BK Magazine 823

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31 Degrees BK takes a closer look at the newest chocolate craze from Kad Kokoa Spicy Hearts Amy and Sunil conquer prejudice with the power of love—and curry The Regulars Ari hipster? Thonglor nouveau riche? Langsuan hi-so? Which are you?

New and Noted Dukedon, Ojo, and Bangkok’s newest Nordic fine dining experience

NO. 823 JUNE 24, 2022. www.bkmagazine.com

BUSTING LGBTQ+ MYTHS IN THAILAND

Change the conversation

page 3 Who's in charge?

04

BK EDITORIAL Managing Director Dietrich Neu Managing Editor Tyler Roney Deputy Editor Choltanutkun Tun-atiruj Senior Writer Porpor Leelasestaporn Junior Writer Lillith Clay Art Director Vatanya Bongkotkarn

cover story

Nightlife is back— and so are the regulars

The LGBTQ+ community speaks out

GROVE: COCONUTS MEDIA BRAND STUDIO Head of Business Development Shernan Plameras

Ari What’s the point of being a hipster if you aren’t trying to be a hipster? The Ari class of corduroyed faux bohemian can be spotted mid-trilby tip at bars serving craft beer so thick you can eat it with a comb—served from a vintage mason jar of course.

Senior Brand Editor Julianne Greco Branded Content Writer Moe Thet War Associate Thai Editor Ittipol Jungwatanawong Senior Thai Writer Witthawat Pukkhabut Senior Project Manager Sirinart Panyasricharoen Senior Account Manager Hafiz Rasid Digital Account Manager Nuttajuk Kittichailuk Project Manager Sawanya Chantarakana Art Director Tan Kar Liang

06

Production Supervisor Komkrit Klinkaeo Senior Graphic Designer Umporn Jiaranai

food & drink

New menus from old favorites and nightlife makes a comeback

Senior Business Development Manager Orajira Sukkasem, Piti Rungrojanaluck Business Development Managers Chalida Anuwattanawong, Danial Heng, Joseph Toh, Pearline Phua Business Development Executive Palita Nueangnit SOIMILK Editor Noranartta Chaikum Senior Writers Rujiyatorn Choksiriwan, Kristiya Chaisri Publisher, Printer, and Editor Tara Rattanaphas

food & drink

Dukedon, Ojo, and Bangkok’s newest Nordic fine dining experience

Ploenchit - Langsuan Amongst the galaxy of high-end hotels on Langsuan, the style here makes the Thonglor bar hoppers feel like hillbillies. The drinks are expensive and the views are high, but is anyone actually having any fun? The wallet is willing, but the flesh is weak.

BK Magazine is a Coconuts Media publication.

Founder and CEO Byron Perry Coconuts TV Head of Content Vim Shanmugam Head of Operations and Talent Clarissa Cortes

09

Advertise with us advertising@coconuts.co

open door

31 Degrees is finally here and it has been worth the wait

Where to find us!

Coconuts BK Limited

111 Room 5A, 5th Floor We Space Building, Soi Thonglor 5 Khlong Tan Neua, Wattana Bangkok, 10110 Tel: 02-041-5755 Email: info@bkmagazine.com

BK Magazine is edited by Tara Rattanaphas and published 24 times a year, twice a month by Coconuts BK Limited. Copyright © 2020 Coconuts BK Limited.

The titles “BK Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of “BK Magazine” are the property of Coconuts BK Limited. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Article reprints are available for THB50 each. The magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Coconuts BK Limited. Contact the Advertising Department for ad rates and specifications. All advertising must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business,copies of which are available upon request.

Printed by Sunthorn Film Company Limited, 13/11-15 Soi Wat Phraya Yang, Urupongtadmai Road, Thanon Phetchaburi, Sub-district, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok.

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11 the last word

Her father didn’t approve of her partner.

