Guru by Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
STUFF
The What If Collection / Swatch
Swatch gets out of its circular comfort by introducing a new collection with square faces. In 1982, Swatch contemplated launching with a round dial or a square dial. The former was chosen and became the design that the brand is known for. The new collection asked what if Swatch went with the square dial in the first place? The 1982 square face prototype inspires the new collection, which is made of durable bioceramic material and available in grey, green, beige and black. They are available for B3,750 each at all Swatch stores and swatch.com.
Crytal Home launch / Crystal Design Center
This one is for the 1%. Crystal Design Center (CDC) on Pradit Manutham Road has launched a high-end bathroom accessory line and related services under the Crytal Home umbrella. They can guide you through the process of transforming your perfunctory bathroom into a personal sanctuary and offer after-sales service. CDC has also become the official distributor of the 275-year-old ceramic brand from Germany, Villeroy & Boch in Thailand.
JOIN
The 67th Discovery Thailand Travel Fair / Queen Sirikit National Convention Center / Until Aug 27
Shop for the best deals from countless hotels, tourist attractions and tourism operators from across Thailand at the 67th edition of Discovery Thailand Travel Fair or Thai Tiew Thai. Despite its name, this doesn’t mean you’ll get to browse hotel deals only within Thailand. Also, if you’re a foodie, there’ll be many hotel buffet vouchers to browse through, as well. Check out the Centara booth, if you’re planning your next holiday in the Maldives or Japan. If you don’t want to brave the crowds, exclusive offers for Centara’s Thai properties will also be available to book directly through their website.
Taste Of Italy / Tops / Until Sept 6
Tops celebrates Ferragosto with “Taste Of Italy”, a premium food festival from Italy held in cooperation with the Italian Trade Agency and the Embassy of Italy. Expect fine food from all regions in various categories ranging from mineral water, olive oil, pasta, biscuits and much more. It takes place at Tops, Tops Food Hall and Tops Fine Food until Sept 6.
Solitude / Ardel’s Third Place Gallery / Aug 29 to Sept 30
Chubbynida, whose real name is Chanida Areewatanasombat, will have her next solo show at Ardel’s Third Place Gallery. Chubbynida is back to warm your soul with her cute yet inspirational art. Growing up means leaving some people or some fragments of oneself behind, “Solitude”, therefore, will be a quest to collect those crumbs that have gone astray. The exhibition urges viewers to explore, embrace and heal so that they are able to cherish and see value in themselves once again. Ardel’s Third Place Gallery is on Thong Lor 10 and opens Mon-Sun from 10am-6pm. Free entry.
International Guitar Festival / Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel / Sept 1-3
Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel and the Thailand Guitar Society, in association with Savarez Strings, the Faculty of Music, Silpakorn University and Fai-Fah by TTB, will host Southeast Asia’s finest gathering of international guitar players, makers and enthusiasts from Sept 1-3. The Asia International Guitar Festival & Competition, in its 23rd year, is the region’s biggest and most vibrant event for classical guitar enthusiasts and music lovers. This year’s agenda includes master classes, guitar exhibitions, competitions and concerts by acclaimed world-class musicians hailing from around the globe. All concerts and competitions are held on the 7th floor of the hotel and the opening concert, guitar test and mini concert are free to attend. The evening concert is priced at B500 for adults and B250 for students (with valid ID). Masterclass tickets are B700 per person and observer ticket for the competition session is B100, while the masterclass ticket is B200 per person. Visit aigf.weebly.com or mhg.to/y6juz for application form, admission terms and conditions, prizes, and special package rates inclusive of accommodation and entry tickets for both contestants and observers. Call 02-079-7555 or email sales.vsuk@avanihotels.com.
