BK Magazine 736 May4, 2018

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Drink milk.

Be thin.

BK MAGAZINE NO. 736 FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018. www.bkmagazine.com

Why Yen Akat, Suan Phlu and Nanglinchee make up the hottest hood in town right now

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page 3 6 cover story

Promised Land

What We’ve Learned

4 upfront

9 escapes

Age No Obstacle

Travel More

12 avenue

16 bites

Fully Furnished

Taco Meter

That household debt went up. Again.

It’s another week, so obviously there’s another story in the papers about how Bangkokians’ average household debt is higher than ever before. This had us very worried for all of 10 minutes before we got distracted by a scratch on our iPhone’s screen. Did you know you can get a new iPhone X for only, like, B4,000 a month?

17 bites

20 BK Now

Star Reviews

Here’s Harry

Who's in charge?

Managing Director & Publisher Andrew Hiransomboon Managing Editor Oliver Irvine Digital Director / Deputy Editor Carl Dixon Subeditor Mai Nardone Digital Content Coordinator Nontaya Kumyat Digital Content Assistant Pakchira Bunphol Writers Choltanutkun Tun-atiruj, Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley Junior Writer Kankanok Wichiantanon Art Director Vatanya Bongkotkarn Production Supervisor Komkrit Klinkaeo Graphic Designers Anunya Chobnitas, Wirankan Saiyasombut Photographer Poonsawat Suttama Video Designer Saranya Laowtrakul Videographer Nattapol Srisukh Junior Video Editor Pattanagorn Adirekkiat

Where to find us!

The Asia City Media Group

Advertising Director Wanida Akeapichai Sales Managers Tipkritta Chiraporncharas, Orajira Sukkasem Senior Sales Associates Tassanee Mahamad, Nattaya Bovornsettanon, Orakarn Laohakanjanasiri

Finance Manager Supaporn Bangmoung Assistant Finance Manager Anchalee Limkhamduang Senior Accountant Maneeya Kanthongdang Accountant Manita Bangmoung Admin Executive Yaovaluck Srisermsri Contributors Kathy MacLeod

Junior Marketing Executive Narabhutr Thaemsiri ASIA CITY STUDIO Managing Editor Dietrich Neu Associate Editor Sureepak Janyapat Senior Project Manager Chayanap Tongdadas Senior Developer Passzarkorn Youthasoontorn, Wasan Wangrach Project Coordinator Sirinart Panyasricharoen Assistant Art Director Ratchprapha Sunthornprasat Writer-Translator Tripop Leelasestaporn Junior Branded Content Writer Chakariya Cheewatara SOIMILK Editor Nathapong Suppavatee Senior Writer Rujiyatorn Choksiriwan Writer Theerada Moonsiri Brand Manager Onwara Sittirug Sales Associates Prawpraew Pairohg, Kornkanok Sriwaranant

Bangkok Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. 9/F, Sathorn Nakorn Tower 100 North Sathorn Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02-624-9696 Fax: 02-237-5656 Email: bkmagazine@asia-city.co.th

That David Thompson is leaving Nahm More fuel has been added to the fire of speculation that not all’s right at Nahm. First, long-time head chef Prin Polsuk jumped ship for a new project at the Edition. Now, the restaurant’s very own founder, David Thompson, has announced his departure from the Michelin-star-holding, Asia’s 50 Best mainstay in a statement to Australia’s Gourmet Traveller.

Interns Sirada Nimcharoenchaikul, Megan Leon Photo cover by Poonsawat Suttama

Asia City Media Group Chief Executive Officer Greg Duncan (gduncan@asiacity.net) Director Gretchen Worth (gworth@asia-city.co.th)

Singapore Asia City Publishing Pte. Ltd. Block 211 Henderson Rd. #07-02 Henderson Industrial Park Singapore 159552 Tel: 65-6323-2512 Fax: 65-6323-2779 Email: contact@asia-city.com.sg

That Sathorn’s hidden new cafe whips out floral creations Perched atop an old office building, Too Good for You (goo. gl/GSkSYg) requires squeezing into a tiny, old elevator and basically holding your breath for eight floors. Once there, you need to take a very narrow staircase up another floor.

The trek’s totally worth it, though, as you’ll eventually arrive at a pink-walled space crawling with greenery. The tea and soda drinks also come teeming with flowers, most of which are edible—be sure to ask which is which before chowing down.

That there’s a new park being built right by CentralWorld Six point four hectares isn’t much, but it’s enough to get excited about when it represents a new park for Bangkok— and one right in the center of the city. The Royal Crown Property Bureau is transforming a plot of land in central Bangkok into Pathumwananurak Park, which will celebrate the life of former King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Currently under construction, the park’s crowning feature will be a lawn cut into the Thai symbol for nine, in honor of King Rama 9.

That 72 Courtyard 4.0 is upon us After only a brief, eight-month existence, 72 Courtyard’s gaming arcade-meets-Korean fusion restaurant Hope Land is set to go the way of Rocket, Little Bao and Lady Brett some time this month. Replacing it will be Carbar, an Italian restaurant-slash-wine bar with a carb-heavy menu dedicated to Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta.

BK “Asia City Living” Magazine is edited by Andrew Hiransomboon and published 51 times a year, every Friday of each month by Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. Copyright ©2016 Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. The titles “BK Magazine,” “BK ‘Asia City Living’ Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of BK “Asia City Living” Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Article reprints are available for B50 each. The magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. 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 Comform Co.,Ltd. 212 Moo 13 Krungthepkreetha Rd., Saphansoong, Bangkok 10250

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@bkmagazine BK Magazine Friday, May 4, 2018

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upfront HOT OR NOT

Hot: Utilities

Not: Landlords

If you’ve ever lived in a cheap Bangkok apartment, you’ll know what it’s like being charged more for electricity than your monthly rent. But thanks to new laws, the practice of hiking up utility prices is supposed to be at an end—and our city’s landlords aren’t happy about it. You see this dot: · That’s how little sympathy we have for them. twitter.com/etedairy

Hot: Fish sauce ice cream

Not: Japanese ice cream

Remember all the excitement when Glico came to town? Man that feels like a lifetime ago. Anyway, who cares about Giant Cones anymore—there’s a new ice-cream trend in 7-Eleven and it’s local. Ete’s new mango-and-fish-sauce ice cream tastes as disgusting as it sounds, but that hasn’t stopped Bangkok going crazy for it. Check page 9 for more ice-cream weirdness.

Hot: Milk powder

Not: Slimming potions

“Drink it and you’ll be thin!” Coming from the voice of scientific authority that is Ying Yae Teerawatanasuk, who would’ve guessed this might turn out to be bullshit? So far, 15-and-counting celebs have been caught pedalling milk powder as a slimming serum. We pity the hard lives of our influencer community.

Hot: Tacos

Not: Hard-shell tacos

We have it on the good authority of a Mexican here—OK, we have it on the good authority of a half-Mexican—OK, OK, we have it on the good authority of a half-Mexican who grew up in California but often went to visit her family down south of the border—where you can find Bangkok’s most-authentic tacos. But we promise you she really does know a lot about food, and that her taco opinions are second to none. First rule: hard-shell tacos are out. Turn to page 16 to find out the rest.

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

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INTERVIEW The opening of the new Ikea Bang Yai store has brought with it the unexpected feelgood story of Sornchai “Dom” Upparamai, 71. Eleven years after retiring from at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Uncle Dom spotted a mass-recruitment ad for Ikea on Facebook. Following two interviews, he was rewarded with a sales staff job. Now he’s a viral internet star who champions the value of older workers. We visited him at his workplace to discuss his newfound career and notoriety.

What did you get up to after you retired?

I picked up a few small jobs here and there. One of them was at a private company where I saw quite obvious corruption. I couldn’t stand that so I quit after a year. I also became a monk for five months. I was a taxi driver for a bit but I didn’t know how to use Google Maps so I lost money every day getting lost.

Do you like working here?

Everyone here is so lovely and that makes me feel better about my age and my life. I’ve been working since I was 11 when I wanted to buy my own football gear. That’s one way I can relate to Ingvar Kamprad [Ikea’s founder], as he started working when he was seven.

Can you walk us through your day of work?

I’m responsible for returning the items that customers decide not to buy at the last minute to the right aisle. I make sure all products have the correct price tags and that the place is neat and clean. I also guide customers on how they can have their products delivered to their home.

What do your children and grandchildren think of this?

My son who owns a restaurant in Australia said to me, “dad, what did you do, you’re famous now?”

What do customers think of you?

