Guru by Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
EAT
Champagne brunch / Uno Mas, Centara Grand at CentralWorld / Dec 3
Uno Mas will hold its once-a-month Champagne Brunch, on Dec 3, where diners can indulge in Spanish and Mediterranean fare, complemented by endless Champagne Pommery Brut Royal N.V. The brunch features a selection of tapas, imported meats and the freshest oceanic catch. Signature offerings prepared a la minute add to the exclusivity of the experience. The brunch also features a selection of oyster varieties, snow crab, Maine lobster, and tiger prawns. The delicious Jamon Iberico, classic paella, and speciality items such as lobster sashimi and premium A5 Kobe beef sashimi round out a truly lavish spread. The three-hour brunch includes sumptuous cuisine, exquisite Champagne, wine, and a selection of soft drinks.
Guest chef dinner / Igniv Bangkok / Dec 3-4
Igniv Bangkok will host a two-night dinner, showcasing modern European and Vietnamese flavours co-created by the chefs from Igniv Bangkok and executive chef Hoang Tung of Å by Tung, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The culinary collaboration will be hosted at Igniv Bangkok on Dec 3–4. The Igniv Bangkok x Å By Tung dinner will be in three rounds: 5.30pm, 7pm and 8.30pm.
New menu / Burapa Eastern Thai Cuisine
Burapa Eastern Thai Cuisine & Bar By Sri Trat has launched a new lunch menu. Eastern Thailand boasts diverse landscapes, offering a treasure trove of culinary delights. From majestic mountain ranges to pristine beaches, meandering rivers to lush mangroves, this region provides an abundance of exceptional produce. With the launch of Burapa's new lunch menu, guests can now savour the rich resources of Eastern Thailand. The lunch set includes an entree, main and a choice of a "sweet or bitter"; dessert or tea or coffee.
Modern Cantonese / Summer Palace, InterContinental Bangkok
Indulge in new culinary delights of handmade dim sum and à la carte delicacies at the Chinese restaurant in the InterContinental Bangkok. The new Summer Palace menus deliver an array of mouthwatering dishes to guests, such as delicate dim sum filled with succulent ingredients seasoned with aromatic spices as well as an impressive selection of seafood, signature lobsters and Peking duck. Guests can enjoy signature dishes such as Iberico char siu, Tea-smoked chicken with crispy rice, Deep-fried crispy fish maw, Stir-fried lobster with egg white and crab roe, Braised bamboo fungus, fresh mushroom wrapped in bean curd skin with black truffle, Cooked rice in lobster soup with fresh baby oyster and crispy rice, and more.
Art of dim sum / Dynasty Restaurant, Centara Grand at CentralWorld
Dynasty Restaurant’s all-day Dim Sum Buffet offers incredible value with two hours of unlimited access to the menu. The culinary journey begins with an extensive selection of dim sum delights, including steamed shrimp dumplings in Beijing sauce, steamed blue crab claws, steamed crab meat with aromatic Shimeji mushrooms, deep-fried taro with shrimp, and deep-fried Alaskan king crab with bean curd. Diners can also choose two appetisers from a curated selection, including drunken chicken, jellyfish, pork leg, pork ear, roasted duck, BBQ pork, prawn salad, and deep-fried scallops. They can also indulge in exquisite creations like the lavish Bird’s Nest and Crab Meat Soup, delicate black mushrooms with fish maw in clear soup, and the enticing hot and sour soup with seafood.
Weekday delights / Pagoda Chinese Restaurant / Until Dec 30
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has launched “Weekday Delights” lunchtime set menu. Available from Monday to Friday, the lunch includes four types of freshly-made dim sum, plus a selection of Chinese BBQ delights, such as crispy roasted pork belly and honey-glazed BBQ pork. Diners will also be treated to Hong Kong-style soup and a main course, with the choice of stir-fried lotus root or stir-fried prawns with XO sauce. This weekday feast concludes with a delectable dessert: either chilled mango pudding or Chinese herbal black jelly with honey.
Modern Thai / Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok / Until Dec 22
The hotel’s new executive chef Wannawat “Dunn” Inphu-nga has launched a set menu titled, “Modern Thai Masterpieces By Chef Dunn”. The menu takes a new and interesting twist to traditional Thai dishes, incorporating elements from Chinese cuisine, such as spring rolls, wontons and gyoza to surprise and delight those who seek to explore Thai food in a more creative way. Held at Greenhouse Restaurant, which offers views of the Bangkok skyline, chef Dunn's twist introduces Grilled salmon and mushrooms and Poached prawn and sea bass, crispy eggplant, and Sangyod rice in a delectable peanut red curry, topped with a quail egg. The Thai set menu is available until Dec 22.
Chefs collab / Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok / Dec 6-7
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and renowned chefs from Bocuse d’Or have come together to curate an unforgettable evening of gastronomic delight, Michelin Dinner, on Dec 6 at Bistrot De La Mer and on Dec 7 at Chevaa Garden with wine paring and live jazz band. Indulge in a menu by chef Christian Têtedoie and his sous chef and Bocuse d’ Or Competition Thailand Candidate chef Panuvit Khaokaew.
JOIN
Anniversary bash / Havana Social / Dec 7
Havana Social, Bangkok's Cuban-inspired nightclub, will celebrate its eight anniversary on Dec 7. Prepare for an enchanting evening as Havana Social opens its doors at 6pm to kick off a carnival-themed extravaganza. Dazzling performances, live music and an electrifying atmosphere will be in full swing, while complimentary drinks will be served from 7-8pm. There will also be a raffle with eight prizes.