Their curry shop changed his mind

Sukhumvit Soi 11 and 13 Club kids on a budget call Soi 11 home. The area was just starting to pick up before the pandemic hit—with Hemingway’s and Find The Photo Booth—and once again the beautiful are getting their techno fix on this soi among the north Nana foreigner crowd who think they’re getting a taste of “real Thailand”.

Charoenkrung Years ago, it was Thonglor, now it’s Charoenkrung. What’s the point of drinking if no one’s looking? Put on the designer Hawaiian shirt and head to Tropic City to dance like nobody’s watching—even though you low-key want everyone to be watching.

08

coconuts.co

Thonglor Are you nouveau riche or an aspiring nouveau riche? Well, this is the hood for the luxe but lacking party kitten with daddy’s credit card. Sure, you’ll find a few pilot fish swimming around the dive bars, but this is the natural habitat of the fake Gucci bag sharks.

Khaosan After Covid-19 emptied out the shirtless backpackers, nowadays it’s for Thai university students chugging cheap bottles out of a bucket. It’s still partying on the cheap, but with new places like Bar Darn and Mischa Cheap, who knows what will become of Khaosan next?

food & drink

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

03

ADVERTORIAL

FEAST OF A DEAL

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Nusara

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As far as drinks go, wine is the way to go.

A Thai chef’s table from Le Du’s chef Ton with a prime view of Wat Pho. Flower vases, candlelight, and a background track of jazz usher you into the warm space, where you can chill on the comfy sofa with an aperitif or mocktail before moving on to the orchiddotted chef’s table, which can seat up to 10 people.

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MAZE

(limit 1 glass /card /table /sales slip) 15 Feb – 31 Dec ’22

Second Edition

Located on the outskirts of Phaya Thai, Maze has been dazzling diners with bold Thai flavors and an elegant design bursting with teal and gold. The restaurant run by ‘Chef May’ Phattanant Thongthong—runner-up in the first season of Top Chef Thailand—is leaning into her northern heritage.

114/3 Setsiri Rd, 092-295-1915. Open Tue-Sun lunch 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner 5:30-9:30pm (closed Monday)

Asok Pi Shop

A French-style restaurant in a chic mid-century setting, Second Edition serves gourmet cooking by a chef with extensive experience in French cuisine.

Flavors pop from the most premium ingredients, brought to you via traditional French cooking techniques. Feast on fine meats, traditional grilled dishes, and nuanced desserts like their Crepe Suzette with vanilla ice cream.

Nusara

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upfront

1 Apr – 30 Sep ’22

YOU SAID WHAT?

“The only thing to say is to repeat the words of G. Marx, ‘I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member.’”

Instagram user @frkrichardsen on the announcement of a new Soho House in Bangkok.

“You mean this unelected military junta isn’t sensitive to the requests of its subjects? That’s weird.”

Facebook user Jason Wood on claims the civil partnership bill was moving forward rather than the marriage equality bill.

“I’ve tried it. It’s really superb.”

Facebook user Supakom Rattanamangsang on Dukedon making Thai catfish kabayaki style.

MAZE

Second Edition

Brought to you by Citi

HOT OR NOT

9/6 IS THE NEW 420 Hallelujah and pass the joint. One of the biggest stories of the month—obviously— was the decriminalization of marijuana in Thailand. This month saw a boom in buds across the board, from disgraced actors opening ganja shops on the Sukhumvit (Sukhumweed) to a massive festival west of Bangkok to celebrate newfound freedoms. Bangkok wasted no time in getting high, with lines around the block at new dispensaries. But, how long will the fun last?

ONE SMALL STEP FOR BOOZE

PARDON MY FRENCH Jimmy Vienot, a French Muay Thai fighter and Superkombat World Middleweight Champion, got a little bit of new ink but probably could have used a proofreader. Fans on social media pointed out that his new “Muay Thai” tattoo read “Kuay Thai” (Thai dick). The mistake, down to a single letter, drew quite a lot of comment—with the gaffe tattoo hitting traditional news outlets fast. Jimmy—with the confidence that comes with being a professional head kicker—took the flub with aplomb and a sense of humor.

