: booking@inet.co.th.