As they say in Italy, “Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo” (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year). And for those who have reservations about roast turkey and can’t countenance Christmas pudding, it’s the sound of salvation. Even in Bangkok, all you have to do is join the in-crowd at Jojo for your celebratory lunch or dinner, and have a wonderful time steering well clear of culinary clichés.
For instance, Jojo offers an authentic Italian family style set of five dishes for Christmas Eve Lunch. Choose one of each from a selection of appetizers, primis, pizzas, mains and desserts, each prepared for two people. Tuck in heartily to lentils with meatballs; baccalà mantecato and turnip tip risotto; smoked salmon and zucchini pizza; cotechino traditional pork sausage with potato purée, and; zabaglione panettone. Jojo’s Christmas Eve Lunch Sharing Menu is priced at Baht 1,980++ per person, for a minimum of two people. Served from 12pm-3pm.
Or for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch and dinner, passionate and perfectionist Chef de Cuisine Stefano Merlo unveils a superb five-course Christmas Set Culinary Voyage.
The epicurean experience begins with chef’s amuse bouche. Expect something seafood-centric because, besides a beef main course option, the menu is largely about pampering the palate with a cornucopia of the finest and freshest local and imported fish, mollusks and crustaceans. Our trial run began with an oyster ice set in the half shell which somehow brought out more of the intrinsic flavor of the oyster than if it had been a real one.
The first appetizer offered a new take on the surf and turf concept, with raw sashimi-quality scampi riding on the tenderest beef carpaccio, with the contrasting elements exquisitely harmonized through pearls of bronte pistachio cream and greenery.
The soup is a stunner — steamed codfish meat in an outsize shot glass filled with potato cream soup and incidental contrasting flavors and textures of marinated capsicum, fresh radish, shallot, star fruit and a dollop of gazpacho ice cream.
Seafood’s preeminence continues with a mixed seafood risotto, perfect, lightly cheesy, arborial rice in a fine saffron and fish stock encrusted with chunks of fish, squid, langustine, mussel and oyster contrasted with a vegetal frisson of micro greens.
Which brings us to the main course choice. You can continue surfing the briny with a generous steak of wild seabass simply juxtaposed with “zucchini blossom”. Or canter out on the turf with a smoky, buttery-tender steak of Argentinian tenderloin beef, simply but devastatingly deliciously presented with red wine reduction glazing and slices and pearls of various robust winter vegetables, from pickled beetroot to turnip and potato.
Conclude with a modern take on traditional Italian Christmas fare in the form of Sicilian cannolo crunch filled with velvety almond ice cream and doused with a contrastingly fruity prickly pear coulis.
The divine parade of thoughtfully-crafted festive inspirations is priced at Baht 3,500++ each, food only, or Baht 5,500++ with wine pairing.
Jojo’s New Year’s Eve 8-course set menu looks just as irresistible: squid ink cappuccino followed by spicy lentil soup with Mazara del Vallo red prawn, followed by seared venison loin, horseradish chips, then risotto with gorgonzola cheese and beetroot. The main course choice is oven-baked ocean trout, Jerusalem artichoke sauce, horseradish or sher wagyu striploin, roasted winter vegetables. A pre-dessert of crème brûlée espuma, lemon ice cream is next and the final dessert offers traditional chestnut and chocolate Mont Blanc.
Everything at Jojo tastes all the better in the swanky setting. Random dolce vita-redolent photos and cameo paintings line walls of lustrous redwood panelling while fine abstract sculptures with vaguely tribal undertones contrast with Orient-influenced Venetian latticework. Milano arthouse perspex paddle lighting arrangements create a salon-like atmosphere while dramatic metallic gold teardrop chandeliers glow like rough-polished gemstones.
Hang for the New Year’s Eve Countdown Celebration at The St. Regis Bar which roll on till 2am. Dress to impress for an exclusive party, and let the Champagne flow, with live entertainment setting the mood for celebration. DJ Hytri spins the latest hits until 11pm, when DJ Alpha takes over to see you through the countdown and beyond, dancing the night away. Entrance at Baht 2,500++ per person includes two selected beverages from the House Bar. Or reserve a VIP table for two at Baht 12,000++, including a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut and black truffle tapas.
JOJO The St. Regis Bangkok Hotel. Ratchadamri Road. Tel. 02 207 7777. Email: fb.bangkok@stregis.com or events.bangkok@stregis.com.
