Guru By Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
EAT
Seasonal menu / Red Sky / Until Feb 29
Red Sky at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok’s rooftop landmark, unveils its “Black Winter Truffle” feast. Chef Luca Russo crafted this exclusive seasonal menu with dishes to showcase the aroma and flavour of this prized ingredient. The menu features a delectable selection that promises to delight the senses. Begin your journey with the Hokkaido mi-cuit carpaccio whereHokkaido scallops are paired with fresh black truffle and green asparagus. Indulge in Foie gras ravioli served in a rich Madeira sauce and adorned with the truffle’s unmistakable aroma. For the main course, embark on a seafood odyssey with the slow-cooked turbot accompanied by creamy celeriac purée, Roman artichokes and a decadent black truffle sauce. Meat lovers can savour the grilled Japanese A4 Hitachiwagyu beef. The succulent marbling of this prized cut meets its perfect match in caramelised Cannara onions, a drizzle of truffle Périgueux sauce, and the finishing touch of fresh black truffle shavings. Vegetarians can enjoy the Tagliolini with pink garlic, porcini and black truffle. The limited-time menu is available until Feb 29. Visit the hotel’s website.
Van Gogh tea / The St. Regis Bangkok / Until May 31
The special afternoon tea and beverage selections is inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s masterworks in collaboration with The National Gallery, London, an art gallery in Central London and ArtiStory, a leader in the field of art and cultural IP licensing. Available until May 31 at The St. Regis Bar. Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers" serves as the cornerstone of the tea’s savoury creations. It is represented by a Passion fruit Bellini macaron, a Rosewater, lavender and lemon pie, a Matcha waffle with crab meat and daikon, and a Corn, pinot blanc jelly and caviar tart. The "Head Of A Peasant Woman” inspires a delightful combination of Blueberry gateaux, pate de fruit and pecan sable, alongside a savoury counterpart of Blueberry and gin-cured salmon with horseradish mango and butterfly pea sandwich. “Long Grass With Butterflies” is transformed into an Almond eclair with chocolate and hazelnut, and an Almond gazpacho with pickled honeydew melon.”A Wheatfield, With Cypresses” is depicted in an Oat and espresso crème Anglaise with white chocolate painting, and a Chicken and chestnut mousseline flavoured with tarragon and orange. The menu is completed with Wwild berries and sunflower seed scones, symbolising the rustic and earthy elements in van Gogh's paintings. van Zabolotnyi, the everage manager, crafts special drinks, including cocktails and mocktails. Guests can also indulge in exclusive van Gogh-inspired merchandise items such as Little JJ teddy bear couples, tote bags tumblers and more. Visit the hotel’s website.
Pizza month / Shangri-La Bangkok / Feb 19 - Mar 10
Executive Italian chef Bruno Ferrari of Volti Tuscan Grill & Bar showcases his culinary expertise to redefine the taste, texture, and aroma of the ultimate gourmet pizza. For a limited period, four pizza bianca and four pizza rossa all crafted with the freshest and highest quality ingredients are on offer. Enjoy the "Gourmet Pizza" treat from Feb 19 to March 10. Visit the hotel’s website.
Prime experience / Benihana Bangkok
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort ’s Benihana Bangkok has launched two teppanyaki sets that are available for lunch and dinner as part of “The Prime Experience”. Choose the essential four-course menu featuring a Deluxe sushi platter; Tuna and ponzu salad; Kuroge Wagyu ribeye A4 with garlic fried rice; and a Silky cheesecake with vanilla sauce and fresh berries. Even more decadent is the six-course set that features Charred onion soup served piping hot in a teapot and Flaky grilled cod fish with creamy mustard sauce. Visit the hotel’s website.
Tuscany night / Ventisi
Ventisi restaurant at Centara Grand at CentralWorld has launched a new Saturday night buffet dinner, “Tuscany Night With Black Truffles”. This once-a-week exclusive buffet showcases black truffles and premium Wagyu beef dishes such as Beef tenderloin Wellington with black truffle, Black truffle mushroom soup and Beef cheeks with black truffle cream sauce. The indulgence continues with Truffle chicken roulade, Truffle ricotta cannelloni, and a variety of premium Wagyu beef selections, including picanha, flank steak, teriyaki skewers, and Neapolitan braciola. There will also be a selection of fresh seafood, appetisers, salads and soups, alongside an assortment of Thai and Italian main courses. The journey culminates with an exquisite selection of cheeses and desserts. Visit the hotel’s website.
