Da Mattia Chang Klan Plaza, next to Shangri-La Hotel Open Mon-Sat: 11.30am - 2pm, and 5.30 - 10.00pm Tel. 053-274 062, 087-829 1152

Growing up in the heart of Roma, Chef Stefano first learned the art of traditional Italian cooking inside his family's kitchen, and has since brought his 20 years of culinary expertise to Chiang Mai. Unlike the other Italian tastes in the city, Da Mattia is not just a way of business but a way of life - every savory ingredient and delicious dish is made fresh every day, all hand-selected from the local markets. Nothing is wasted or left unused in the kitchen, as the Chef is not only a hearty Italian but also a Buddhist.

This quaint bistro serves up an ample menu from pastas to pizzas, first courses to main, and many of the dishes feature special seafood and sauces; in particular, Stefano pays close attention to pairing up specific sauces for his culinary creations. The weekly chef's specials are mouth-watering highlights of his skills, and his selections are based solely upon what he discovers at the market and his fond memories from home.

Among the favourite dishes served up at Da Mattia, the Rack of Lamb with white wine sauce and mint is a marvelous main course - right down to the tasty Pommes Duchesse (potato cakes). To complement the meal, choose from a wide selection of nearly 20 imported wines but be sure to save room for dessert… Tiramisu Homemade is simply divine.

Tree Shade House Charoenmuang Rd., opposite Sanpakoi Fire Station Tel: 053 302899 Open daily 9 am - 9 pm

Sometimes, as a mere stranger in a strange land, one can't always find the best things to do, or the best place to go, or to dine at. This is the kind of knowledge locals know best. Especially when it comes to local favorites, great eateries are not always in the most convenient locations for tourists, but instead they are hidden away from the spotlight of the more expensive, exclusively-for-tourists places.

So, what can you expect at the Tree Shade House, locally known as Ruen Rom Mai? Located right opposite the Sanpakoi Fire Station, it's a sort of hip place that once you're in you'll get the sense of the old days due to being inside a classic Thai-style wooden house.

This eatery is an evolution from a very successful Thai noodle franchise about a decade ago, and serves various tasty noodle dishes such as the kuay tiaw chak thong doo di, and the well loved local specialty khao soi doo di. And hark, the word "tasty" often implies, to Thais at least, rather strong, spicy dishes. In the case of several dishes here, they are sure to burn your unaccustomed tongue straight away. Be sure to order mai pet if you want your soup to be only mildly hot. But to get a foretaste of just how hot hell is, you could try telling them to go full steam ahead with the chili by saying pet pet.

Ruen Rom Mai also has well-known Thai dishes, such as pad thai, pad kraprow and other lovely Thai dishes. Desserts come in the shape of ice cream, with fresh coffee, O-liang, smoothies and other drinks and refreshments also being served. The foods are inexpensive and there's a car park too, so you don't need to worry about finding a space.

So, give it a try, at least once in a lifetime.