Everyone seems to want to talk to me and that makes me want to improve myself, as I am at their service. There are also so many people who recognize me from Facebook and ask me for selfies. A lot of people also ask me how I got the job here. One customer brought her father to meet me and said, “this is the man who I told you about.” Another senior customer said I have inspired her to keep working and that she wants to apply for a job, too.

So far, I’ve only ever met one customer who was rude to me, but I just kept smiling at her.

Do you feel that other staff treat you any differently?

Everyone is always so nice to me and so eager to teach me stuff. I can be the typical old person who forgets easily and they have to teach me again and again, and they are so patient with me. I came from a completely different job background and knew literally nothing about this business, but they

are all so patient with me. Without these people I wouldn’t still be here. If I wasn’t happy, I wouldn’t force myself to be here.

What do you like most about working here?

When I first started, the younger generation would always ask me, “Uncle Dom, you’re old, why are you still working?” I think Thai society needs to change that mindset. Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you can’t work or that you have to wait for your children to give you money. It gives me purpose. I’m not bored and I want to come here to work. When I’m not working, I wake up with no plans and that makes me more stressed than having to work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

If I’m not working here, I just watch TV, read or go to the temple or library.

That’s pretty much it. I could go to a shopping mall but I feel embarrassed about just walking around a shopping mall as an old person, so I only go when I absolutely have to. I also like going to the park to exercise.

Choltanutkun Tun-atiruj

by Kathy MacLeod (IG: @kathy_macleod)

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Green Streets Why all the fuss about about Yen Akat, Suan Phlu and Nanglinchee? Here's why.

By Megan Leon

S

uan Phlu is like the residential bedrock of Lower Sathorn—close enough to the BTS to be convenient; far enough away to keep prices down. Blessed with street food, coffee bars and cocktail lounges, it’s also one of the city’s most livable streets. But its neighbors are catching up quickly. Soi Yen Akat feels like a magnet for bars and restaurants right now, while the road that connects the two, Nanglinchee, is no stranger to new businesses either. Do they represent the hottest part of town right now? We think so, and here’s why.

Yen Akat

Leafy, residential and long loved by French expats, Soi Yen Akat has spent the last two years welcoming hot new restaurants (Suhring) and coffee empires (Yarden). Here’s where you need to know.

Coffee & Breakfast

Coffee Craftsman

Breakfast on this street happens in a 70-yearold wooden house dating back to the Rama 7 era. Now transformed into the Coffee Craftsman cafe (Yarden, 30 Yen Akat Rd., 02-2490180), you come here for open-face sandwiches (start the day with Sloane’s baconand-egg, B260) and beans sourced from local micro-roasters. Not into coffee? They have a great line of Thai tea drinks, like the Craftsmen Refreshment (B125), which features Chiang Mai black tea sweetened with lemongrass syrup.

Lunch & Dinner

Cagette

Cactus

www.zensemassage.com

Zense Spa

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New to the Yen Akart scene, Cagette Canteen and Deli (15 Yen Akat Rd., 02-249-1684) is this neighborhood’s answer to El Mercado.

The downstairs restaurant does simple dishes from a chalkboard (escargots de Bourgogne, B490; mixed platters of imported seafood, B990) while the deli above exhibits all the usual charcuterie, cheeses and jarred things.

They’re neighbored by good company. Infusion (5/1 Yen Akat Rd., 02-249-5572) serves burgers (B285) that live up to their dry-aging claims—juicy, fatty and ground to ensure proper, steak-like bite. A few doors down, Link Cuisine (19 Yen Akat Rd., 02-077-4804) is all polished industrial-chic and Asian-Italian fusion cuisine. Thinking Thai? From street stall to shop-house and now to four-story townhouse, there’s no ending in sight for the Eats Payao (5/4 Yen Akat Rd., 097-2656410) feelgood story. Highly recommended is the khao soi with chicken (B145), egg noodles in a creamy coconut milk-based gravy with crispy noodles. And then there’s the one that goes without saying. After winning Top Tables’ Best Restaurant in 2017 and 2018, and pulling off a recent no. 4 place at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, twin chefs Thomas and

Mathias Suhring (10 Yen Akat Soi 3, 02-2871799) have created a landmark. Skip the a la carte and dive straight for one of the tasting menus—Klassiker starts at B2,900 and includes upmarket takes on currywurst and pork knuckle, while Erlebnis spotlights the chefs’ most up-to-date creations, starting at B3,800.

Drinks The strip has just welcomed its first genuine cocktail bar—and what a space! Sanya Souvanna Phouma (who gave Bangkok Bed Supperclub, Maggie Choo’s and Sing Sing) has created Cactus (15 Yen Akat Rd., 02-2491451), Yen Akat’s answer to a mid-century Palm Springs lounge bar. Think dusty fire-pits, warm-wood seating modules, views framed by palm trees and a list of on-theme cocktails created by (who else?) Joseph Boroski (B250500). The fact that it sits right above Cagette deli means good food’s also at hand.

Visit French nationals Frederic Meyer (Issaya Siamese Club, Kom-Ba-Wa, Namsaah Bottling Trust) and diplomat Jeremy Opitresco created one of the most striking galleries in town when they opened the huge white space that is Yen Akart Villa Art Gallery (69 Soi Prasat Suk, Yen Akat Rd., 081 -554-1199) in mid-2015. The multi-purpose gallery hosts monthly exhibitions from artists that are experienced or emerging, Thai (mostly) or international (with generally strong connections to Thailand). You can also unwind at Zense Spa (30 Yen Akat Rd., 02-249-0184), which joins the Yarden Yenakat community to offer head-to-toe body massage programs starting from B350 per hour from behind a bamboo frontage.

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cover story Nanglinchee Saawaan

The four-lane-wide Nanglinchee Road is no picture to look at, but down its side streets you’ll not only find amazing croissants and one of our favorite khao gaeng places, but also some cool little shops.

Amantee Fb: Gardenatlas

Coffee shops, fine-dining restaurants and celebrity-endorsed bars—Suan Phlu has it all, except, perhaps, a close BTS station.

Smalls

Coffee & Breakfast Garden Atlas

Birds

Coffee & Breakfast

Drinks

French bread craftsmen Jonathan Valdman and Benoit Fradette service a who’s who of Bangkok cafe’s with bread and croissants from their bakery Amantee (2240/12-13 Chan Kao Rd., 02-678-1300). Organic flour and a laborious fermentation time result in beautiful baguettes (B85) and buttery croissants (B55). Don’t miss the Tango a la Tanche (B85), which has black olives, manchego cheese and garlic cream—crispy, chewy and full of flavor.

Opening its doors at 7am, the venue is well worth the trek down the quiet soi.

There’s no writing up Nanglinchee as a nightlife neighborhood (head over to Suan Phlu if you want that sort of action) but there is one little bar that’s got us excited. Taking over the petite shop-house formerly belonging to Eats Payo (see page 6), Saka Izakaya (95/7 Nanglinchee Rd., 099-294-7879) doles out Japanese comfort food and icy Asahi in a low-light atmosphere.

Lunch & Dinner Wherever you turn on the concise menu French-run bistro Birds (Soi Amon, Nang Linchi Rd., 095-594-6675), there’s no escaping its rotisserie-roasted, locally reared birds—always perfectly moist and soft (whole, B790; half, B430; quarter, B280).

If what you’re wanting is local, then head straight to Too Gub Khao Khong Mae (43 Nanglinchee Rd., 089-900-3890). Southern transplant Alex Sutcharit spoons coconut curries made using his mother’s hand-pounded curry pastes onto GMO-free jasberry rice.

The Suhring twins call it their favorite khao gaeng in the city.

Visit Given a green lick of paint, the Garden Atlas (95/14 Nang Linchi Rd., 097 246 7547) shophouse now looks like something torn from the pages of Kinfolk. The shop sells mainly small plants and the pottery to store them in (from B120 for a tiny cactus and B100 for a pastel-color pot)—perfect for when you finally get around to doing up your apartment. Nestled in a three-story white house in the Sathorn-Narathiwas area, Beatroot (1747/9 Chan Kao Rd., 081-833-4554) is a charming all-in-one wellness and beauty complex. Run by a group of young health enthusiasts, headed by the second-generation owners of Bliss Spa (which used to occupy the same spot), the venue offers coconut oil head massage (B550/60 min), two-hour spa packages (around B1,500) and yoga and Pilates (B600/class).