The alcohol bill known as “sura khao na”, or “progressive alcohol”, got through its first phase, making it one step—out of approximately 10 steps—closer to becoming a reality.

Spearheaded by MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn from the Move Forward Party, the new alcohol bill will legalize all small batch brewing and allow home brewing.

For example, right now, to open a brewpub and sell on site you’d need to be able to brew a minimum of 100,000 liters. While this is a small victory for brewers, it does not affect other draconian regulations, specifically Article 32 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

PM’S FB For 12 glorious hours, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s official Facebook page allowed comments, and the internet did what it does best: rage, anger, and misery. There were around 56,000 comments by the time the social media manager wised up, with memes, swearing, and downright madness polluting the page of the man who took power in a violent coup and refuses to let go.

But all the fun—and, well, online abuse— ended at around 11am on Monday, June 6, and the PM’s FB once again went dark.

cover | a new conversation

BUSTING LGBTQ+ MYTHS IN THAILAND On the surface, Thailand seems to be one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly places in the world. But is it? No regulations specifically provide rights to the LGBTQ+ community, no marriage equality, and no specific healthcare support. This doesn’t even touch on religious persecution, backward attitudes, and “jokes’’. BK Magazine speaks with LGBTQ+ people in Bangkok about the myths and stereotypes that stubbornly persist.

BEING GAY MEANS YOU’LL GET AIDS. Oat Montien, artist and founder of the LGBTQ+ Bodhisattva Gallery It’s a myth that many people, my friends, and even my mom told me. It’s not logical, but I think I know why it’s still here. I blame the media and the narrative since the AIDS epidemic in Thailand in the late 1990s.

Thailand is actually one of the very few countries in the world where you can get free PREP, but there’s a stigma. When there are still many people saying, “When you’re gay, you’ll get AIDS,” people are afraid to go get checked.

Yes, the AIDS epidemic did affect our community really badly and the number is still growing in our community, but on the other hand, it’s not just gay people that have HIV. The research that says gays have higher chances is bullshit because they never did any research on straight people. They use anal sex as an argument but that doesn’t just fall on gays.

Statistically, the people who pass on AIDS are usually married couples, because they never check as they think they are safe. We should turn this myth around, whether you’re gay or straight: get checked, and reject the stigma.

LGBTQ+ PEOPLE CAN’T FIND TRUE LOVE. YOU’LL NEVER HAVE A GOOD FAMILY BECAUSE YOU’RE GAY. Anticha Sangchai, philosophy lecturer at Prince of Songkla University and painting therapist

For this myth, it’s not just straight people who tell us this. It’s even people from our community who believe it. Then it turns into a lack of confidence, and makes the LGBTQ+ people feel unstable.

Some people from this community feel that they don’t deserve true love or are unable to have stable relationships. This is something deep rooted in our hearts because we grew up in a society that doesn’t empower us to believe in ourselves, and family taught us that love has to be binary between a man and a woman.

No one taught us that we, too, could love someone deeply and create a happy, loving, healthy family. If you feel like this, it’s not your fault at all. It’s the people in power who try to keep things the way they are and not allow things to change. Society can be cruel. But you can try and give yourself love. Take care of the relationship you have with yourself until you feel you deserve to be loved and confident enough to love back.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A WIFE AND A HUSBAND IN OUR RELATIONSHIP. Amornsak “Turk” Dejhuaipai, content creator and entrepreneur and Sudy Nataraj, engineer They keep thinking that there needs to be a man and a woman in our relationship in order to separate different roles. This myth is rooted in the heterosexual world. For us, we don’t have roles, and we do things together whether it’s house chores or not. We both work.

