Guru by Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
EAT
Mexican meets caviar / Ojo x Kaviari / Feb 8
Mexican chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano will join hands with chef Alonso Luna Zarate and Parisian caviar house Kaviari to create a special dinner at Ojo at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, on Feb 8. The dinner will be a caviar-focused five-course dinner that will use Kaviari’s pearls to enhance traditional Mexican flavours, each dish paired with Aqua Panna or San Pellegrino. The opening set is Macadamia tartlet with smoked cream, salsa de uña, Kristal caviar and nasturtium, and Tostada huevona with A4 Wagyu beef tataki, pickled chanterelles, Baeri caviar and chili ponzu. An elevated version of Mexican street-food favourite, Sope, will be made with bluefin tuna, ant eggs, burnt avocado, Oscietra caviar and epazote herb, followed by the delectable Uchepo young corn tamal with stracciatella, fresh cream, salsa roja and Kaviari’s buttery Transmontanus caviar obtained from white sturgeon. Grilled turbot with atole-dashi sauce, Oscietra caviar and garlic flowers completes the savoury part, while Platanos con Crema provides a sweet finale of grilled banana, palm sugar, fresh cream and dried and pressed Kaviari en Barre roe. The Ojo X Kaviari dinner end with a gift of mother-of-pearl caviar spoons from Ojo. Champagne pairing is available at a surcharge.
Harvest season / GranMonte Vineyard / Feb 8, Feb 25, Mar 3
GranMonte Vineyard and Winery unveils its “Harvest Season 2024” to commemoration 25 years of GranMonte. The GranMonte Sunday Harvest Brunch 2024 and the immersive GranMonte Harvest Tour 2024 will be held over three Sundays, beginning Feb 18 with 65 guests each day. Indulge in an exploration of winemaking and Isaan culinary mastery during the “GranMonte Sunday Harvest Brunch”, on Feb 18, Feb 25 and March 3. Chefs will craft canapes and three-course dishes paired with free-flow GranMonte wines. On Feb 18, The Gardener Khaoyai founded by chef Thaninthorn “Noom” Chantrawan will showcase their dishes; on Feb 25, Samuay & Sons chef-patron Weerawat “Num” Triyasenawat will helm the kitchen; and on March 3, the brunch will feature chef Chumpol Jangprai. There will also be grape-harvesting, a harvest competition, winery visit, personalised wine bottle signing and scenic picnic.
Basque flavours / Uno Mas Restaurant / Until Feb 29
Uno Mas at Centara Grand at Centralworld will move its Basque Grill pop-up to the Dining Deck, until Feb 29. Curated by chef Roberto Gonzales Alonso, the menu features dishes from the Basque region, the grill being at the heart of it. Indulge in El Capricho Chuleton, a steak known for its rich flavours; Txogitxu Txistorra sausages; and burnt Basque cheesecake. Basque red wines and refreshing notes of Txakoli, Rioja Alavesa and the traditional Basque cider, Sidra will enhance the meal. Visit the hotel’s website.
Sunday Lunch / Côte By Mauro Colagreco
In the culinary cultures of Italy and France, a Sunday Lunch is not merely a meal to fuel up for the day ahead, it’s a cherished moment. Côte By Mauro Colagreco at Capella Bangkok has launched the “Dimanche Midi”, weekly lunch ritual where the sumptuous flavours of French and Italian rivieras promise the perfect occasion to round off a weekend with loved ones. Every Sunday, Côte will offer family meals, like pasta, farm-fresh salads, grilled delights and desserts. The five-course “Dimanche Midi” is available every Sunday. Visit the hotel’s website.
Gastro Odyssey / Khaan in Singapore / Until Mar 31
TBC Asia has launched "Gastro Odyssey", an exclusive monthly fine dining series which sees chefs from around the world come to Singapore for a limited-time experience. Hosted at TBC Asia's Private Dining Lounge in District 9, the inaugural dinner features Thai chef Sujira "Aom" Pongmorn of Khaan restaurant on Soi Somkid. Her creations for TBC Asia are an interpretation of her rich personal experiences coupled with her mastery of traditional Thai recipes handed down by culinary masters where each fusion is a blend of tradition and modernity, using only fresh, daily-sourced ingredients with some ingredients specifically air-flown to retain their authentic flavours. The star dish is Oyster tom krong, a modern adaptation of a local Thai delicacy, featuring an umami-rich broth with smoked and dried fish, fresh Thai herbs and the briny taste of oysters. Another Thai chef is chef Chumpol Jangprai of R-Haan in Bangkok.
TRAVEL
14th anniversary / Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel / Until Feb 14
Celebrate the 14th anniversary of Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong with special anniversary stay packages to lunch and dinner experiences, and rejuvenating spa treatments at Quan Spa. The "Nearby Things To Do" programme at Erawan Shrine at 3pm, followed by a Punch Bowl Ritual Workshop featuring "Lap Land" by mixologist James at R bar, part of our "Evening At Renaissance' programme. As night falls, savor the diverse and vibrant flavours of Ban Tad Thong street food at your own pace, facilitated effortlessly by a BTS card. Buy before Feb 14, to use until April 30. Enter the social media campaign from until Feb 14 and stand a chance to win daily lucky draw prizes, including room stays, dining vouchers and spa experiences. Visit the hotel’s website.
Sailing savings / Oceania Cruises / Until Feb 29
Oceania Cruises is offering savings of up to 50% off per stateroom on 112 sailings this year and in 2025 for bookings made before Feb 29. The New Year Sale features itineraries in the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Alaska, Canada and New England, and South America, ranging from seven to 32 days. The savings include Oceania Cruises’ shore excursion credit of up to US$1,400 per stateroom; complimentary vintage Champagnes, premium wines and international beers during lunch and dinner in onboard restaurants; unlimited Wi-Fi; and free gourmet specialty dining. Featured sailings include Dubai to Trieste departing on May 14; Dubai to Barcelona departing on May 13; Athens (Piraeus) to Istanbul departing on July 23; and Barcelona to Cape Town departing on Nov 14. Visit the cruise website.