There’s no shortage of iced coffee stands trailing the length of Suan Phlu, but we’d like to spotlight a couple of places. At Cafe Neighbor (466/23 Suan Phlu Rd., 089-767-3720) the focus is on local beans from Doi Chang, Pha Ee, Nan and Laos' Bolaven Plateau, with an espresso setting you back B50. Come the weekend, you’ll be competing with a lot of other locals for one of the tiny space’s few seats, but their lemon-and-blueberry cake (B75) make it worth it. On the other side of the street, New Yorker-Bangladeshi couple Porag and Lillian Alam have brought chewy-crusty sourdoughs, flaky croissants and bagels that would do Brooklyn proud to the neighborhood at Holey Kitchen (39/17 Suan Phlu Rd., 02-286-1549). Start the day with an NYP sandwich (Sloane’s beef pastrami, whole grain mustard, pickles and cheddar cheese, B400). As with all excellent cafes, the place is primed for people watching.

Lunch & Dinner The huge success of cheap steak specialist Arno’s (186/69 Suan Phlu Rd., 02-286-3008) is well-merited. Skip the burger joint next door (too fatty, too rich) and go straight for the famously pocket-friendly, 75-day dry-aged tomahawk (B1,400/kg). Breizh Crepes (459/59 Suan Phlu Soi 8, 02-679-3393) is just one of many Francophile businesses in the area. Go for the galettes, which use real buckwheat flour and cost B239 with ham, egg and emmental cheese.

There’s also Loulou Forks & Glasses(459/61 Suan Phlu Rd., 095-496-1142) for fresh salads, steaks and seafood, and Kutai (178/1 Suan Phlu Rd., 063-541-9242) for oyster parties and mussels glazed in butter and white wine. For

when the occasion calls for special, Saawaan (39/19 Suan Phlu Rd., 02-679-3775) reinvents fermented beef salads, crab fat dips, grilled pork neck and spicy-sour soups as delicate tasting portions that compete with the top tier of Bangkok fine dining. For the fixed price of B1,950 , it’s one of the city’s most essential dining experiences right now. And good news: El Mercado.

Drinks This one needs no introduction. Owner David Jacobson’s eclectic bohemian drinking den, Smalls (178/1 Suan Phlu Rd., 095-585-1398), doesn’t just entertain half the head chefs and sommeliers in town, it also welcomes Hollywood bigwigs (who spotted Josh Hartnett propping up the bar recently?). Next door, Junker and Bar (454 Suan Phlu Rd., 085-100-3608) was one of the first places on the scene for the rebirth of Suan Phlu as a hip, low-rent alternative to Sathorn Soi 10-12. Its recipe is part WTF (crowds drinking on the street outside), part Escapade (hefty-sized, no-nonsense burgers), and after 8pm on any given evening you’ll be lucky to get a seat right away. Try owner Bard Passapong’s vast list of house-infused gins (starting B220).

Visit Suan Phlu is even blessed to have that rarest of things in Bangkok: an independent bookstore with books you actually want to buy. The chic white Fathom Bookspace (572/3 Suan Phlu Rd., 096-935-3642) offers Thai and English titles that skew towards deep-thinking, sociological topics, but you’ll also find a library’s worth of novels to read in-house over a cup of tea or beer.

The Residents I What makes Sathorn better than Sukhumvit?

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VASINEE JITNIYOMKH, 37

CHRISTINE GERLIER, 43

NGUYEN THI LAN ANH, 38

Manager of a petrochemical firm Lives on: Yen Akat

Managing Partner of an art-design consultancy Lives on: Suan Phlu

UN Employee Lives on: Suan Phlu

“I’ve always preferred the energy of Sathorn—where I grew up—over Sukhumvit.

The area has an alluring juxtaposition of traditional and new. I love its fine shops and restaurants.”

"I am a nature lover. Sathorn is close to Lumphini Park and the Chao Phraya River. I used to live in Paris and Suan Phlu/ Yen Akat remind me of typical Parisian arrondissements equipped with local markets, bakeries, butcher, everything just a short walk away.”

“First of all, the openness—I can actually see the sky with no Skytrain running along it. Being primarily a business district, Sathorn becomes pretty peaceful on the weekend, but there are plenty of choices for groceries and to eat out.”

BK Magazine Friday, May 4, 2018

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escapes ESCAPE ROUTES

By Kankanok Wichiantanon

CHIANG MAI

Feeling Fresh After a major revamp, Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa in Chiang Mai (www.rarinjinda. com) is back bigger and better than ever. Atop the four-story building sit four Thaistyle villas for those seeking extreme privacy. However, the traditional decor belies treatments which utilize the most modern onsen and hydrotherapy technologies, while of course classic Thai massage is also on offer. Packages last anything from 1-4 hours—try the 40-minute Splashy Hydropool Massage (B1,500 for an hour and a half), which sees your whole body massaged by warm jets of water from a series of eight-station shower heads in a big indoor swimming pool.

PHUKET

Sweet Retreat Making tom yum kung ice cream taste good takes the work of a specialist. Phuket Town’s new Thaivetro (www.fb.com/Thaivetro.oldtown) icecream parlor dishes out crazy flavors like wasabi and charcoal not just to giggling tour groups but also locals thanks to the unrivaled creaminess of its in-house techniques. The bright-red shop adorned in dragon motifs looks like a tattoo studio until you spot the glasstopped cases displaying some 40 flavors (B89 a scoop), yours to be enjoyed in crispy yet chewy waffle cones that are earning rave social-media reviews (hot IG tip: the “flamingo” topping). If tom yum ice cream’s not your thing, they’ve got all the classics from vanilla to chocolate, too.

MALDIVES

Star Gazing The Anantara Kihavah (kihavah-maldives.anantara.co.th) made its name with super-luxurious private pool villas set on stilts over perfect, azure waters.

The resort’s latest addition, however, asks that you turn your attention to the night sky. The aptly named Sky overwater observatory combines a glitzy cocktail bar and research-grade 16” Meade LX200 telescope. Thanks to the resort’s location just above the equator, star gazers can enjoy both the Northern and Southern hemispheres’ full natural light shows, with guidance from an on-site “sky guru.” Ponder the vastness of the universe with one of the bar’s signature island cocktails in hand. On offer now till Dec 22 is the “Stars & Sky” package starting at B49,860 per night (minimum three consecutive nights), which includes private session with the sky guru, massages, cinema under the stars and round-trip seaplane transfers from Male Airport.

CHINA

Shrouded in Mist The northeastern province of Henan’s ultra-modern Yanling Jianye The Mist Hot Spring Hotel (goo.gl/F9SL7R) is designed by Thailand’s own Department of Architecture (TCDC, The Commons). While the hotel takes its name from the mist that rises off the property’s two large hot springs, just as mood-enriching is the all-glass exterior that constantly changes in color. Inside, the 51 guest rooms and suites (from B11,906/night) are decked out in a calming blend of neutral creamy colors and blond-wood furniture. This vibe extends throughout the hotel, which is packed with spa treatment rooms, hot stone beds and over 20 private hot spring baths in which to soak and de-stress. The nearest airport is Zhengzhou Xinzheng, 54km away, from which Bangkok is a three-hour flight.

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SHOPPING

Another Mini Story If you’re a fan of EmQuartier’s hip multi-label store Another Story, good news: they now have a Siam Paragon branch. Located in the third-floor BeTrend zone, Another Mini Story gathers cool designer products, stationery, home decor and fashion items just like its main branch, only this time in a smaller kiosk size.

Here, you’ll find tech like Australian phone accessories specialist Native Union (B2,790 for an iPhone case), Urbanears headphones (B3,490 for the Plattan ADV Wireless), and Macbook Air 13” and Pro 13” cases from Wouf (B3,300). Fashion comes from local and international brands, like Bangkok’s Brainwashed Theory (B950 for T-shirts) and France’s Izipizi eyewear (B1,500). Keep an eye out for the stylish wine accessories of L’Atelier Du Vin. 3/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-003-6138-9. Open daily 10am-9pm. BTS Siam

fb.com/atmos.bangkok/photos

NEW COLLECTION

JEWELRY

SHOPPING

Tropical Paradise

Mother Nature

Pump It

One takeaway from Bangkok International Fashion Week: silk is the “It” fabric this spring/summer. And when it comes to Thai silk, you can’t go past Jim Thompson, whose latest collection takes inspiration from various Southeast Asian cultures. Nature motifs are translated into vertical lines and warm colors, while bold, geometrical shapes hint at a modern, city vibe. Kimonos and silk pajamas (from B5,000) made from hand-spun silk paired with wide-leg pants, kaftans, cropped tops and mini dresses cover both casual and business looks for women, while men’s include the trench coat, silk blazers, tropical-print shirts and embroidered kimonos (from B6,500). 3/F, Emporium, 622 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-664-8617. Open daily 10am-9pm. BTS Phrom Phong