Mad Moon pyjamas edition / Madstash X Octave / Aug 31
Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit’s Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar will hold the “Mad Moon – Full Moon Party” on Aug 31 from 7pm, as the full moon graces the night sky. Expect an enthralling evening with music, style and camaraderie, meticulously curated by the artistic collaboration of Madstash And Octave. Guests are encouraged to flaunt their most alluring pyjamas in adherence to the “Sexy Pajamas” dress code. The Early Bird Ticket is priced at B600 nett per person and includes one drink, Entrance Ticket is B900 nett per person with one drink, Standing Table Package is B4,999 nett per table with four tickets, a bottle and five mixers, Seated Table Package is B7,999 nett with four entrance tickets, one bottle, five mixers, and one bottle of sparkling wine, and the VIP Table Package is B11,999 nett per table with six entrance tickets, one bottle, five mixers and one bottle of Champagne. Call 02-797-0000 or email diningbangkok@marriott.com.
EAT
Thai Tiew Thai / Skyline, Avani+ Riverside Bangkok
Skyline, the airy all day-dining restaurant on the 11th floor of Avani+ Riverside Bangkok, has special deals for Thai residents with its “All-You-Can-Eat” dinner menu, available exclusively as part of the Thai Tiew Thai event at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center until Aug 27. For B1,999 nett, guests get a 2-for-1 unlimited buffet experience voucher valid on Fridays, while B1,799 nett get an unlimited buffet voucher with one premium a la carte dish that can be redeemed on either Friday or Saturday. Skyline’s weekly All-You-Can-Eat dinner is every Friday and Saturday and features unlimited premium raw and cooked seafood delights, nigiri and sashimi, succulent grilled meats, Thai and Western favourites, and exquisite desserts. Regular price is B1,699++ with unlimited buffet and unlimited a la carte options; and B1,999 ++ with unlimited buffet and a la carte with one premium dish. The vouchers are valid until Nov 30. Call 02-431-9100 ext 1416.
High tea / The Siam Tea Room, Asiatique The Riverfront
Experience a taste of elegance with the “Thai Heritage High Tea” at The Siam Tea Room, Asiatique The Riverfront. Guests can indulge in a selection of specially crafted savoury bites, including deep-fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves, Ratchaburi pineapple with fish and peanut balls, sweet and sour herbs in betel leaves, crispy sago with creamy crab meat, rolled rice with panang chicken curry, watermelon with fish, dried shrimp & sweet chili dressing, and minced marinated pork with prawns & salted fish. These will be accompanied by Thai sweet treats, including sticky rice dumplings in sweet coconut, Thai donuts with passionfruit jam, coconut syrup & coconut milk ice cream, plus a selection of jasmine tea or ginger tea, and the choice of a somchun smoothie or butterfly pea lemon soda. The Thai Heritage High Tea is is available daily from 1-5pm and is priced at B1,200++ per set. Call 02-059-5999, email restaurant-reservations.bkkqp@marriotthotels.com or visit sevn.ly/xiN0M8QW.
Dinner buffet / The St. Regis Bangkok / Until Sept 30
The St. Regis Bangkok offers more reason to look forward to the weekend with an exclusive “Epic Dinner Buffet”, which takes on a Mediterranean flair throughout September. Served every Friday and Saturday night, from 6-10pm at Viu Restaurant, the all-you-can-eat dinner also offers a choice of unlimited a la carte dishes prepared to order and served directly to the table. Flavours of the Mediterranean region include slow-cooked Moroccan lamb tagine with aromatic herbs and spices, and Seafood paella, a traditional Spanish Mediterranean coastal dish made with saffron-infused rice, prawn, squid, clams and mussels. The buffet is priced at B2,500++ per person, including coffee or tea. Call 02-207-7777, email fb.bangkok@stregis.com, or visit stregisbangkok.com or bit.ly/VIUReservations.
Charcuterie and chablis / Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar will offer a tantalising array of premium cheeses and cold cuts, accompanied by the exquisite 2021 Christophe Patrice Chablis. Against the backdrop of breathtaking views and the city’s captivating skyline, this epicurean adventure awaits. The Charcuterie Board offering Comté, Brie Le Maubert, Bleu d’Auvergne, and Legado Jamon Iberico is paired with Summer Truffle Sausage and Pepperoni and 2021 Christophe Patrice Chablis. Priced at B3,290++ for a medium board and B3,790++ for a large board. The a la carte board is priced at B990++ for a medium board and B1,750++ for a large board. Call 02-797-0000 or email diningbangkok@marriott.com.
