Offering epicures in Thailand a preview of what's going on in the global gastronomic scene, the annual World Gourmet Festival is returning to Bangkok, marking its 23rd anniversary.
From Sept 19-24, 12 world-acclaimed chefs with 18 Michelin stars and a string of prestigious accolades between them will gather at Anantara Siam Hotel for a weeklong celebration of outstanding cuisine and superb wines.
Headlining this year's stellar programme are three Michelin-starred chefs Thomas Bühner from Germany and Jimmy Lim from Taiwan.
Thomas Bühner is one of Europe's most celebrated cooking masters and was the chef-patron of Restaurant La Vie in the German city of Osnabrück. La Vie, which is now closed, was given three Michelin stars in 2011 and boasts a superlative 19 Gault Millau points.
Jimmy Lim, meanwhile, is a Singaporean chef and founder of JL Studio in Taichung City, Taiwan. The modernised and sophisticated Singaporean cuisine restaurant was awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide just last week.
Joining Bühner and Lim in the Bangkok event is a parade of two Michelin-starred chefs including Jordi Artal of Cinc Sentits restaurant in Barcelona, Spain; Kiko Moya Redrado of Restaurant L'Escaleta in Alicante, Spain; Toshiharu Sunayama of Les Tonnelles in Kanazawa, Japan; and Daniele Lippi of Acquolina in Rome, Italy.
The one-starred line-up includes chefs Enrico Marmo of Balzi Rossi in Ventimiglia, Italy; Theodor Falser of Johannesstube in Nova Levante, Italy; Barry Quek of Whey in Hong Kong; and Arne Riehn of Igniv Bangkok.
The grand gastronomic fair will also showcase the 2022 winner of Middle East & North Africa's Best Female Chef Tala Bashmi of Fusions restaurant in Bahrain and Thailand's celebrity chef Phol Tantasathien.
Commencing the festival, the Constellation Of The Stars Gala Dinner by Enrico Marmo, Theodor Falser, Barry Quek, Jimmy Lim and Arne Riehn will be held at the hotel's ballroom on Sept 19.
From Sept 20 on, all 12 chefs will take turns to host dinners in the hotel's six dining outlets as well as afternoon tea, Sunday brunch buffet and cooking workshops.
The 23rd World Gourmet Festival will also see a nightly takeover of Aqua Bar by celebrated mixologists from the World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars, including Andrew Ho from China, Saan Dhakal from Hong Kong and Thai mixology star Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn.
For the first time, as a part of the festival, some of the visiting chefs will travel to Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort to showcase their cuisine.
Prices of the dinners range from 6,500 baht to 14,000 baht per person.
Part of the proceeds from ticket sales and money raised from auctions, which will take place throughout the festival, will be donated to the Foundation for the Welfare of Rajavithi-Girls' Home Under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali.