Stay Elevated, Stay Elite / Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort / Until Apr 30
Stay in luxury with an exclusive package from Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort. The "Stay Elevated, Stay Elite" includes one-night accommodation in a Deluxe River View room or above with daily breakfast, up to 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and a complimentary mixology and mocktail class for two at Latitude19. Children below the age of 12 eat for free. Book and stay until Apr 20. Visit the hotel's website.
Membership fast track / Centara & The1 / Until Jun 30
Centara partners with The 1 Exclusive to offer a fast track to CentaraThe1 Gold status. Available for The 1 Exclusive members until June 30, the offer allows eligible members to enjoy a myriad of exclusive benefits and promotions for free when registering via The 1 APP. Upon upgrading to CentaraThe1 Gold status, The 1 Exclusive members will receive benefits such as an additional 25% CentaraThe1 bonus points for every stay, access to exclusive check-in lanes, the option of late check-out by one hour, complimentary room upgrades, and the ability to use The 1 points to redeem various privileges when using restaurant, spa, and other services at participating Centara properties. Additionally, members get to enjoy bespoke birthday bonuses. These include an exclusive 20% discount on their subsequent stay, 2,000 complimentary bonus points, and an enticing 20% savings on food along with a buy-one-get-one buffet offer at participating hotels. The 1 Exclusive members can claim their Centara Gold status upgrade via The 1 app. By booking a stay for a minimum of two nights through Centara’s official website by Jun 30, they will have their CentaraThe1 Gold status extended until Dec 31. This offer is limited to the first 10,000 The 1 Exclusive members who register.
Direct flight launch / AirAsia / Until Feb 4
AirAsia has launched direct flights between Hat Yai and Singapore, initially starting with three times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In conjunction with the launch of the new route, AirAsia is offering the “Singapore: Fun For The Whole Family” promotion with all-inclusive one-way fares. Book by Feb 4 for travel until Oct 26.
Direct flight launch / Thai Vietjet / Until Feb 4
Thai Vietjet has launched Bangkok to Beijing flights in response to the mutual visa exemption scheme by Thailand and China. In celebration of launch, Thai Vietjet is offerring special promotional tickets for the Bangkok-Beijing route available for booking until Feb 4 with the travel period from March 1-31 (exclusive of public holidays, terms and conditions applied) on its website.
Fare promotion / Greater Bay Airlines / Until Mar 31
Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) today launched the Bangkok-Hong Kong companion fare promotion to celebrate the festive Lunar New Year. Until Mar 31, buy roundtrip tickets between Bangkok and Hong Kong for two or more passengers for B2,100++ each (applicable taxes and fuel surcharges are not inclusive). The flight frequency has been doubled and leaves Bangkok at 11.35am and 6pm daily and leaves Hong Kong at 8.30am and 3pm daily. A speical promotion fare is also applicable on flights to Hong Kong departing Bangkok from Feb 2-12, Feb 19-Apr 5, April 9-11, Apr 15-May 3 and from May 7-Jun 30. The tickets are valid for at least two passengers travelling together and for stays of up to seven days. It also includes 7kg carry-on baggage and 20kg check-in baggage allowance for each flight. Visit the GBA website or GBA app.
JOIN
Signature massage / The Peninsula Bangkok
The Asian Trinity Signature Massage, which incorporates techniques from Thailand, Japan and China, has been created in celebration of The Peninsula Bangkok's 25th anniversary. The 90-minute treatment lets you immerse in the healing traditions of different parts of Asia. Guests begin the journey by choosing one of four organic essential oils, which are used during the massage to enhance deep relaxation and renewal. They are then serenaded with the soothing, vibrational sounds of a singing bowl. Their experience then continues with a combination of gentle therapeutic Shiatsu bodywork and Chinese massage techniques, followed by traditional Thai massage techniques using deep pressure, flowing movements, and gentle stretches. The treatment is just one of an array of rejuvenating experiences offered at The Peninsula Spa, which occupies a stunning three-story Thai colonial-style building overlooking the river. Visit the hotel’s website.
Art exhibition / 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit / Feb 10 to Apr 23
Atta Gallery is organising “Aesthetic Of Collective”, the sixth instalment in the "Self Enquiry" project by Kamin Lertchaiprasert. The exhibition will be on display at the 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit in Chiang Mai. It will present documentaries of Kamin's past works and activities with art installations, covering projects which he has been integrally involved with. These include Umong Silpadhamma, Art For Air and the 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit, which is conceived as a space for learning and sharing love and kindness with each other. The exhibition will bring viewers back to finding answers to what is the core philosophy of collaboration. The opening ceremony will be on Feb 10 at 2pm.
Left-Over Happiness / The Art Haus / Feb 4-29
Artist and professor Klairung Attanatho is showcasing miniature art at River City Bangkok, where real-life settings such as a cafe, a living room, a kitchen or even street art on city’s wall are recreated on a tiny scale. Klairung, who's a New York's Parsons School of Design alumnus said, "'Left-over Happiness' echoes my longtime love of diorama art and miniature modelling as a hobby. Most of the dioramas are made from discarded plastic oil gallons. Some of the elements assembled from scrap toys add to the charm of the work. Some scrap toys always look cute and hilarious, and some are unidentifiable objects, but they all once brought joy to the owners. Scouting the scrap stores for the right pieces is an enjoyable process for me.”