New á la carte menu / Salathip Thai, Shangri-La Bangkok
Salathip Thai Restaurant chef de cuisine, Yanavit Theerasomboonkun, has crafted a refreshed à la carte menu at Salathip Thai Restaurant that further elevates Thai cuisine. Diners can indulge in traditional Sweet and sour crispy rice vermicelli and grilled river prawn (B800++), Southern Thai spicy and sour yellow curry with giant catfish roe (B850++), Grilled marinated ribeye with Thai salad (B1,120++), and more. Call 02-236-7777, email restaurants.slbk@shangri-la.com or visit bit.ly/NewMenuAtSalathip-Media.
Wine pairing dinner / Trader Vic’s, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort / Aug 29
Barton & Guestier, one of the oldest and one of the most prestigious wine houses in Bordeaux, will host a wine pairing dinner on Aug 29. With reservations limited to 40 seats and some of France’s finest vintages on the menu, the upcoming wine pairing event promises to be a highly exclusive experience. After a welcome cocktail reception where guests will have a chance to try the original Mai Tai from 1944, the year it was invented, guests will be served five surf and turf dishes specifically crafted to complement the flavours and character of the night’s exquisite wines. The Sip & Taste dinner will take place at Trader Vic’s on Aug 29 from 6-9pm and costs B3,500 per person with wine pairings, and B2,900 nett with full pre-payment. Call 02-476-0022.
Paper and patisserie / Anantara Siam Bangkok
The hotel’s new exclusive Afternoon Tea Culture series presents a collaboration between renowned paper artist and OH! My Craft Studio founder Natsupon Phromsawat and Anantara’s executive pastry chef Anupong Nualchawee. “The House Of Creation” afternoon tea promises a bold leap into the heart of the universe. The concept was inspired by Anantara Siam’s ceiling art that emulates the universe and celestial bodies from Thai folklore and the history of the unfinished mural by the hotel’s grand staircase. By taking the viewer on a journey to the heavenly realm as represented by the Sun, the Moon and Rahu, Natsupon’s experimental couture paper art ponders the mysteries of life and its origins by deconstructing, reconstructing, reshaping and reforming the concept of life itself. Chef Anupong reimagines the cosmic Pillars of Creation as an exquisite Elephant blanc dessert, an elephant-shaped chocolate sphere filled with rich ganache infused with Anantara Siam’s signature ‘Elephant Blanc’ tea blend by Mariage Frères. Also on the menu are oven-hot crumbly scones, savoury pick-me-ups and sweet delights including pineapple tatin, cognac and almond cream pastry with berries, raspberry pistachio tartlet, tonka bean panna cotta and other treats. The House Of Creation experience is available daily from 2-6pm in the Lobby Lounge and is priced at B1,950++ for two. Call 02-126-8866, email dining.asia@anantara.com or visit anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok.
Flavours of Korea / Goji Kitchen + Bar / Sept 1-10
Goji Kitchen + Bar at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park will host the “Flavours Of Korea” during a 10-day culinary promotion. From Sept 1-10, two Korean guest chefs will craft a selection of authentic dishes, including kalbi, bibimbap, tokpokki and of course, plenty of kimchi, as part of Goji Kitchen + Bar’s daily buffet dinners and weekend lunches and brunches. Diners can look forward to LA kalbi, grilled pork belly with red pepper paste sauce and beef tenderloin marinated with bulgogi sauce, while the Soup Station will feature healthy chicken ginseng soup and kimchi soup with tofu and sliced pork belly. Other dishes include tokpokki fish and quail’s egg in red pepper sauce, beef and buckwheat noodle soup (served cold) with marinated radish, cucumber and boiled egg, a selection of sublime seafood pancakes, kimchi pancakes and fried dumplings with onion pickle, marinated with soy sauce, and Korea’s famous rice bowl, bibimbap. Every meal can end on a sweet note with a light and fragrant Korean dessert of Korean watermelon punch. Marriott Bonvoy Moments will also host a special “Kimchi And Bibimbap Workshop”, led by chefs Youngran Baek and Sohee Lee. Members learn the art of kimchi and bibimbap, a buffet dinner, a one-night stay in an MSuite and breakfast for two people. The workshops will be held on Sept 1, with bidding starting from 65,000 points. Bidding closes on Aug 30. Visit moments.marriottbonvoy.com.