Scrolling through the Instagram feed of Patcharavipa, you’d think you were looking at one of those chic, minimal Scandinavian jewelry brands made famous by jet-setting fashion editors and bloggers. They’re actually the work of Nai Lert Park heiress Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura, whose creations consist of earthy necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets crafted from gemstones and rare, natural materials. Her new collection “Ginkgo Metricism” presents bold, geometrical pieces inspired by Japanese gingko leaves, while “Tushroom” highlights arm cuffs, earrings, cuff rings and necklaces with hand-printed textures. G/F, Bhakdi Building, 2/2 Wireless Rd., 02-255-5955. Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm. BTS Phloen Chit www.patcharavipa.com

Sneakerheads, drop everything. Atmos, one of Japan’s most prominent streetwear and sneaker boutiques, has just arrived at CentralWorld. This Tokyo-hailing chain is known for its exclusive sneakers and in-house labels, and Atmos Bangkok should be no different. From Nike and Adidas to Puma and Asics, the big brands are all covered, as well as some highly-coveted collaborations, such as The 10: Off White x Nike Air Vapor Max Flyknit (B8,500) and Nike Air Max 95 Atmos “We Love Nike” pack, which includes two Air Max 95 colorways, a rework of an Air Max 1 and an Air Max 90. Bangkok is only the third city outside Japan to welcome an Atmos store. 2/F, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.fb.com/atmos.bangkok

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SEAFOOD BUFFET AT SKYLINE. That’s what matters to me.

Dive into a sumptuous seafood buffet at Skyline. From blue crab to fresh Normandy oysters, there’s so much to discover every weekend.

Tuck into your favourites, prepared to your liking by Chef Slava, as live music enter tains. Sample as much seafood at Skyline with river city views with family and friends.

Skyline Restaurant, 11th floor Every Friday and Saturday, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm THB 1,350++ per person, THB 675++ per child aged 4 - 12 years Prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax.

For more information and reservations, please call +66 (0) 2431 9100 Ext. 2420 FOR 7 DAYS ONLY, FRIEND US TO GET 50% SAVINGS. Scan this QR code and receive an e-coupon, available from 4 - 10 May 2018.

AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel, 257 Charoennakorn Road, Thonburi, Bangkok 10600, Thailand T +66 (0) 2431 9100 E riverside.bangkok@avanihotels.com avanihotels.com

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avenue Check out these Design Excellence Award (DEmark) winning goods

HOME

Modern Living

Natural beauty and mid-century modern design dominated this year’s Style Bangkok Fair 2018. Here are our picks. By Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley

METAMORPHOSIS

Cocoon Lamp by Silk Cocoon Handicraft www.nongmathai.thailandmail.net

JUST TWIST

Bamboo basket by Borriboon Craft Co., Ltd. www.fb.com/bamboocenter1978

Klaps Design

Deesawat

Egg White Design Studio

What: While Klaps Design’s new collection focuses on light wood furniture such as sideboard tables, work desks and long benches, our favorite pick from this contemporary-slash-mid-modern collection is the “Billy Chair.” With its plush, dark olive green leather and classic, understated look, it could come straight out of Mad Men. Price: B8,600 Get yours at: www.fb.com/KlapsDesignOfficial or 089-898-9689

What: One of Thailand’s best-known wooden furniture companies (alive and kicking since 1972) stepped it up this year with their eco-friendly “Co-Green” outdoor collection. We can totally see the “Green Lamp” collection in some Phuket resort, but it’ll also go well in your living room—striking and natural, reflecting artificial light off the plant for a soft effect.

Price: B22,000 Get yours at: Dees Showroom, 11 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-204-0547. www.deesawat.com

What: Serious Muji vibes aren’t the only thing we’re picking up from Egg White’s clean aesthetic. Local para wood makes this made-to-order furniture look like it belongs here. The “Match Box” table has multiple drawers, while the “Perd” console makes room for both your massive TV and coffee-table books.

Price: B11,000 for Match Box table and B8,900 for Perd TV Console Get yours at: www.eggwhitedesign.com or 088554-5156

FLOW & GLOW LIPAO

Climbing Fern Bags by Boonyarat Thai Craft www.boonyarat.com

MANI

Wooden tray by Niiq www.niiqshop.com

12 COLLECTION PLANT POT

Self-watering plant pot by Fem www.fem-ceramics.com 4

Curio

Cane

Mobella

What: Simplicity, sophistication and functionality scream loud and clear from this minimal furniture brand, whose focus is on quality wood pieces with clean lines and no-fuss design. We like the “Butler” tray table for its handsome, dark wood color and sleek looks—subtle art piece meets vintage cocktail table in your living room.

Price: B10,500 Get yours at: Podium, Urbaan Home Building, 249 Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-693-8998. www.podium.co.th

What: We’re big fans of Cane’s Southeast Asian, colonial stuff this season. Think 17th century colonial; think weaves. The design of Atelier 2+ (manufactured

by Podium) also gives the ash wood furniture a tropical, voyeuristic vibe twisted with some kind of ‘50s sensibility. Whether you want your home to have the airy loft look or urban sophistication, any piece from this collection will work.

Price: B9,900 for the chair, B72,000 for the screen Get yours at: Podium, Urbaan Home Building, 249 Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-693-8998

What: Yes, most of it looks like it belongs in a bachelor pad, and yes, some of its older chair collections did look like the last seats anyone would choose to sit in. But check out the “Takraw” stool, inspired by Thai weaving techniques and played out in earthy colors (don’t worry, the fabric’s removable) for a friendly look. The “Krong” sidetable’s metal frame, glass top side and gold accents are pure extravagance.

Price: B3,700 for the stool Get yours at: www.mobella.co.th or 02-693-7889

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WC PEEC

Portable toilet in car by WC Plus+ www.wcplusthailand.com

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bites & blends

NEW MENU

Democratic Rule 80/20 (fifth best restaurant in Top Tables 2018) has just launched their new summer menu and it looks stellar.

Head chef Napol Jantraget has laid down the challenge to kitchen cohorts Treerawat Lukhan, Apis Jesadaporn and Ronnachai Singnuan to present dishes that are not typically Thai, but which put an emphasis on the big and bold flavors loved by locals. A case in point: Treerawat and Apis’s Hokkaido scallop (B420), which is served with poached onion, lychee, ginger-flowerand-mint gel, daikon, homemade yogurt and lychee vinaigrette. Another fun starter, Ronnachai’s “Kung Foo Salad” (B340) dresses red tail catfish in seasonal herbs and greens, wild almonds and fermented crab sauce.

For your main, “A Bowl of Childhood Memories” (B360) includes garlic rice, egg yolk, spicy pork jam, soy pickled mushroom, dehydrated enoki, crispy white egg, local herbs and pork consume. Wash it down with the Isan Syndrome (B330)—pepper, dill, chili, papaya, guava and Mekhong whiskey. 1052-1054 Charoenkrung Soi 26, 099-118-2200. Open Wed-Sun 6pm-midnight; Mon 6pm-midnight

NEW BRUNCH

DINNER SERIES

BUTCHER SHOP

Back to the Roots

Gut Instinct

Got Meat?

Sathorn's new-American restaurant Bunker is stepping into the Sunday brunch game. Filipino/American head chef Arnie Marcella goes back to his roots with an all-new Philippines-inspired menu offering classic dishes he had as a child. The set price of B1,200 lets you feast on dishes like mackerel kinilaw, a raw fish dish similar to ceviche that uses coconut, lemongrass and Manila tamarind. Escabeche—a pan-roasted fish served in a sauce of roasted peppers and onions—sits alongside the braised pork-and-chili goodness that is dinuguan as the menu’s highlights. Available on Sundays 11:30am-2:30pm. 118/2 Sathorn Soi 12, 092-563-9991.

Open daily 5:30pm-midnight

Japan, that land of functional food, is the inspiration for a new monthly dinner series dubbed Probiotic Chef’s Table. Takashi Hirasawa, founder of Bangkok health-food supplier Lacto-Life, teams up with chef Bunn “Ik” Borriboon, of Iron Chef fame, to offer five courses rich with the kind of good bacteria and yeasts (think yogurt, cheese and kombucha) that strengthen your immune system. The next gathering takes place on May 5, limited to only 10 diners at lunch (B1,900) or dinner (B3,000). Following a fresh and fermented theme, your meal’s kept a bit of a secret but you can expect cured salmon and silky tofu panna cotta. The next round is on Jun 2. Probiotic Home Lab, 53 Watthana Tham Rd., next to Isuzu Showroom, 081-833-4554, 063-954-9942

Joe Sloane, Bangkok’s sausage-maker extraordinaire, has set up a butcher shop in Thonglor, joining the sprawling Viva Thonglor complex. At Sloane’s Thonglor you’ll find a range of ethically-sourced produce beyond which you usually find in Villa or Gourmet Market freezer. On top of the classic pork and apple (B58/100g) and chorizo (B58/100g) sausages, expect plenty of cured meats and cheeses. Definitely worth your while is the pastrami (B100/100g) and pistachio mortadella (B60/100g), to go with truffle brie (B295/100g) and cottage cheese (B195/250g).

