Thailand | Rebecca Saw

World Gourmet Festival 2012 – Robert Schinkel : Award-winning bartender, mixologist & Dilmah’s ambassador

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:October 15, 2012
Post category:Food Thailand Travel
Post comments:10 Comments

After the World Gourmet Buffet Lunch (see the spread HERE) the session was the Robert Schinkel World Gourmet Afternoon Tea Mixology by Dilmah.

Robert Schinkel is an award-winning bartender, mixologist & Dilmah’s ambassador on tea mixology for the last five years. He has been presenting this new trend in the world of cocktails throughout the world with innovative recipes, both with and without alcohol, and his skill to create signature drinks for persons, occasions or properties.
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World Gourmet Festival 2012 – Bangkok: Chef Michael Mina & Chef Frédéric Vardon

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:October 11, 2012
Post category:Food Thailand Travel
Post comments:7 Comments

As I feasted on the lunch buffet (you may view the pictures HERE) at the Fours Seasons Bangkok, I waited for the 2 chefs Chef Michael Mina & Chef Frédéric Vardon to make their appearance.
Chef Micheal Mina dish’s was Roasted Foie Gras with Pineapple Confit, Macadamia Crunch, Green Cardamom Glaze while Chef Frédéric Vardon (Le 39V, Paris, France), staying true to his French cooking roots showed us his Argenteuil line-caught Sea Bass with Cooked and Raw Asparagus.

I liked Michael’s dish better as he gave tribute to some of the local ingredients by incorporating it into his dish, namely pineapples, cardamon and Thai basil leaves. We got to sample his recipe after the demonstration and I liked how the macadamia nuts complements the livery foie gras (think nutty and buttery) as well as how the tangy sweet Thai pineapples gave a sweet edge to the overall dish.

Chef Michael Mina’s Roasted Foie Gras with Pineapple Confit, Macadamia Crunch, Green Cardamom Glaze.

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St Regis Bangkok – sophistication and timeless luxury. Love this hotel!

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:October 9, 2012
Post category:Accommodations Thailand Travel
Post comments:21 Comments

So I have told you about my rather funky, tech savvy hotel in Aloft Hotel in Sukhumvit 11, Bangkok. Judging from the comments, everyone seems to love it as much as I do! 🙂

While Aloft Bangkok is contemporary and trendy, my next hotel was pure sophistication and timeless luxury.

The St Regis Bangkok is breathtaking. I was unwell for a few days in Bangkok and had 2 injections during my stay in Aloft Bangkok. By the time I shifted over to St. Regis, I was on the recovery and craved peace and tranquility as I hurt all over.
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World Gourmet Festival 2012 – Fours Seasons Hotel Bangkok: Buffet Lunch

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:October 4, 2012
Post category:Food Thailand Travel
Post comments:6 Comments

Other than the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore this year, I flew to Bangkok in September to catch the The 13th Annual World Gourmet Festival, hosted by Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

The gastronomic affair showcased a sizzling selection of award-winning international chefs including chefs from Michelin star restaurants, such as Shiqin Chen, Diego Irrera, Galvin Lim, Igor Macchia, Michael Mina, Víctor Quintillà Imbernón, Masa Shimakawa and Frédéric Vardon who prepared delicious food paired with premium wines, wine tastings, and cooking demonstrations plus the world’s finest culinary purveyors such as Jeannie Cho Lee, Jean-Francois Antony and Robert Schinkel.

Unlike the World Gourmet Summit 2012 in Singapore, the opening night for WGF 2012 BKK was rather exclusive and attended by HRH Princess Soamsawali together with the participating chefs, principal sponsors and official partners. I didn’t managed to secure a seat.
Moreover, I got to know about this a bit late and had problems scheduling my work. But I was lucky to have made it there for the last few days.

On one day, I caught Chef Michael Mina (San Francisco, USA) for his demonstration of Roasted Foie Gras with Pineapple Confit, Macadamia Crunch, Green Cardamom Glaze and Chef Frédéric Vardon (Le 39V, Paris, France) for his Argenteuil line-caught Sea Bass with Cooked and Raw asparagus. The next day I watched Robert Schinkel; an award-winning bartender and mixologist and Dilmah’s ambassador pulled tea and learnt about tea mixology.

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McDonald’s Beef Samurai Burger, Sakura McFizz & Katsu Curry – Malaysia. Pork Samurai Burger – Thailand

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:September 30, 2012
Post category:Food Thailand Travel
Post comments:21 Comments

Wherever I’m at when I’m traveling, I make it a point to try to visit the local McDonalds and sample something uniquely available in that country.

In Paris, there was the McBaguette. In Korea, the Bulgogi burger. In Thailand it has always been about their rice burgers.

Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not a Mcd fan and I don’t advocate eating anything from McDonalds. And some of their burgers ~~really sucks~~ are dry and its size shrinks year by year so they now offer “double” burgers so consumers has pay more to eat more to be able to eat a substantial burger from McD.
Anyhow, it’s just fun to sample McDonald’s offering in other countries. And oh, especially so if there’s pork. 🙂

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Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 – My vibrant funky room!

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:September 18, 2012
Post category:Accommodations Thailand Travel
Post comments:34 Comments

I was in Thailand again last week for the World Gourmet Festival 2012, a rather grand annual event held at Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok. Over 7 days, 8 chefs as well as food and wine specialists from around the world will be preparing the cuisine that made them famous; and for a taste of their sublime creations, you can choose to book yourself a place in one of the dinners/lunches/teas during the week.

It was rather different affair from the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore, but more on that later. 🙂

I touched down on a Wednesday and was whisked into the trendy, dynamic of the Sukhumvit district where my uniquely funky hotel – Aloft Bangkok awaits.

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Hat Yai Travel – Songkhla sight-seeing on the Singora Tram Tour

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:September 9, 2012
Post category:Food Fun Thailand Travel
Post comments:23 Comments

Other than Bangkok and islands full of tourist, Thailand southern territory are worth exploring for its history, culture and religion. The lesser-known towns in the south are charming, and Songkhla and Phatthalung are great examples.
Songkhla has been home to Chinese Hokkien Thais and Muslim Thais for centuries. Once I found that out I felt at home, because I’m from Penang and I speak Hokkien! 🙂

Admittedly it is not Bangkok, but the massages here are just as good, prices are even cheaper and food is in abundance all the same. One might ask, “What exactly can one do in Hat Yai?“, and trust me, I ask myself the same question when I received the email from Firefly Airlines announcing their inaugural flight trip for media.

Well, besides the obvious of what Hat Yai is known for, there are some other activities to keep the wandering tourist occupied. I was in Hat Yai town for 2 days, and spent a whole day in Songkhla on the Singora Tram Tour. Songkhla is merely 30 minutes from Hat Yai and has many attractions to offer the wandering traveler.
Note: Hat Yai is a town/district in the Province of Songkhla. Songkhla occupies an area of 7,393 square kilometres, and is administratively divided into 16 districts: Mueang Songkhla, Ranot, Krasae Sin, Sathing Phra, Singhanakhon, Khuan Niang, Rattaphum, Bang Klam, Hat Yai, Na Mom, Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Sadao, and Khlong Hoi Khong.

For a start, I would suggest the Singora Tram Tour. It’s FREE and it takes you to the mains areas of Songkhla and shows you the essential parts of Songkhla province. This rather educational tour is safe and convenient too!

The usual Singora Tram Tour is about an hour or 2. However our tour that day extended much longer due to special arrangements. Anyhow, this post serves to give you some insights of where/what/when of Songkhla. 🙂
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