The grand opening of Ronnefeldt’s 1823 Tea Lounge at Gaysorn shopping mall involved a lot more than just “having a cuppa”.
Kornkanok Yongsakul, Next Hospitality Group CEO Russell Paine and executive director Harry Littlewood, Ratchaprasong Food Services director Sirima Srivikorn, Gaysorn executive director Korakot Srivikorn, Ronnefeldt proprietor Jan Berend Holzapfel and ML Rangsithorn Bhanubandh.
Gracing the glamorous opening party were special guests such as Petronella Schulze-Ganzeboom, wife of the German Ambassador to Thailand, Jetana and Supee Pongpanich, ML Rangsithorn Bhanubandh, Sikanya Saktidej Bhanubandh, Holly Amranand, Kornkanok Yongsakul, Dan Hetrakul, Chutima Durongdej, Chayada Liewchalermwong, Capt Krispol Sawetanan, Duangporn Boonyachinda, and Pattarapon Sinlapajan. They were welcomed by Ronnefeldt proprietor Jan Berend Holzapfel.
Ronnefeldt was founded in 1823 in Frankfurt, Germany by Johann Tobias Ronnefeldt, and has enjoyed popularity across Europe since then, due to its distinctive tea blending traditions and use of quality leaves. The company has now expanded its expertise to Bangkok.
Attendees to the launch event were introduced to two new unique tea blends. To create the new teas, Ronnefeldt fused Thai flavours with its trademark European style. The resulting ‘Bangkok Blend’ and ‘Gaysorn Blend’ will be served exclusively at the shopping mall’s contemporary tea lounge.
A highlight of the event was the opportunity for guests to taste the tantalising ‘Imperial Torte’ — a classic dessert all the way from Vienna, Austria. This delicious speciality is a type of chocolate truffle, with cacao cream layered between wafers of almond pastry and enveloped in fine marzipan and a rich glaze of chocolate. It was developed by a chef at Hotel Imperial in Austria, in honour of when Emperor Franz Joseph opened the hotel in 1873.
Other items on the menu included Belgian chocolates and Ronnefeldt tea-infused macarons. There were also ice-cream and sorbets on offer, including ‘Morgentau’ and ‘morning dew’ — ice-creams decorated with chocolate domes and 24-karat gold.
Guests of the new tea room will be able to enjoy all-day dining, with a menu featuring salads, pasta dishes, grilled sandwiches delectable afternoon tea sets, fresh pastries and cakes.