They also carry specialty cuts of beef, all prepped on the spot.

Viva Thonglor, 387 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-398-2294/5.

Open daily 9am-8pm

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CELEBRATE JAPAN’S TRADITIONAL BOYS’ FESTIVAL AT YAMAZATO 30 April - 20 May 2018 Celebrate the Japanese Tango no Sekku Boys’ Festival at Michelin Plate restaurant Yamazato with a choice of special Gozen lunch platters comprising starter, soup, sashimi, tempura and grilled, and simmered dishes. Also available is a wonderful multi-course Kaiseki dinner featuring seasonal Japanese delicacies.

Gozen lunch, Baht 1,300 per person Kaiseki dinner, Baht 4,500 per person Available daily from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. /6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Yamazato is located on the 24th floor of The Okura Prestige Bangkok.

For more information and reservations, please contact 02 687 9000 or email yamazato@okurabangkok.com Prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax.

Park Ventures Ecoplex, 57 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 T. 02 687 9000 F. 02 687 9001 E. info@okurabangkok.com okurabangkok.com facebook.com/theokuraprestigebangkok

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bites PARTIES

Cinco de Mayo Celebrate the day of Mexican cultural pride (May 5) with food and booze.

MEXICANO

Drinks starting at B150, a live Latin band and a DJ set to round out the night. Free entry, 8pm-late.

19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100 LA MONITA

A barbecue from chefs Chalee Kader (100 Mahaseth) and M auricio Ro sales (El Osito), plus discounted booze and live DJ. Free entry, 5-11pm. Mahutan Plaza, 888/25-26 Phloen Chit Rd., 02650-9581

MEXICAN

Taco Time

From tortilla to mouthwatering toppings, we break down Bangkok’s absolute best tacos in time for Cinco de Mayo on May 5. By Megan Leon

REVOLUCION The Missing Burro

Barrio Bonito

The Missing Burro

Who: The Commons’ Koh Chang blow-in, decked out with Day of the Dead skulls.

Who: From a shipping containPICK! er-turned-kitchen, two Mexican brothers serve up traditional Yucatan cuisine to a sprinkling of tables in the garden.

Who: Danish microbrewery Mikkeller runs this Ari restaurant specializing in tacos. It’s a rainbow-colored, fun-loving kind of a place—all Latino music, airy vibes and beer swilling.

The Tortillas: Sourced from El Charro.

The Tortillas: Currently out-sourced, but they’re planning to make their own soon.

The Tortillas: Mostly sourced through El Charro (see box: “Know Your Tortilla”), though they regularly use homemade versions in specials.

Get this: The best-selling tacos de barbacoa (B200) has seven-hour slow-cooked lamb marinated in ancho chili paste with fresh coriander and onion, but we suggest the lip-smacking tacos placeros (B180), in which corn tortillas are filled with beans, salsa fresca, Mexican crumbled cheese and crispy pork rinds, served with a side of avocado mousse.

G/F, The Commons, 335 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-712-7832.

Open Daily 11am-11:30pm

Charley Browns Who: The former Suk 11 stalwart now at Asoke.

The decor’s as vibrant as always, while the menu’s packed with Tex-Mex favorites and booze deals.

The Tortillas: Perhaps the only place that uses Maseca corn flour and a traditional cast iron tortilla press.

BK

Get This: The panuchos de cochinita (B300/5 pieces) are a true taste of Mexico; corn tortillas filled with a Yucatan-style roasted pork marinated in achiote, sour orange and spices then cooked slowly within a banana leaf to seal everything in. The shredded pork is topped with briny red pickled onion, sliced, orange chilis and a small side of refried beans.

145 Thonglor Soi 7, 090-913-2131. Open Daily 5-11pm

La Monita Who: Sukhumvit’s enduring favorite for an afterwork burrito and beer. The vivid decor gives every indication of the super-flavorful quesadillas and tacos on offer.

The Tortillas: The corn tortillas are made in-house and have a pliable texture perfect for rolling up.

El Charro’s flour tortillas are no let-down either.

Get This: Chicken taquitos (B165/4 pieces), amazing rolled tacos filled with spicy, pulled chicken then deep-fried until crisp. Order a side of guacamole (B95) for dipping. The tacos de la baja (beer-battered fried fish, B130), are another good bet.

Get This: For something authentic, go for the carne asada taco Mexi-style (B135) with tender, flavorful New Zealand rib eye steak and chopped white onion and cilantro on a soft corn tortilla — just like you’d find on the street in Mexico. The carne asada taco Cali-style (B175) adds guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese.

G/F, iCheck Inn Hotel, 19/9-10 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-044-2553. Open Mon 5pm-midnight; Tue-Sun noon-midnight. BTS Asoke

888/25-26 Ploen Chit Road, 02-651-5605 Other branches: EmQuartier, Siam Paragon

El Mariachi Who: Formerly located way out on Srinakarin, this husband-and-wife team recently brought their home-style meals to On Nut’s Habito mall.

The Tortillas: Made in-house from beginning to end, including the process of nixtamalization (a method of soaking corn in an alkaline solution to improve nutritional quality).

Slanted Taco Who: Part of the Suk 23 commune home to Whisgars cigar lounge and Craft beer terrace, this restaurant has a happening cantina vibe, complete with vibrant murals and a thumping Latino club soundtrack The Tortillas: Made in-house, the corn tortillas are deliciously pliable, but not recommended for delivery as they quickly turn to mush.

Get This: The beef barbacoa (B290/4 pieces) is the big winner: corn or flour tortillas with a generous helping of slow-cooked beef, topped with onion, cilantro, lime and homemade salsa.

Get This: Chorizo tacos (B200/3 pieces), flavor-packed Mexican chorizo (fresh pork sausage seasoned with ground chilies and spices) topped with melted cheese inside a small corn tortilla.

1/F, Habito Mall, Soi On Nut 1/1, 09-179-6429. Open daily 11am-midnight

16 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-258- 0546. Open daily 11am-midnight

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Tacochela

Get This: You can’t go wrong with the grilled shrimp tacos (B280), served with freshly diced pineapple, corn and creamy chili sauce. Head over there on Tuesdays to get B50 discount on tacos and selected beers.

Ari Samphan Soi 1, 02-101-4962. Open Daily 5-11pm

Tacos & Salsa Who: Bright and bold describes not only the decor, but also the food. Tacos & Salsa also just opened a second branch right by BTS On Nut, too.

The Tortillas: Sourced from El Charro.

Get This: Forget the hit-and-miss service and tuck into an all-timer like the baja fish tacos (B270) with fried or grilled fish, cabbage, salsa and a creamy chipotle dressing.

21/3 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-663-6366 250/2 Sukhumvit Soi 77, 02-015-2682. BTS On Nut

Mexicano Who: Formerly Senor Pico, Rembrandt hotel’s long-running Mexican institution not only got a new name a couple years back, but also a more traditional direction.

The Tortillas: Sourced through El Charro.

Get This: The tacos al pastor (B295), which stars pork marinated in spices then served with fresh pineapple, chopped coriander and white onion.

Beware: the bar features a wide selection of tequila.

1/F, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100. Open Daily 5-11pm; Sat 12pm-3pm

About the writer: Raised between California and Mexico, Megan Leon is a former chef who’s worked in the kitchens of Bo.lan and Eat Me. She now spends her time writing, seeking out in-anyway authentic Bangkok Mexican food, and perfecting her own tortilla recipe.

Buy-one-getone on Mexic a n Co l l i n s drinks and tequila shots, plus half-price fish tacos until 10pm and a DJ set by Vatasso.