Then, straight people ask us questions like: who’s top or who’s bottom, who wears the pants in our relationship, or who takes care of the expenses? We don’t go around asking them who dominates in their relationships.

This belief is a bit narrow-minded.

Straight people can’t seem to believe that people can be together just because they love each other. They always seem to think that, like their relationships, there must be some kind of transaction. The idea of marriage or partnership is so narrow to straight people and they cannot think beyond men and the women or how the men must pay for the women. But there are many other kinds of relationships, shapes of love. Just because you are put in the straight box, doesn’t mean you are right.

TRANSGENDER WOMEN ARE OBSESSED WITH HAVING SEX AND BEING TOUCHED.

SEX WITH A MAN WILL FIX BEING A LESBIAN/ TRANSGENDER MAN. Thitikarn “Kook” Jaturapit, bodybuilder and personal trainer Thai men often think that when a lesbian or transgender person has sex with a man, they are magically “fixed” by their dick. Saying this is disrespectful and harassment. You wouldn’t like it if I said to you, a man, that you could be turned gay if you had sex with a man.

Some men who are not open to diversity, always ask lesbians or transgender men, “How do you guys have sex?” and there’s this “joke” in Thai society that goes something like this, “How are cold fingers going to win over warm vessels?” Love is not limited by gender. People put a limit on it. Love is love, and if you love someone, the sex will work out. It’s also not your business to ask us how we have sex. It’s none of your business. The bottom line is that we just have to respect each other.

THE LGBTQ+ LIFESTYLE IS A SIN. Siritonposh, human rights, LGBTQ+, and sex worker activist Religious people believe that being LGBTQ+ is a sin, some kind of punishment for our previous life where we were having an affair. That’s why in this life we’re born LGBTQ+. This myth is extreme because it involves religion and a religion, to some people, is the center of their lives. It leads some people’s lives. So if a religion tells them to think being LGBTQ+ is a sin or that you need to pity the LGBTQ+ people and help them via a religious process, many people will believe it.

My family is Catholic and always made me confess my sins. Religion is a big thing in my family and they would never tell me straight-up but talk about how the things apart from what god created—Adam and Eve, man and a woman—are a sin, and how I need to confess my sins.

Religious beliefs affect a lot of families, especially very religious families. The parents try to find a way to “handle” their LGBTQ+ children. Every time we try to push for marriage equality, the religious always get involved in the conversation—even though there’s no explicit teaching that being gay is a sin in the Bible. This kind of belief is backward. My family is still trying to get me to marry a woman.

Nada Chaiyajit, human rights campaign advisor at the Manushya Foundation This is a very bad myth because men feel like they can sexually harass us. Transgender women want to look like a woman, to feel connected to ourselves, but men see it as trying to look beautiful because we want to be fucked.

And then they ask, “Then why are you trying to look beautiful? Isn’t it because you want men to love you, to want you? Having sex with men will empower you, right? So you feel like a real woman.” Or they think that when a transgender person gets her breasts done it’s because she wants men to touch them, or when she gets a transgender surgery, it’s because she wants to be fucked. This myth just reflects the toxic masculinity in Thailand.

For many transgender people, regardless of how they identify, when they transition, they do it for themselves, not to serve any man’s dick. The universe doesn’t revolve around your dick. If you can’t comprehend this, then don’t come near us. It will make us and society safer.

IT’S EASY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TRANSITIONING PROCESS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE. Chitsanupong “Best” Nithiwana, executive director of Young Pride Club

The media only shows transgender people who have already successfully transitioned. The representation in the Thai society is limited to the binary image that if you’re a transgender woman, you must already look like a “real” woman to get media space, conformed to what society can handle. But in reality, it’s not that easy to have access to these processes, especially for transgender people outside of Bangkok.

