Five acclaimed chefs from The Luxury Collection Hotels in Austria, Greece, India, Italy and Thailand, are coming to Singapore to plate five gastronomic set dinners at The Fullerton Waterboat House. We travelled to Bangkok to catch a sneak preview
As you already know, we are totally committed to providing the complete low-down on fine dining restaurant experiences in Singapore. So when The Luxury Collection’s Epicurean Journeys Pop-Up Chef Dining Series was announced to be returning this May, we thought best to hop on a plane and travel to Bangkok to spend three days with Executive Sous Chef Manachai, sample his cooking, and learn about the total food philosophy at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
In a nutshell? It was an enlightening experience. Not only did we taste his food, attend one of his cooking courses, and learn the art of an amazing curry paste, but we also learnt about Chef Manachai’s colourful teenage history. We discovered how he became determined to be a master of his craft, his intense passion for food, and his complete dedication to the art of cooking Thai cuisine. Inspiring!
Chef Manachai started his career 20 years ago, working his way up from dish-hand, to staff canteen chef, to chef of the Italian restaurant, Rossinis – where he won second place in an Italian cuisine competition with his signature Italian dish risotto. Now, he looks after the six restaurants at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit – including the Thai restaurant Basil. And man, this guy can cook.
On our first night in Bangkok (after a rather strong two-hour Thai massage), we settled into a fancy banquet at Basil, the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit’s fine dining Thai restaurant. The food was mind-blowingly good, and a good enough reason to head to Bangkok any night of the week.
The second day, we travelled to a sugar palm-making house (the last homemade palm sugar place left in Bangkok), and learnt about the organic process of making coconut palm sugar – which was like travelling back into time, but to an amazing farm to taste an experience of a lifetime.
And on our final day, we explored the city set against the Chao Praya River, pier-hopped for local food from the newly-renovated Tha Mahara pier to the old-world pier of Tha Thonburn, and wandered around the Bang Lampoo area, sampling local dishes and Thai street food along the way.
But you don’t need to travel all the way to Bangkok to grasp the origins and elements that define the artistry of this master chef. Chef Manachai himself will be coming to Singapore, hand-carrying his curry paste with him, along with many of the fresh ingredients that he will be using for the Epicurean Journey’s Pop-up dining event.
Taking place over four days at the historic Fullerton Waterboat House from 30th May to 3rd June 2016, this year’s gastronomic event promises to introduce culinary experiences reflecting the rich culinary landscapes of The Luxury Collection Hotels and the five destinations in which they based, exhorting the nuances of their countries’ most beloved flavours.
All serious foodies need to head to www.epicureanjourneys.sg – early bird discounts of up to 20% off are available for a limited time – and book at least one of these sensational taste sensations (or all five of them!):
INDIA: ITC Luxury Collection Hotels in India, presented by Corporate Chef Manjit Gill, on Monday, 30th May 2016
ITALY: Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, presented by Executive Chef Dario Parascandolo, on Wednesday, 1st June 2016
THAILAND: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, presented by Executive Sous Chef Manachai Konkangplu on Thursday, 2nd June 2016
GREECE: Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens, presented by Executive Chef Sotiris Evangelou, on Friday, 3rd June 2016
AUSTRIA: Viennese Afternoon Tea from Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna, presented by Executive Chef Manuel Gratzl, on Wednesday 1st June, and Friday, 3rd June, 2016.
These pop-up dinners are seriously great for value (from $128++), and will sell out quickly. So do your palette a favour and book now. We’ll see you there!
Each Epicurean Journeys Dinner is priced at SGD128++each, and SGD168++ with wine pairings, and the Viennese Afternoon Tea is priced at SGD53++, and SGD77++ with Champagne. Head to www.epicureanjourneys.sg – Early bird discounts of up to 20% off are available for a limited time.
Epicurean Journeys – A Pop-up Chef Dining Series, 30 May – 3 June, Fullerton Waterboat House, 3 Fullerton Road, Singapore 049215, p. 6557 2590.
Thank you Starwood for hosting us for the food journey to Bangkok.