A Winter Extravaganza

A Winter Extravaganza

Zipporah Gene heads off to Bangkok's latest festive attraction to experience all the pizazz and glamour that the Glasshouse at Sindhorn has to offer this season

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

So here I am.

Sitting in the beautiful and balmy outdoors of central Bangkok, a refreshing Tom Collins in hand, listening to the sweet soothing sounds of Nareekrajang & The Neo Coco Jazz.

She effortlessly hits the high notes, in the way that not only tugs at your heartstrings, but also makes you want to leap out of your seat and start swaying from side to side.

I can barely take my eyes of her, as she saunters and glides on the stage. It's magical. And judging by the general mood of the crowd, we've all clearly fallen under the spell of the delicate chanteuse in front of us. Her set includes some jazzy, popular classics and a few Thai favourites; so naturally, I hum along whenever I hear something familiar.

Thanon Wittayu, otherwise known as Wireless road, is a place synonymous with wealth, international trade, embassies and the likes. Its lush flame tree lined streets are a constant reminder of the affluence and influence, that continues to pass through them - the Sindhorn building is no exception.

Architecturally breathtaking, the Glasshouse, with its organic yet avant-garde structure, overhanging space-age roofing and impressive command of light; seamlessly harmonises the disparate parts of both the building and the landscape around it. There can be no denying the fact that this is the perfect backdrop for a romantic, alfresco soiree.

By my second cocktail, a gorgeously executed Manhattan, the hanging snowflakes, twinkling tea lights and general winter-type decorations, seem to have done the trick - I am in a winter wonderland.

But if I am being truthful, winter, itself, is overrated.

Often glamourised and hardly ever held to the candid light of reality, winter back in Europe is actually quite a horrid affair. Freezing winds, monstrously chapped lips and the general miasma of fatigue, always inevitably join forces and make enjoying events such as this -- a rarity. For me, this has just the right amount of wintry flair, to make me feel right at home.

I won't lie and say that I had high hopes for the provender. I didn't.

Simply ask yourself this, how on earth would anyone be able to maintain such a great atmosphere, play such delightful music, and on top of it all, provide fantastic food? Surely it can't be done. Can it?

The menu is a combined effort of all that the Glasshouse has to offer. Guests can try a little bit of everything, from the European delights of the Café Parisien, and the Café Milano, to drinks from CigarOne, and sushi from Misho. For those of you with friends who never seem to agree on a cuisine, this ingenious collaboration makes life oh-so much simpler.

I'm immediately intrigued by the thought of the sautéed frogs legs with champignon mushrooms and lemon. Not a single clove of garlic or butter in sight, this is a daring take on a much loved French classic. In fact it was well-cooked and beautifully seasoned and spiced. Not to mention marvellously arranged. The deep fried calamari was so much more than I bargained for. Crispy, light, beautifully battered and without a trace of oil, it came as no surprise when I reached over to grab some, only to realise that my guest and I had unknowingly gobbled it all up. I definitely wanted more of this.

The Australian lamb, tastes of proper meat. Cooked to perfection, as in crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside with just the right amount of pink, it was served with a nourishing helping of sautéed mushrooms and potatoes. 

I'm always on the hunt for exciting new flavours and the salmon, marscapone and caper pizza is a hoot. That being said, the case for the perfect pizza is one steeped in so much controversy one has to be careful about making grandiose claims. However, indulgently gooey and with generous helpings of the smokey stuff, this definitely was the star the night. With a thin, even crust that could only have been achieved in a wood fired oven, it made for a lovely plateful.

The staff are all jovial, incredibly attentive, and you could really feel the good vibes all round. This is definitely a place I'd visit again for good food, great music and a wonderful atmosphere. Because, so what if the temperature never dips below 25 degrees? That doesn't mean you can't celebrate winter -- in style.

Contact:

From now onwards, the event runs every Friday & Saturday at 6.00 - 10.00 p.m.

• 26 Nov Nareekrajang & The Neo Coco Jazz

• 27 Nov Jirapan Ansvananda & The Blue Sapphire

• 28 Nov The Isn't

• 04 Dec Lorna & Jasmine Plus Nino

• 05 Dec Chaba

• 11 Dec Sumeth & The Pang

• 12 Dec Big Boys


Tel. 02 263 2500 or simply head over to http://www.sindhorn.com/glasshouse

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