Mooncake Collection 2023 / Grand China Bangkok / Until Sept 29
Showcasing 30 years of culinary heritage, Grand China Bangkok, one of the first hi-res hotels in Bangkok’s Chinatown, introduces its 2023 mooncake collection with more 20 flavours. Their mooncakes are expertly crafted at Siang Ping Loh, the traditional Chinese restaurant at Grand China Bangkok. You can expect traditional flavours, as well as modern ones. Their custard mooncakes offer velvety fillings and inviting aromas. The ngow ying mooncakes are filled with cashew nuts, almonds, melon seeds, walnuts and white sesame seeds, while the addition of crispy pork infused with spices elevates the flavour further. Crafted using monthong durian from Chanthaburi province, the durian mooncakes undergo perfect stir-frying and are meticulously wrapped with premium salted egg yolk. The lotus seed mooncakes feature high-quality lotus seeds with premium salted egg yolk. Fancy something different? There are also modern fillings such as purple sweet potato and sugar-free varieties such as lotus seed, goji berry and pomelo charcoal. Moreover, a series of “snow mooncakes” is available in four enticing flavours namely monthong durian, lotus, black sesame, and yuzu. Go with the premium set should you want your mooncakes in a special wooden box commemorating the hotel’s 30th anniversary. Priced at B1,299, the box has four special flavours namely Italian truffle charcoal, coffee-almond white chocolate, nut-sesame egg special sauce and monthong durian with egg. They are available at the dedicated booth on the G floor of Grand China Bangkok Hotel or via shop.line.me/@grandchinah.
STAY
Aromatherapy workshops / Banyan Tree Samui
Banyan Tree Samui has introduced a new free-of-charge activity for all its guests — aromatherapy workshops, held twice weekly, to encourage guests to unlock the mystery of the ancient traditional practice. Nestled in a tropical landscape with its own private beach area, the 5-star hotel is able to source many of the aromatic ingredients at local markets. Extracts from plants — flowers, twigs, leaves, bark, roots, wood, fruits, seeds and resins — are obtained by either a process of expression or steam distillation, yielding aromatic oils that can be used for healing. The only other ingredients are distilled water and ethyl alcohol. Participants are free to select which essential oils they would like to create at the workshop, which is held at Banyan Tree Gallery Samui, the resort’s on-site boutique. Choices include cedarwood, rosemary, lavender, ylang-ylang, bergamot, peppermint and pine. The hotel provides oil burners and incense in each villa with a daily rotation of fragrances as part of the turndown service. Among the other aromatherapeutic activities provided for guests is a “Sense Of Nature Walk”, whereby the hotel’s sustainability team lead guided tours around the lush property to discover and explain some of the tropical flora and fauna. Visit banyantree.com/thailand/samui.
New hotel / Pullman Singapore Hill Street / Opening October
Pullman Singapore Hill Street is poised to be the playground for cosmopolitan travellers. Inspired by its prime surrounds of cultural sights, central business districts and shopping malls, the new hotel, scheduled to open in Q3, is designed around a railway junction theme, harking back to Pullman’s 19th-century origins of introducing luxury to railroad travelling with the first sleeping trains and premier services. Pullman Singapore Hill Street has 350 Art Noveau-inspired rooms and suites are dotted across the building’s U-shaped formation, which will offer guests varying views of surroundings–from the lush Fort Canning Park to the majestic views of Marina Bay. The hotel also comes with innovative spaces that include lounges intended as multi-functional work or leisure rooms, a 24-hour Power Fitness and a swimming pool with cabanas to luxuriate in. It will be home to three distinct dining concepts; Madison’s, a New York deli and restaurant hybrid, El Chido, a free-spirited Mexican bar, and Mogā, a modern Japanese izakaya meets speakeasy bar inspired by 20s Japan and the Prohibition Era. Visit all.accor.com/hotel/B5L7/index.en.shtml.