People often think it’s easy to do this in Thailand, but the truth is that, unless you are in at least the upper-middle class, these processes are not accessible to you. On top of the financial aspect, many health professionals around Thailand are also still not diverse. For some medical facilities, they still require permission from your parents up until you’re 20 years old. But what if you are not out to your parents yet? What if your parents live in a far off province? The government could help by providing more data and information to healthcare professionals.

food & drink | news

1-Michelin-star Saawaan welcomes new chef using traditional Thai techniques

REFRESHED

After the departure of chef Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn—now overseeing the Southern Thai-Chinese restaurant Yoong Khao Hom—Suan Phlu’s award-winning Saawaan is introducing chef Saritwat “Earth” Wanvichitkun’s debut tasting menu focusing on classic Thai cooking techniques. Earth’s 11-course experience (B2,490++) showcases different methods common in Thai cuisine—think raw ingredients, fermenting, and stir-frying—interwoven with the creative flair we’ve come to expect from Saawaan.

HOMECOOKING

THIS LITTLE PIGGY

OH-SO HI-SO SOHO

Le Normandie’s ex-head chef can now cook for you at home

Pork-centric smorgasbord held every Thursday at Central World

Sukhumvit will host the first Soho House in Southeast Asia

After his departure from Le Normandie, the Mandarin Oriental’s French fine-dining powerhouse Arnaud Dunand is ready to serve you, not at his long-awaited Maison Dunand, but at your home.

While waiting to open his two permanent venues (Maison Dunand and Alpea), the chef is happy to announce that fans can now book him for their own private dining experience. All you need for this to happen is to arrange a group of 8 to 25 people max to host his crew. What crew, you ask? Dunand will bring his entire service team and even the sommelier to your kitchen.

Ventisi at Centara Grand is going all in on “the other white meat” with a new “Porkhestra Buffet” concept from chef Andrea Montella. The buffet includes Chinese-style whole suckling pig, Trang-style slow-cooked pork, kurobuta krapao moo, grilled pork, bacon fries, cannelloni, and more. With Italian and Thai-inspired cooking stations, the Thursday buffet is B1,590 per person from 6pm to 10:30pm. Ventisi is a relatively new restaurant on the Bangkok dining scene, opening last year on the plush Centara Grand’s 24th floor, endeavoring to marry Italian and Thai cuisine in new ways.

Soho House, the exclusive members-only club, is set for the Sukhumvit in 2022. Little is known about the club itself, however, according to press release reports, the club will be set over three floors and feature an in-house restaurant, dining area, and a palm-shaded outdoor pool—a signature feature for true Soho fans. Bank account alone isn’t enough to secure membership; prospective Soho-ers can apply on the Soho website.

Even if you can’t become a member, the club is known to run a number of pilot schemes to let newbies experience the plush Soho surrounds.

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

Saladaeng’s Meatchop sports a new menu STREET TO CENTRAL

Thonglor’s coffee stand City Boy gets Central World upgrade Thonglor Soi 4’s City Boy Coffee Stand just opened in Central World, serving their casual street vibe coffee opposite Starbucks.

You’ll find the new City Boy on the third floor in the Groove Zone office area. Their original location is a coffee shack on a quiet street side on Thonglor Soi 4 surrounded by trees and plants, serving their coffee with soft jazz in the background. Despite the new location being inside one of the biggest shopping malls in Bangkok, you’ll still be able to get the unpretentiously decent coffee.

NEW OLD FAVORITE

Rang Mahal fires up 6-course tasting menu on Sukhumvit Soi 18 You might know Rang Mahal for their a la carte or maybe their intercontinental brunch buffet team up with Mexicano Restaurante Autentico, but the more than two-decade-old Rang Mahal has been serving up a 6-course tasting menu lately. In a recently reopened wing of the hotel, the tasting menu is eaten away from the bustle of the main dining area in a room with seating for 10 and 26th floor views. The fine dining twists come from executive chef Lukinder Patiyal, available Thursday to Sunday.