7pm till late. 50 Sathorn Soi 10, 02-235-4823 TOUCHE HOMBRE

Complimentary mini tacos, margaritas for B200, live music and a pinata fil led with more than just candy. 7pm-late. 72 Courtyard, 72 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02392-7760 ROOTS

B 1, 2 9 0 g e t s you your choice of nachos, quesadilla or fajita plus two hours of free-flow margaritas. From midday-11pm. K Village, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-661-5227

LEARN SOMETHING

Know Your Tortilla Traditionally, all Mexican tacos are served with yellow or white corn tortillas. (Flour tortillas are used for quesadillas and burritos, if you must.) In Thailand, you’ll mostly come across yellow corn tortillas, which are coarser and more likely to crack when rolled. So best eat your tacos fresh! Hard, crunchy shells? Leave that to Taco Bell. The fact of the matter in Bangkok is that many restaurants outsource their corn and flour tortillas from the likes of El Charro, a Mexican-run food company around since 1992.

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bites FOOD REVIEWS

Zoom Sky Lounge HH International. 38/F, Anantara Bangkok Sathorn Hotel, 36 Narathiwat Rd., 02-2109000. Corkage B500-1,500. BBBB F

Zoom Sky Lounge came out swinging in 2017 as a sky-high rooftop restaurant with a young, local chef, Adtavorn ‘’Gibb’’ Charoonpontithi, doing dishes that weren’t afraid of a little creativity.

There was lamb with seaweed, deconstructed black forest cake, tuna with lychee foam and Japanese things we had to Google. It was all executed nicely and felt a notch above for a rooftop space that could really just get away with serving buffets to tourists. A recent revisit reveals that the restaurant now fills its till serving buffets to tourists (at B1,899 including wine and beer, not bad), who enjoy their all-you-can-eat barbecue while facing in the opposite direction of the river (the good views are saved for a member’s club). But chef Gibb’s menu does still remain, albeit in what feels like an unloved capacity. One duck dish (B670) we ordered featured comfortably the most

Kika HHH Spanish. 14/2-3 Convent Rd., 095-592-0510.

Open Mon-Fri 11am-midnight, Sat 4pm-midnight. Corkage B500 BB-BBB

For all the talk of its Japanese restaurants, Silom has quietly become a hub of good, honest Spanish food. Joining Taburete, Spanish on 4 and the Moorish-leaning Via Maris in the neighborhood, Kika is a sleek and showy tapas bar that may just outshine them all.

That won’t come as a surprise to fans of chef Julien Lavigne (Oskar, Birds) and restaurateur Sanya Souvanna Phouma (Bed Supperclub, Quince), the powers behind the venture, who are banking on the cooking of Argentinian chef de cuisine Joel Banino. They’re in familiar territory here with a venue that splits its focus evenly between food and drinks. At night, Kika’s wide open front doors and table-strewn sidewalk mean the shop-house blends surprisingly well with the street-food stalls that color Convent Road. Only the blaring ‘70s rock soundtrack gives it away. Inside, a lengthy, yellow-lit wooden bar and

mistreated piece of duck we’ve ever encountered (how do you overcook meat so completely while failing to crisp the skin?). A shame since the flavors were there—a tamarind sauce, tangy beetroot, sweet potato. Other dishes just show bad judgement. That Japanese tuna creation (B530) has evolved to also include “rose apple water,” which means they pour what’s basically apple juice over a cut of lean, red ( akami ) tuna when it’s already paired with the simple, delicate flavors of kaffir lime, miso yogurt, daikon crisps and a decent ponzu sauce. It comes in a section of the menu called “texture,” which is ironic because the water kills any textures that were on the plate.

Fortunately we can send some praise Zoom’s way. Their Hokkaido scallop dish (B580) is the kind of thing we could eat lots of—plump, delicately treated, sweet scallops; a lovely, buttery sauce; sharpness from onion and lime (just avoid the green globules of apple gel).

Do we want more than three scallops for B580? Yes, but at least that means they taste good, as does the crabmeat bouillabaisse (B350), which though not a knock-out, has a seafood-rich underpinning and a strong chord of saffron.

But overall, as we sat watching the hotel’s shadow fall on Chan Road, surrounded by the leftovers of what was not a cheap meal, we couldn’t help wishing we’d joined the tourists at the buffet.

high-table seating tell you this a place for a decent after-work cocktail (the pineapple and sandalwood white negroni, B270, is as good as anything in the vicinity). Banino’s small plates are seasonally-oriented and the menu namedrops best-of-the-best local produce from trusted names like the Royal Projects and Pla Organic. Subtlety is not Kika’s strong point, with the big, bold flavors sometimes proving too much. In the case of the one-dimensional chickpea salad spiked with firm-fleshed strips of barracuda “pastrami” and Sriracha mayo (B360), you might need another round of sangria (red or white, B240/glass or B1,200/carafe) to quench your thirst. However, the more straightforward ham croquetas (B60), gorgeously crisp yet fluffy and served with a thick mushroom mayo, and the just as nicely textured patatas bravas (B130) make fine drinking companions. For us, though, Kika excels in what it pulls from the charcoal oven, chiefly the organic baby chicken (B380) that’s all crisp skin and burnt notes tinged with kaffir and lemongrass. Damn fine bird. Have it together with the similarly charred, similarly delicious, cauliflower steak that’s brimming with Indian spices (B180), and it’s clear Kika is onto a good thing when not trying to be too cute. With a little restraint (hold fire on the cold cuts) you can also get away with dinner and drinks for not too far beyond B1,000/head.

Ratings

Price guide

PPPP PPPP PPPP PPPP PPPPP

B BB BBB BBBB

Forget it Only if you’re in the neighborhood A pleasant dining experience Not to be missed Flawless BK pays for its meal and does not call ahead or sit with the chef.

Under B500 B500-900 B900-1,500 B1,500 and up Price per person, including one drink, appetizer, main course, dessert, charges and tax.

Symbols

H Reservations recommended F Parking E Dress requirements G Live music

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bites

OPEN DOOR

Koi

Goodbye Ku De Ta’s Signature; hello Bangkok’s newest Japanese resto-lounge.

The buzz: You might remember Koi from its Sukhumvit days as the place where models went to get laid on Friday nights.

Now, the California-born brand has taken over what was once the 39th-floor restaurant at Ku De Ta, where it dishes out sometimes-authentic, sometimes fusion-y Japanese comfort food.

The vibe: The long, narrow space retains its sultry, loungebar ambience with leather upholstered seats and a deeply polished bar. But Koi hasn’t just changed the logos and given it a new name. The vast, open galley kitchen, that stays, but KDT’s minimal lines now meet with giant red vases and wavy ceiling lights.

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The food: First piece of good news: their chef is Japanese, from Kobe to be precise. Hisashi Iwata used to wield the knives back in the restaurant’s Sukhumvit days, and here dishes out the same signature plates as Koi branches around the world (he also worked in the LA and New York spots).

He’ll serve you a platter of eight nigiri (fatty tuna and uni both accounted for) at B450, though you’ll want to leave room for the wagyu beef served sizzling hot with buttery truffle potato puree and a bowl of fried rice (B1,300). Bookend the meal with spicy tuna on crisp-edged wedges of rice (B450, starter) and a scoop of mango-coconut ice cream (B160, dessert).

The drinks: Make the most of their Japanese whiskey selection. A glass of the entry-level Black Nikka will cost B350, while Hibiki 17, that’s B2,200. Yikes. If you're ordering the sushi and sashimi, cool Junmai Ginjo sake starts at B690 by the carafe.

Why we’d come back: The sleek vibe and hi-so looking crowd (expect to recognize faces from those Bangkok Post social pages) distract from the fact that Koi actually turns out some comforting plates of food (that beef). Order smart and the bill for two will come in under B4,000 including the premium stuff. Kankanok Wichiantanon 39/F, Sathorn Square Building, 98 Sathorn Rd., 02-036-8899. Open Tue-Sat 6pm-2am. BTS Chong Nonsi

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Rawabina

Vivin Maison

Rewind Bar

TABLE TALK

NEW AND NOTED

Door-to-Door Decadence Vivin Maison, the Bangkok-born creator of foie gras goodies, has now launched a straight-to-your-door service for cured meats, cheese and chutney. It’s called the Apero Box, and the large size will cost you B695—cheese, saucisse, terrine, rillette, mousse and Magret dried duck for 2-3 people. They’ve also got cheese-only (B395-995) and meatonly (B245-595) options. And the bread, that comes from Conkey’s. Order it via their website: www.vivinmaison.com.

Little Beirut Word has it that the chef at new Lebanese restaurant Rawabina (Sukhumvit Soi 23, 092-820-2828) used to work at Nadimo’s before opening this little joint—two street-side tables under a red awning, and just a few indoor seats. Salads of tabbouleh (B100) and fattoush (B100) should be in any order, and so should either the

paprika hummus (B120) or the traditional kind (B100).