Express menus / Reap Factory
Courtyard By Marriott Bangkok on Sukhumvit 20 is offering set menus at Reap Factory. Available on weekdays, the “Express Set Lunch” concept features a choice of six three-course set menus — two Thai, two Western and two Japanese — each featuring an enticing starter, a choice of mouth-watering main courses, and a delectable dessert, accompanied by one soft drink, tea or coffee. The two Thai set menus start with Thai clear soup with vegetables, seaweed and egg tofu, followed by a choice of Golden-fried salmon with spicy holy basil sauce on rice, topped with a fried egg or Golden-fried salmon with Panang curry on rice, and a traditional dessert of Grass jelly in syrup. Set B includes an appetiser of Spicy and sour seafood soup with holy basil, with a choice of Wok-fried rice with chili and Thai green herbs, with a choice of pork or chicken, or Golden-fried chicken with chili and salt on rice, with Sweet pandan noodles with coconut milk for dessert. Western set menus feature Salmon salad, Spaghetti with Bolognese, carbonara, tomato and basil, or Aglio e olio sauce or home-baked pizza and a dessert of tropical fruit. Set B comprises a classic Caesar salad, followed by a choice of Grilled salmon with mashed potatoes, spinach and dill cream sauce, or Chicken piccata and Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream for dessert. The Japanese sets have Tofu salad, Grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce on rice or Glazed salmon with white miso on rice, Ebi salad, Oyakodon or Butadon and Dungo for dessert. Visit the hotel’s website.
Guest collab / Explorar Resorts / Feb 23
Chef Frédéric Jaunault, the founder of the Academy of Fruits and Vegetables in France, renowned as the “MOF Primeur” brings his culinary mastery to Explorar Resort’s tropical haven. Collaborating with resort’s culinary director Raphael Kinimo, he will host an eight course dinner on Feb 23 offering reinvented French culinary classics with a twist of local flair. Enjoy a two-night stay from Feb 22-24, inclusive of daily breakfast, a welcome cocktail and the eight-course dinner for two. Visit the resort’s website.
Wander Wednesday / Burapa Eastern Thai Cuisine & Bar by Sri Trat
Burapa Eastern Thai Cuisine & Bar on Sukhumvit 11 has launched the “Wander East Menu” being offered every Wednesday. The menu, a sequel to the first series, begins with Fermented melon and sun-dried catfish, Sea prawns soaked in sweet fish sauce, paired with fresh mango and a touch of spicy shrimp sauce, and Braised pork belly in cha-mung leaf croquettes. The journey continues with Grilled scallops and a sour cauliflower sauce, Eastern consommé soup with Seville orange peel, Crab rice and Stewed pork belly. Visit the restaurant’s website.
Red carpet / Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok / Until Mar 31
The hotel rolls out the red carpet this month with dining, sipping and entertainment experiences. At Sip & Co, a new menu of sweet and savoury delights includes Grilled chicken Caprese salad, Mushroom risotto with butter poached prawn, Bacon guacamole grilled cheese sandwich, Wild mushroom soup, Crabmeat with pink sauce, Chocolate lava cake and many more. New, nutrient-packed blended drinks are combinations of fresh fruits and vegetables in five vivid colours; red, orange, green, yellow and purple. At Bangkok’78, the retro-Thai restaurant, the 2023 chef’s creations menu is available till Mar 31. Features nine dishes from southern Thailand, Mae Klong delicacies and Lanna menus. At The Black Cat, the "Seven Galaxy Of Love" cocktails, inspired by the seven birthday and constellations, are being poured till Mar 31.
JOIN
Wine Odyssey / Vertigo Too / Feb 21
Sip your way through California without leaving Bangkok. On Feb 21, Vertigo Too at the Banyan Tree will showcase the Golden State's finest wines under the starlit charm of Bangkok's skyline. Taste six spectacular wines, each a story of its own, perfectly paired with exquisite canapés. Visit the hotel’s website.
New art hub / Palette-Café and Studio
Palette-Café and Studio is the new art haven on Koh Samui’s Chaweng beach. The interiors are a harmonious blend of hot pink, white, turquoise and golden hues that take inspiration from the colourful Manora dance of southern Thailand. A focal point is the portrait of Naree, a lady adorned with a traditional Chada crown and classical details reminiscent of the Manora dance costume. The café aims to create a vibrant community hub and event space for artists to showcase their work, free of charge. Local artwork adorns every corner, showcasing Thailand’s diverse creative talent. Celebrating the fusion of art and coffee culture, the cafe also offers coffee beans from Thailand's northern regions like the Chiang Mai Forest Blend from Mae Taeng district. Palette-Café and Studio at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort is not just a café, but a sanctuary of artistry and innovation. It brings art to life through latte art and seasonally hosts workshops to enhance the customer experience. Visit the hotel’s website.
Anniversary celebration / Ki Izakaya / Feb 16
Ki Izakaya at the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is hosting a sake-tasting event to celebrate its second-year chapter on Feb 16. The Sake Fair will offer sample premium sakes from a range of 15 labels from different prefectures in Japan. The sake tastings includes three complimentary small food plates. Visit the hotel’s website.
Weekend fun / Expressway Authority of Thailand / Until Feb 18 and Feb 23-25
The Expressway Authority of Thailand will host special activities to commemorate St Valentine's Day and the 111th anniversary of the Transport Ministry on the Rama IX Bridge over two weekends. The special event "Luck Lock Love" will take place until Feb 18 and on Feb 23-25. Not only do you get to enjoy a breathtaking overlooking view of the Chao Phraya River from the iconic bridge but also a food fair, street show and live entertainment. At night, the bridge is lit, serving as a background for photo moments. Bring a own lock and use it on the bridge to strengthen your love or pay respect to Buddha's relic for luck in everything in your life.