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM

Hip-hop nightclub Blaq Lyte finally reopens Blaq Lyte, the neon-tinged hip-hop nightclub responsible for getting Thonglor partiers lit every Saturday night, bid farewell in 2018 but is now back in the month of June. The new Blaq Lyte is called Blaq Lyte 11 as it will be found on Sukhumvit Soi 11 at Salil Hotel. While most clubs seem stuck in a deep, dark techno rut, Blaq Lyte’s hip-hop sounds bring some much needed diversity to Bangkok’s club scene, the same spirit that won them the Best New Bar at BK’s debut B.A.D. Awards in 2017.

MEATCHOP, LOOK SHARP

The Meatchop Butcher and Spirits is back with a new menu in collaboration with Chef Chet Adkins of Jua (and Little Market). The new menu is a step-up from the usual steaks but also focuses on the ingredients’ natural flavors. Grab the Prawn Aguachile (B280), a fresh and light but flavorful dish to start before moving onto the heavier, meatier fare.

For beef lovers, they offer black Angus three cuts, hanger (B1,150/300g); tenderloin (B1,250/250g); and strip loin (B1,150/300g). If you decide to sit inside, make sure you don’t wash your hair before because their indoor open kitchen can make things a little smoky.

07

food & drink | new & noted

Ojo

TABLE TALK

SUSHI CYU 3/F, CentralWorld, 999/9 Rama 1 Rd, 065-731-4844.

Open daily 10am-9pm The sushi arm of this sushi-and-yakiniku specialist lets you try the omakase (chef's selection) experience at a fraction of the usual cost. You still get a calming environment of cypress wood and an L-shaped conter where chefs slice and prep, but your 8-13-course meals will come in well under B3,000.

Ingredients come in from Japan three times a week.

Exclusively for Citi Credit Card members Get 10% discount for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred and Select Or Get 5% discount for other Citi Credit Cards on a la carte menu in Grand Menu & Yakiniku (This privilege is for specified menu only. Excluding 10% service charge and 7% VAT)

1 Jun – 30 Nov ’22

Dukedon

NEW AND NOTED

Mexican fine dining opens 300 meters above Bangkok

Here’s what we know about Frantzen’s first Swedish outpost in Bangkok

Hidden spot makes Thai catfish kabayaki-style

Though the hotel is still delayed due to Covid, The Standard’s Ojo is officially open, Bangkok’s highest and finest Mexican dining on the 76th floor of the King Power Mahanakhon building.

The food here comes from the brawny tattooed arms and infectious smile of Francisco “Paco” Ruano who finds himself in Bangkok via Guadalajara. Get in the mood for crab meat guac and chicharon with your tartare because even though there is definitely a medley of influences, the fare here is distinctly Mexican in flavor. With Ojo now open, it’s only a matter of time before The Standard floors are ready for guests; a representative at The Standard tells BK the hotel will follow the Ojo and hopefully open in July.

The newest spot from Swedish chef Björn Frantzén—the three-star Michelin chef and brains behind the eponymous Frantzén Group restaurant empire—has drummed up a lot of interest among Bangkok’s foodies. Decor-wise, the restaurant took over the space of a two-storey shophouse on Soi Yen Akat and converted it into a sleek Nordic-style villa, complete with a lush green garden and a little corner staff joke could be used as a proposal nook.

Though Frantzén isn’t physically here himself, the food is helmed by head chef Martin Enström. His 5-course tasting menu (B3,500) sees modern Nordic cuisine with a touch of Asian influence.

Nestled in the unusual foodie location of Soi Inthamara 31, Dukedon takes pla duk (Thai catfish) away from the usual somtum stalls and puts it into the spotlight. When we describe this spot as hidden, we mean it. The place blends in with other houses on the same soi; the only giveaway is the signpost in front of the house. We’re not talking about regular grilled pla duk here. The three chefs—Prutkumpond “Sarm” Salak, Tachatam “Ton” Saekow, and Kittinan “Kit” Saratantiphong—specialize in both shinkeijime and ikejime. Since the three of them have to source the fish by themselves—not to mention the dry-aging process—it’s highly recommended to book your pla duk beforehand.