Rawabina’s shawarma chicken wrap (B80) comes loaded with seasoned chicken, cabbage, onions and garlic cream, all wrapped in a warm tortilla-like pita, and is best enjoyed with a pink lemonade (B90) or mint shake (B100).

Be Kind, Rewind Joining the dead-end Thonglor soi that recently welcomed TaladNath, Rewind Bar (160/14 Thonglor Soi 6, 094-9491619) is a back-to-basics, brick-and-neon haunt whose soundtrack is unashamedly ‘90s singalongs and whose tipple of choice is a big bottle of spirits for sharing. With a bottle of Glenfiddich 18 Years Old at B5,800 or Hendrick’s Gin at B3,000 your crew will be in fine voice by the time the live acoustic band strums away at the third Cranberries track of the night. Cocktails are all B320 or three for B850. BK staff

Ogu Ogu G/F, Park Ventures Ecoplex, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-1082255. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm. BTS Phloen Chit Ogu Ogu dishes out all the Japanese basics, from tempura and sushi to katsu curry alongside some slightly more Western-leaning salads. Get there during 5-7pm for the daily happy hour specials. The setting takes its inspiration from New York City, filled with hanging wires, lamps and wooden furnishings. Ogu actually dubs itself a sake bar rather than a restaurant, and those who'd like to raise a glass in a polished atmosphere will find much to love.

Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 40% discount for sashimi & sushi menu (only on selected items) or get 10% discount on a la carte menu when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip Today – 31 Dec 18

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now FRI Let’s Stick Together Hardwell, Carnage, Marshmello, Alan Walker—if these names don’t mean anything to you, you’re doing it wrong. They’re just four of the 20+ international and regional superstars of EDM out to prove that millions of Facebook fans can’t be wrong when they take the stage at the seventh Together Festival on May 4-5. See page 21.

MON New Direction Dig out your confirmation email because, after keeping Bangkok waiting nearly 12 months, Harry Styles is finally here to show you he’s no longer a floppy-haired pop puppet but a serious artist. Since his May 7 concert at Impact Arena (see page 22) was announced way, way back last June, Styles has appeared as that douchey guy in Dunkirk and also tasted global success with prog-pop hits like “Sign of the Times.”

Lighters up!

SUN Naked Eye Since the ‘60s, Ralph Gibson has been photographing elegant, black-and-white nudes. But while his work is often labeled “erotica,” Gibson’s use of shadow and light renders his photos virtually abstract. This May 6 you’ll have the chance to pick the American art photographer’s brains about his unorthodox process when he gives a talk at Leica Gallery (see page 22) to coincide with his exhibition Nude and Muses, which goes on show from May 8-Jun 25.

WED Rule them All There was a time, around the turn of the millennium, when you couldn’t turn on the radio (remember that?) without hearing Ja Rule’s gravel-throated love jams. Since those heady collaborations with early-‘00s sirens like Ashanti and J.Lo, things haven’t always gone so smoothly for Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, but you won’t be thinking about the shambles that was last year’s Fyre Festival while grinding away at Sugar Club on May 9. See page 21.

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NIGHTLIFE

Eli & Fur

G-SPOT THEME PARTY - BURLESQUE

JA RULE

A Burlesque-themed party at the indoor "rooftop" bar. May 5, 9pm. Vertigo Too, 60/F, Banyan Tree, 21/100 Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200. B500 includes 2 drinks.

A chance to see the international rap superstar behind ‘00s hits like “Always on Time” and “Mesmerize” perform live. May 9, 11pm. Sugar Club, 37 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 061-391-3111.

B875.

SUNSET VIBES #7 - VIBE SYSTEM

The boat party returns with another installment of good vibes from DJs Slum Disco, Tappu, Mizuyo, Sticky Keys Jimmy Shorts and Ralphy. May 5, 3pm. Sabai Cruise, Ratburana Soi 23. B750 at www.eventbrite.com.

TUN TEN 002: SUNJU HARGUN, DOTT, ELAHEH, JUNESIS

A day-time riverside party with local DJs Sunju Hargun, DOTT, Elaheh and Junesis. May 5, 4pm. Viva & Aviv The River, River City Shopping Complex, 23 Soi Rongnamkhaeng, 02-6396305. B250 includes 1 drink.

RAINFOREST PAVILION: CONCRETE JUNGLE

A charity party headed by non-profit organization VividKalimantan to raise awareness for the world’s tropical rainforests with electronic music by DJs Nathan Jonson, Dan Buri and Alex Joy. May 5, 10pm. Glow, Sukhumvit Soi 23, 086-612-3355. Free.

TRANSPORT | JONNA [SHADELEAF MUSIC]

The UK DJ and label owner unearths house and disco gems till late. May 5, 9pm. 12x12, 810/22 Thonglor Soi Thararom 2, 094-260-4713. B200.

AMBAR POOL PARTY FT. THE “BASE BAR LEGENDS”

Escape the heat and party to DJs Jules Blons (France), 2C, Hasan Khan (GB) and Aneesh Medina (India). May 5, 2pm. AmBar, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 15, 02-309-3000. B300 includes 1 drink.

STARLIGHT SATURDAY LAUNCH PARTY W/ PETE HERBERT

Balearic/house DJ Peter Herber is joined by an array of support acts.

May 5, 9pm. Ce La Vi, 39/F, Sathorn Square Tower, 98 Sathorn Rd., 02-1082000. B250.

MMMH X UNSTๆ PRESENTS: OSKAR OFFERMANN (WHITE/MULE, BERLIN)

The Berlin-based DJ takes over the turntables with house and techno, joined by Sarayu back-to-back with Elaheh and Boogie G. May 11, 9.30pm. Glow, 96/4-5 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 086-614-3353. B350 includes 1 drink.

KARMA KRUISE 3.0

Cruise along Bangkok’s riverside and glistening skyline while dancing to techno beats from Karim Sahraoui, Jonny Vicious and Boris Rubin. May 12, 2:30pm. Asiatique the RIverfront, 2194 Charoenkrung Rd. B1,000 from bangkok.oneplace.events.

KARMA KRUISE 3.0 OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY

Keep the Karma Kruise party going with more good vibes and good tunes at Silom’s coolest underground nightclub. May 12, 9pm. Safe Room, Whiteline, Silom Soi 8, 087-061-1117.

B300 (free for Karma Cruise ticket holders).

ELI & FUR

The English house DJ duo Eli & Fur are joined by local selector Mae Happyair.

May 12, 9pm. BEAM, 72 Courtyard, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-3927750. B300.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST DEALS IN BANGKOK? BK Privileges is your gateway to exclusive deals from restaurants, gigs, hotels, bars and more.

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WE GOT THE SPOT 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Dancers, martial artists, DJs, music lovers, poets, storytellers, artists and musicians come together for a block party. May 13, 3pm. The Beat lounge, Block D, 21/127 RCA, Rama 9 Rd., 089-886-5665. Free.

PRIVILEGES

MUSIC FESTIVALS TOGETHER FESTIVAL

Back for its 7th edition, the 2-day electronic music festival showcases huge EDM DJ headliners Alan Walker, Carnage, Hardwell and Marshmello.

May 4-5, 3pm. BITEC, 88 Bangna Trad Rd., 02-726-1999. B2,995.

PARADISE FEST

Alan Walker

11 hours of rock and roll sounds from the likes of Silly Fools, Sweet Mullet, Brandnew Sunset and Bomb at Track.

May 5, 1pm. SHOW DC, 99/6-9 Rim Klong Bangkapi Rd., 02 203 1888.

B700.

CONCERT PROMOS

DINING DISCOUNTS

PRIORITY BOOKING

AND MORE!

Sign up at bk.asia-city.com/bkprivileges

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now ART

LIVE MUSIC

Strange Loops II: Confusion Is Next

Colour Now

AN AFTERNOON WITH RALPH GIBSON: PUBLIC LECTURE

FKJ

Yakenohara

KOM WONGSAWAT TRIO

Pianist Kom Wongsawat showcases his chops in a live performance.

May 4, 9pm. FooJohn Building, 831 Charoenkrung Soi 31, 087-593-9973.

Free.

BEATBOX CONCERT & SHOWCASE AND WORKSHOP BY BERYWAM

A live showcase by France’s Beatbox Champions of 2016. May 5, 7pm.

Alliance Français, 179 Wireless Rd, 02-670-4200. B250.

YOMOFO!

FKJ

Rock the night away with live progressive rock tunes at the Patpong gogo bar. May 4, 9pm. Black Pagoda, 5 Patpong Soi 2. B200.