He(Art) exhibition / Bill Bensley x Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant Bangkok
It is no secret that French-inspired restaurant and wine bar Scarlett Bangkok is an establishment rooted in art and it should come as no surprise that design guru and artist Bill Bensley is collaborating with the restaurant by gracing the walls of Scarlett Bangkok with a series of artworks in his latest “Outsider Gallery” exhibition. This exhibition brings together food and art in a single space. This includes “Reggie The Cheese Security”, Bensley’s cheeky take on Scarlett’s very own cheese guard, who watches over the restaurant’s fine selection of more than 50 AOC-certified cheeses. The artworks on display will also be open to purchase by art-loving diners, collectors, and connoisseurs. Full proceeds will be channelled directly to the Shinta Mani Foundation in Cambodia, run by Shinta Mani Hotels. The Scarlett Bangkok x Bensley Outsider Gallery exhibition run until Jan 31.
Immersive exhibition / InnSide by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit / Until Dec 31
InnSide by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is collaborating with Art Story, a social enterprise that highlights the work of autistic artists. The hotel will display the “The Colors & Texture of InnSide: Through My Eyes”, which is the result of a hands-on opening celebration “Meet Bangkok From The InnSide” that involved guests completing the artwork, until Dec 31. The paintings are inspired by Thai culture, traditions and each artists’ reflection and interpretation of questions posed to them while practicing their craft with Art Story. InnSide by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit will help raise funds for the Autistic Foundation through the use of QR codes next to each piece of art. Visitors who wish to own the paintings or items inspired by the paintings can purchase directly through the codes.
Opening Date / Emsphere / Today
Emsphere opens today, completing the Em District alongside EmQuartier and Emporium, on Sukhumvit Road. The new mall can be reached via BTS Phrom Phong via a skywalk, which connects the three Ems. Out of 200,000m² of total space, 60,000m² is dedicated to more than 80 restaurants and cafes with noted tenants such as the second branch of Shake Shack and Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen & Bar and Street Pizza. The eateries are located on the G and GM levels with a dining zone that opens until 3am. Ikea opens its fourth location on the third floor of Emsphere so condo dwellers don't have to go as far as Bang Na and Bang Yai to spruce up their rooms. There are around 1,000 international and Thai brands of fashion, luxury, technology, lifestyle. The other noted brands to open their shops include Swatch, Footlocker and Casetify. On the fifth floor is Em Wonder where you can find drink shops, bars and entertainment venues that open until 1am. On the sixth floor, UOB Live aims to be Bangkok's latest indoor entertainment arena with a capacity of 6,000 people but it will operate from Feb.
Pla Too Festival / Samut Prakan / Dec 8-17
Go support Bangkok's neighbour Samut Prakan at the 25th edition of their Pla Too (mackerel) Festival. Meet seven mascots representing the province's soft power, 50 food booths, activities and backdrops for your photos at the province's town hall. If you're a fan of “pla tu” dishes, there will be around 50 such dishes, including some royal recipes, for you to sample. The other highlights include cultural dances, a music award and “luk thung” concerts. It starts from 8am-9pm from Dec 8-17.
Siam Square Countdown 2024 / Siam Square / Dec 1-31
As a prelude to Siam Square Countdown 2024, the light festival Siam Luminary Spark Up commences today to provide you with festive backdrops for your photo-taking spree. It'll accumulate to three days of concerts from Dec 29-31 with a line-up of new and known Thai artists such as Zom Marie, Wild So Serious, Hybs and Botcash. The countdown is co-organised by Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) and CMO Group.
TRAVEL
Winter offer / Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort / Until Dec 31
Immerse in the rich Lanna culture along the Kok River with the “Magical Season – Stay For Breakfast” offer at Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort. Rates start from B4,200 nett per night and include a one-night stay in a Deluxe Garden View room and daily breakfast for two persons. Book and stays until Dec 31. Call 053-603-333 or visit bit.ly/StayForBreakfastCEIMD.
Spa experiences / The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket / Until Dec 31
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket is inviting wellness-seeking travelers to unwind on the pure shores of the Andaman Sea with its new “Spa Experiences” package, offering guests an unparalleled retreat into relaxation and rejuvenation amid the serene backdrop of Phuket’s tropical coast. The package includes accommodation at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket, saily breakfast for two guests at Seasonal Tastes and a 60-minute traditional Thai massage per person for up to two guests at Heavenly Spa by Westin. The Spa Experiences Package is available until Dec 31 and is priced from B5,100 per night (minimum three-night stay required). An extra guest will be charged B1,600 per night, including breakfast and an extra bed, and no spa treatment. Call 076-335-600, email wh.hktwi.reservations@marriott.com or visit marriott.com/hktwi.
STUFF
The Carnival x H&M collection / H&M / Dec 8
Following the ground-breaking debut of Blank Staples in 2020, H&M has now parlayed the success into an unprecedented collaboration named “Heritage Athletics, Street Aesthetics” with multi-brand store Carnival, marking its inaugural partnership with a Thai brand. The collab sees a wide range of street-style items for women and men. These versatile pieces make it easy to craft your individual style. The exclusive collection will be available in H&M stores and online, starting from Dec 8.