King Power Mahanakhon, The Standard, 76F, 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd., 02-085-8888

7 Soi Yen Akat 3. Open daily 5.30pm-10pm.

Tel. 087-344-8222

Soi 31 Inthamara 23 Alley, Samsen Nai

food & drink | open door

Thailand’s first cacao-centric bistro boasts all-day dining on Sukhumvit The buzz: Kad Kokoa’s founders Nuttaya and Paniti Junhasavasdikul have teamed up with young chefs from Bocuse d’Or Thailand. The seed of their recent collaboration sprouted into Thailand’s first cacao-centric bistro, 31 Degrees, where they add chocolate and cacao beans into everything.

almond, and cacao espuma foam, all of which are covered with the layers of cacao nibs French tuile and topped with sorbet.

Arriving there early? Try Devil May Cry (B260), a ham and cheese muffin stuffed with soft-boiled eggs served with Chanthaburi chocolate barbeque sauce.

The vibe: At first glance from the outside, 31 Degrees sports a look similar to typical Bangkok cafes with light-wood accented furniture. But inside, you can see the encased glass room where chefs work their magic. Head up to the second floor for more privacy.

The drinks: Fans of Kad Kokoa should know how decadent their chocolate drinks can be, and yet they still source their own single origin beans from growers across the kingdom.

Their new signature drinks, however, are more bold and fresh in both concept and presentation. Go for Cacao Cinema (B170), an espresso-blend featuring Chumphon cacao beans, or Cacao Red Berry (B170) made with homemade berry puree and frothy milk. They also whip up cacao cocktails, including Venti Elixir (B350) (gin infused chocolate from Prachuap Khriri Khan, Venti Amaro, bitters, and coconut essence), and Meet Me @31c (B320), a vodka-based cocktail infused with Chiangmai chocolate, toffee nut, cacao, and lemon juice, all topped with foam.

The food: Bocuse d’Or is basically an Olympics for cooking, so every dish is meticulously prepared and crafted to competition level. Start off with the organic beetroot carpaccio (B290) topped with soothing potato cream; the vinegar dressing lends a refreshing tang buffered by bitter cacao crumbles. If you want something more filling, go for their double filet crispy fish (B340), which arrives in an open-sandwich accompanied by shallots marinated in cacao juice to add a subtle sweetness. The star here, however, is the oven-roasted free-range baby chicken (B490) served alongside creamy polenta and mushrooms, in which the chef pours intensely rich Chumphon chocolate juice. Chocoholics should also try their Ultimate Chocolate, the chocolate tart filled with chewy chunks of brownies, roasted

Why we’d come back: We have been visiting them since day one; everytime we go, the menu evolves. And it’s not like we can taste dishes made by chefs from Bocuse D’or Thailand that often. This place also has some bold drinks, like cacao sparkling juice, that we want to try next. Porpor Leelasestaporn 235 5 Soi Sukhumvit 31, 081-007-8828

TABLE TALK

TETSU YAKINIKU BAR 1453 Phloen Chit Rd, 064-587-2421. Open daily 11am8pm Experience succulent grilled meat, Japanese style, at this premium yakiniku specialist run by a team of professional chefs with over 30-years of experience. The highlights include high quality meats imported straight from Japan, like omi Wagyu, as well as top-grade Thai-French beef.

Exclusively for Citi Credit Card members Get 10% discount for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Mercedes, Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred and Select Or Get 5% discount for other Citi Credit Cards on a la carte menu (regular price) (This privilege is for specified menu only. Excluding 10% service charge and 7% VAT)

1 Jun – 30 Nov ’22

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the last word | spicy hearts

Her father didn’t approve of her partner.

