St Regis Bangkok is set to welcome globally acclaimed chef Sayan Isaksson, a Thai-born Swedish chef/patron of Michelin-starred Esperanto restaurant, on Nov 4-11.
Sayan Isaksson, Thai-born Swedish chef/patron of Michelin-starred Esperanto restaurant in Stockholm. Bohman & Sjöstrand Ab
A household name in Sweden, Sayan was born in Thailand but adopted at the age of three months by Swedish parents, who raised him as their own.
In 2005, he turned a former theatre in Stockholm into Esperanto and two years later it won him the first Michelin star. The restaurant was also awarded 40/40 points, the highest food score ever, by The White Guide, Sweden's most authoritative restaurant guide. In 2008, it ranked 72nd place in The World's Best Restaurants by S. Pellegrino.
He and his team were later accorded the honour of catering the prestigious Nobel Banquets, two years in a row, in 2015 and 2016.
Having won various culinary awards over his 20-year career, Chef Sayan blends together global culinary influences, especially of France and Japan, with contemporary Scandinavian flavours and styles, while adding theatrical thrills underlined by technical excellence.
"Gastronomically, our tongue is universal" is the key notion of his cooking inspiration.
Bringing his dramatic plates to the St Regis Bangkok, Chef Sayan will present a series of multi-course degustation menus and set lunch at Jojo restaurant with Swedish musical accompaniment. On Sunday he will take over the hotel's Sunday Brunch at Viu, with his world-class culinary flair.
"I'm really honoured and moved by this gift, given to me, to cook in my birth country. My wish is to infuse Scandinavian flavours with the very sophisticated and brilliant food culture of Thailand," he said.
Guests can expect to have their food perspective rocked, with mouthwatering creations. On the eight-course dinner menu at Jojo, highlights include lightly grilled prawns in nasturtium leaves; tartar of flash-grilled dry-aged beef, emulsified oysters and seaweed crisps; mushroom and grain porridge with aged butter and yuba; softshell crab cooked over glowing embers with organic waste-XO; celeriac petals and white truffle; and many more tantalising dishes.
Meanwhile, the three-course set lunch at Jojo sees oriental garden salad, buttermilk fromage blanc and a poached pullet egg. It is followed by black garlic pigeon, Nordic "five spice", potato and herb bundles and finished with autumn leaves and frozen sunchokes and grilled apple tea. Prices are 2,800 baht per person for the three-course set lunch; 3,900 baht per person for the eight-course degustation dinner; and 3,200 baht per person for Scandinavian Sunday Brunch. Optional pairing wines are available for the set menu at the additional price of 1,800 baht per person.
For more information and reservations, call 02-207-7777 or e-mail fb.bangkok@stregis.com or visit stregisbangkok.com.