The French house artist (also known as French Kiwi Juice) returns to Bangkok with his chill rhythm and blues. May 6, 9pm. Moonstar Studio (Studio 8), Ladprao Soi 80, 02-5393861. B1,790.

BEAT AND BEYOND: CHAD VALLEY

The British artist performs his introspective pop music cuts with plenty of ‘80s synth and Balearic influences. May 5, 8pm. NOMA BKK, 21/66 RCA Block C, 080-939-7899. B600.

SUMMURGIFT FROM TOKYO: YAKENOHARA, WARARA & QUESTIONSEQ AKA PIZ?

Chade Valley

Yakenohara mixes chill hip-hop and vapour wave. May 6, 8pm. JAM, 41 Charoen Rat Soi 1, 089-889-8059.

B220 HARRY STYLES

The ex-One Directioner bring his '70s soft rock-inspired singles like "Sign of the Times" and "Kiwi" to the stage, with possibly some guilty-pleasure One Direction hits too. Supported by U.S. rochers Warpaint. May 7, 8:30pm. IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani, 99 Popular Rd., 02-833-4455. B2,040-10,540.

The American art photographer discusses the inspirations behind his fragmented, black-and-white images which often incorporate erotic and mysterious undertones. May 6, 3pm. Gaysorn Village, 999 Phloen Chit Road, 02-656-1149. Free.

ORIGINS - CHAOS: ART EXHIBITION

Character artists Praphassorn Butphrom, Phuraphol Sotaiyin, Waranyou Changpradit, Kiattisak Rungrattanapattana, Chonlada Panpakdeediskul and Cherawit Kansomkhoy explore the hidden meanings behind their artwork . May 4-30, 7-10.30pm.

Kalwit Studio & Gallery, 119/14 Soi Ruamrudee, 02-254-4629. Free.

COLOUR NOW: ISB@BACC

A selection of work from students aged 4-18 in celebration of color and diversity. Through May 13, 10am8pm. BACC, 939 Rama 1 Rd., 02 214 6630. Free.

CARAVAGGIO OPERA OMNIA

Japanese DJ, producer and rapper

CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT Devendra Banhart Venezuelan-American folk artist Devendra Banhart will perform in Bangkok for the first time this Jun 16, gig organizer Have You Heard? has announced. Banhart, who first rose to fame as the poster-boy of the fleeting mid-'00s "freakfolk" movement, will perform an intimate solo show at Siam Motors Auditorium. Tickets, on sale for B1,500 at Haveyouheard.live, are limited to just 350 seats. After a nomadic upbringing, Banhart released his debut album Oh Me, Oh My in 2002. His pair of 2004 albums, Rejoicing in the Hands and Nino Rojo, brought him wider attention for his sparse instrumentation and free-spirited, often fantastical lyrics. This decade, Banhart has taken a more straightforward folkpop route, releasing his ninth album, Ape In Pink Marble, in 2016.

THEATER & DANCE

HD digital reproductions of Baroque artworks by the great Italian painter Caravagio. May 4-Jun 10, 10am-8pm.

BACC, 939 Rama 1 Road, 02-2146630. Free.

DUALITY

Artist Paul Lukin blends light and dark in his exploration of unity and duality.

May 5-18, 7pm. Sevana Bar, 28 Chan Soi 16, 095-797-6645. Free.

SPIRITUAL LINES - TRANSLATING ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

In an exhibition staged across three floors, Lemonot and Reminisce Tattoo Bangkok collaborate to deconstruct architectural drawings and sak yant (Thai sacred tattoos). May 4-11. Cho Why, Soi Nana 17. Free.

“THIS IS NOT CUTE"

Thai artist Pokchat Woraswub explores themes of body language, fragility, spontaneity and seduction through her photographs. May 11, 6pm. Maison Close BKK, 397/399 Charoenkrung Soi 45, 09-973-68672. Free.

TTT

A solo eclectic exhibition by local Thai artist Tuktenteung. May 11-28, 6pm.

Bridge Art Space, Charoen Krung Rd., near soi 51, 087-682-2221. Free.

A PAINTING EXHIBITION WITH NO TITLE

Abstract Thai artist Somboon Hormtientong, who represented Thailand at the 57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia with his pieces in “Krung Thep Bangkok,” presents 13 works of art dated between 2012-2017 that show off his expressive, organic and minimal style. Through Jun 19. PT Gallery, 48-58 Charoenkrung Soi 30, 02-2664344. Free.

OBJECTIVLAND

Chiang Mai-based artist Tua Pen Not transforms everyday objects and junk into new functions and forms.

Through May 31. Case Space Revolution, 2/F, Broccoli Revolution, Sukhumvit Rd. (corner of Soi 49). Free.

STRANGE LOOPS II: CONFUSION IS NEXT

Through loops, repetition and layering, Pathompon “Mont” Tessprateep offers a visual and thematic exploration of the idea of “mental time travel,” including a portrayal of nomadic noise musician Thom Assajan-Jakgawan. Through May 13. Gallery Ver, Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Soi 22, 089-988-5890. Free.

19 BLACK EDITION

Photographer Cherdwood Sakolaya explores the measures man takes to control nature. Through May 31.

Rebel Art Space, Sukhumvit Soi 67, 081-666-8383. Free.

EDEN PART II

Piyatat Hemmatat’s photographs and sculptures draw on the imagery of Eden—serpents, forbidden fruit and the link—in a thought-provoking fashion. Through Jun 7. Galleria Oasis, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 43, 02-258-7376. Free.

STAND-UP COMEDY - LARS CALLIEOU!

The Comedy Club presents the Canadian stand-up act. May 4, 8:30pm, The Comedy Club Bangkok, Sukhumvit Soi 33/1, 0875192-1821. B600 (B800 at the door).

MARKETS BANGKOK FARMER'S MARKET

Shop organic natural food and goods from local producers. May 5-6, 11am.

Habito Mall, Onnut 1/1, Sukhumvit Soi 77, 02-136-5932. Free

INCENDIES

Lars Callieou

22

Performed in French, the play explores the inner lives of two sisters after the death of their mother which inspired a search for their true origins. May 17, 8pm. Thonglor Art Space, 58/14-15 Soi Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor), 095-924-4555.

B600.

SUNSET SOCIETY SUNDAY FEAT. VEGAN MARKET / NOWHERE

Nowhere BKK

A market which promises organic food along with live Balearic beats from Djs NK Chan, Alex Imix and Superstar Panda. May 6, 1pm. Nowhere BKK, 6/F Tha City Loft Hotel, Ekkamai Soi 6, 099-394-4417. Free

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FILM Opening (May 3)

GHOSTLAND (CANADA/FRANCE)

TRUTH OR DARE (USA)

Horror. A mother of two who inherits a home from her aunt faces murderous intruders. Sixteen years later her daughters return to find even stranger events.

Horror. A seemingly harmless game of truth or dare goes wrong when someone who tells a lie or refuses a dare is suddenly punished by a mysterious deadly creature.

2018

SHERLOCK GNOMES (UK/USA)

Animation. The renowned detective Sherlock Gnomes (voiced by Johnny Depp) is recruited by the garden gnomes to investigate the mysterious disappearance of various garden ornaments.

CafE Society is Coming this July 2018 Bangkok’s ultimate guide to brunch, coffee, sweets and daytime dining.

Upcoming (May 10)

This year, Cafe Society returns, listing the hottest coffee shops and all-day restaurants in Bangkok’s prime downtown areas.

Great for all-day restaurants, coffee shops, dessert cafes, juice bars, healthy eating, artisanal foods, markets and co-working spaces.

CHILDHOOD (NORWAY)

BEIRUT (USA)

Documentary. Observing a year in the life of a Norwegian kindergarten which highlights the importance of education.

Drama. A U.S. diplomat is called back to war to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind.

NONG PEE TEERAK (THAI)

ANON (USA)

Comedy. The story of brother and sister who struggle with their dating lives while living together in the same house.

Action. A woman threatens the security of a detective in a world without anonymity or crime.

To Be Seen In Cafe Society Guide, please contact Email : advertising@asia-city.co.th Call : 02-624-9696

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Wild Strawberries

Over the next 2 months, Jam Cine Club is screening a film every Wednesday exploring “The Past.” The films include Close-up (Iran) on May 9, The Passion of Joan Arc (Germany) on May 16, Wild Strawberries (Sweden) on May 23, and Cinema Paradiso (Italy) on May 30.

Screenings begin 8pm. Chareon Rat Soi 1, 089-889-8059. Free.

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