Their curry shop changed his mind In 2017, Chaloampol “Amy” Pimwan and her partner Sunil Kumar opened their Indian home dining spot to prove their romantic commitment to her father. But they didn’t just win over her father. Curry in Boxes, made on a small electric pan in their 50 square meter rented home in Charoenkrung, became an internet sensation.

Though the couple decided to stop welcoming patrons—due a lack of manpower and space—they are now selling their food via delivery. We spoke with Amy about their love life, her transitioning, and how Thai marriage equality laws promise a future for couples like them.

By Porpor Leelasestaporn

H

ow did you meet each other?

While backpacking in India, I stopped at a restaurant to order some food. I saw Sunil and his friends sitting next to my table, so I asked him to help me with the menu—even though I was fully aware of what was written. We exchanged our Whatsapp and kept in touch after I headed back to Thailand.

It was nothing special, except for the fact that I was still discovering my own sexuality. After coming back to Thailand, I started my hormone transition. And when we did a video call with each other, Sunil said, “You are not a man; you are a very beautiful woman.”

What was his family’s reaction when you met them?

They were surprisingly welcoming. When I went to his hometown Kaithal, Haryana, I was pretty nervous since that would be the first time since we had really met in person—aside from all those video calls. Sunil introduced me proudly as his girlfriend to his family, and they were all supportive. His mother even gave me her ring for our engagement.

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What was your family’s reaction?

Things didn’t go well with my family, especially for my father. Don’t get me wrong. My family has always known I’m not ‘straight’ and has been extremely open about it. But my transition may have been a bit too fast for them to handle. They knew I was attracted to men, but I never dressed up as a girl before. For months after meeting Sunil, I tried to grow out my hair and started feminizing hormone therapy. Even that didn’t shock them that much. My father never shunned me for who I was or who I was about to become. But when he learned that I had an Indian boyfriend, he was furious. Older people in Thailand usually have bad stereotypes about Indian people, calling them dirty khaek.

Looking back, I don’t think my father was that extreme but he’s overprotective because I’m transgender now.

For older generations, they believe men never fall in love with kathoey and are only here to take advantage of us.

Though it took time, things have smoothed between my father and Sunil. Now they are best buddies.

How did you start Curry in Boxes?

After hearing of the fight between my father and I, Sunil planned to bring me home with him to spend our lives together there. But I still had several responsibilities and financial burdens to take care of, not to mention the possibility that I couldn’t find a proper job in India.

So I tried to find ways for Sunil to earn enough money to prove to my father that we were really committed to one another.

Initially, we didn’t think about opening up the restaurant because I didn’t know that he could cook—not until his friends from India visited us. Turns out that Sunil had secret aspirations to become a chef. He didn’t think much about it because his family always wanted him to succeed on the farm, not open a restaurant.

Why do you think Thailand needs to pass marriage equality law as soon as possible?

For foreigners, if they are married to Thai women or men, all they need to do is register themselves as an official couple and they can all live freely here. But Sunil and I can’t do that, simply because we are not a straight couple.

It could have been much easier if I were born biologically female. Since we couldn’t do it the normal way, Sunil and I needed to seek out other visa options, like a work permit.

It’s this that I never understood. Since I hold legitimate citizenship in this country, I can’t see why I should be less eligible for rights to provide residence to my loved one just because we are different.

What do you think about transgender rights in Thailand?

I might be wrong, but personally trans people here have fewer things to worry about. We can see many transgender people rise to the top of organizations.

True, transgender students are being targeted for ridicule and bullied, but I think it is less and less common these days. Transgender rights might be even more basic: marriage equality or even gender recognition in official documents. We should have the choice to opt out of nai (Mr) and nangsao (Miss).

Any chance we can eat at your home-dining place again?

We’re planning to find a new place for our home-dining resto. The reason we paused back then was because I couldn’t handle working at both my full-time job and this place. The place should be more spacious and open for more reservations. So stay tuned.

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