Closing screening / Major Cineplex Ratchayothin / Feb 18
Neramitnung Film and Shine Saeng Ad.venture is hosting a closing screening of "4 Kings II", an action film about two warring vocational students, with three actors from the film and the director in attendance. 4 Kings 2 is the sequel to 4 Kings and surpasses it in box-office taking. The special screening will take place at cinema number 13 of Major Cineplex Ratchayothin at 2pm. Tickets must be purchased on the third floor of Major Cineplex only. Commemorative T-shirts will also be available in very limited amounts.
Music festival / S2O / April 13-15
The return of EDM extravaganza S2O promises to be bigger and wilder than before. The three-day Songkran rave will see a line-up of international DJs and 21 shows. The confirmed headliners so far include The Chainsmokers, Armin Van Buuren, Illienium and Afrojack. Light, sound, fireworks and water guns will keep you hyped up and cool during the water festival. This year also marks the beginning of the festival debuting abroad as it will travel to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New York later. The venue in Bangkok has yet to be announced so it's best to keep updated via the festival's Facebook page.
Baking demonstration / Le Cordon Bleu Dusit / Feb 17 and Feb 21
For the month of love, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit at Central Tower, CentralWorld, is hosting two free events on Feb 17 and Feb 21, offering live cooking demonstrations alongside exclusive privileges. On Feb 17, join the "Mastering Of Bakery" open house, where an international chef will demonstrate the art of baking. On Feb 21, the "French Cuisine" open house invites culinary enthusiasts to elevate their cooking skills with French techniques. Promotions and special privileges available only for event attendees include a discount on tuition fees and zero-interest instalments.
Four-hand dinner / Muu Bangkok / Feb 28-29
Journey through the world of international cuisine through a four-hands dinner created by two seasoned chefs. Muu Bangkok will host “Treasure Hunting” on Feb 28-29 to highlight Turkish and Mediterranean cuisines by chef Tharit Tangsongsirisak, owner of Fat Lamb, and chef Thanaphon Chatuporncharoenchai, head chef of Otto Italian restaurant. The menu is based on the concept of earth, sea, river and land and features unusual ingredients. It'll be enhanced with selected wine parings by Kittisak Jarayabhand, sommelier of Swirl Cellar and Wine Bar, and handcrafted cocktails by mixologist Oak of 008 Bar. There are 40 seats available each night. Visit Muu Bangkok's website.
TRAVEL
11the anniversary offer / Centara Hotels & Resorts / Until Feb 17
You have until tomorrow to reap benefits from the special promotion to celebrate the 11th anniversary of CentaraThe 1, Centara Hotels & Resorts' loyalty programme. Earn 11 times CentaraThe1 points for your next stay and enjoy up to 40% off when you book their "The Place To Be" package at any Centara property worldwide. Redeem 1,111 points, and get a B100 cash voucher (normally 1,200 points) to be used toward room charges, drinks and dining, or laundry services on your next stay. Book and redeem until Feb 17 for stays until Dec 20.
STUFF
New device / Lenovo
Lenovo unveils the Lenovo Legion Go, the company’s first Windows gaming handheld device, to give gamers more freedom to game. The Lenovo Legion Go is designed for gamers who will settle for nothing less than top-tier specs and visuals on their handheld device. Featuring up to an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with AMD RNDA™ Graphics and smart power management technology, the Lenovo Legion Go runs Windows 11 and delivers a potent combo of console-rivalling graphics performance that bring games to life on its massive 8.8in. The Legion Go features up to 16GB LPDDR5X (7500Mhz) ram with power management flexibility that delivers optimal gaming performance and faster loading times depending on the scenario, as well as an up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD and micro-SD slot supporting up to 2TB of extra storage1. The Lenovo Legion Go features dual USB Type-C ports for convenient connectivity, allowing users to dock and charge the device while simultaneously connecting accessories. The Lenovo Legion Go is available at Lenovo official partner stores nationwide.
Smell the roses / Le Labo
When discussing rose-scented fragrances, most individuals conjure an image of a rich bouquet of pink roses emanating a sweet floral aroma enveloping the body. Traditionally, this scent is not associated with men. However, Le Labo's unique interpretation of rose in the style of "Rose 31" distinguishes it from typical rose fragrances. Through this new approach, Le Labo aims to transform the famous Grasse rose, a symbol of voluptuousness and unqualified femininity, into an assertively virile fragrance that can be worn by anyone. The result is a model of its kind: alternating femininity and masculinity of the Centifolia rose, quickly picked up by a chorus of warm, spicy, and woodsy notes such as cumin, olibanum, cedar and a touch of amber, the declared sensuality of Gaïac wood and cistus highlighted by distinctly musky notes, give this perfume a disconcerting sense of mystery and captivate all who encounter it, challenging conventional notions of femininity and masculinity while embracing the brand's genderless concept, making it suitable for all individuals regardless of gender. In addition to its representation as a fine fragrance in the Classic Collection, "Rose 31" extends its enchanting scent to the Body Collection, comprising shower gel, shampoo, bar soap, and body lotion. Available at Le Labo Siam Paragon and The EmSphere.
