Gourmet Asia, Bangkok 2007, Grand Gala Dinner

Story : Hana Borrowman   
Images : Courtesy of Gourmet Asia

Billed as a ‘Gastronomic Adventure in Bangkok’, Gourmet Asia, Bangkok failed to disappoint with a week of flamboyant food-oriented festivities provided by Thailand’s pre-eminent food event.

Igniting a run of similar gourmet events across Asia, the arrival of four international masterchefs, week-long celebrations and cultural cross-pollination of culinary skills left both an appetite for inspiration as well as some spectacularly well satiated palates.

The five day event also featured four guest winemakers, wine tastings, several cooking demonstrations, vintner dinners and various promotional menus and events held at Bangkok’s finest restaurants and hotels. The culmination of this successful week came in the form of a culinary coterie - a grand gala dinner held at the Dusit Thani Hotel’s appropriately grandiose Napalai Ballroom.

Featuring the cuisines of all the participating Masterchefs and local chefs and wines of the participating wineries, the evening was an unparalleled display of ‘good taste’ from the Piper Heidsieck NV Brut champagne and canap?s, to the carefully choreographed service.

The evening started in style with a champagne reception offering an opportunity for the glamorously attired guests to mingle and arouse their appetites with a selection of equally ostentatious canap?s. Bite-sized delights such as Morel ‘vol au vent’ of Summer Truffles, Challans Duck with Orange and Wasabi and Duck liver Terrine with Fig and Apple jelly were accompanied by excited chatter and the gentle jazzy sounds of the equally tasteful live band. 

Moving on to the seated dinner, guests were presented with an exceptionally creative first course featuring innovative modern Chinese cuisine courtesy of masterchef Sam Leong. The award-winning chef from Tung Lok Group of Restaurants in Singapore made the all important first-impressions with Crispy Wasabi-mayo Prawn Julienne, Yunnan ham, Mango Salsa and Cheese Cracker. The dish was accompanied by a 2001 Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay.

The following course offered guests a chance to sample Swiss masterchef Rene Dittrich’s modern European cuisine. Pan fried Herb Crusted Fillet of French Seabass with White Asparagus, Fresh Morels and Fava Beans in a Shallot Red Wine Butter Reduction, accompanied by a 2000 Chateau de Beaucastel, Chateauneuf du Pape.

The eye-catching third course created by Giacomo Gallina of Dolce and Gabbana Gold, Italy presented a perfect example of Milanese cuisine’s integration of art and food. Gallina’s Castelmagno Cheese and Herb Risotto was topped with a Civet of Lamb and paired with arguably the most impressive wine of the evening in the 1999 Pio Cesare Barolo.

The finale of the main course menu was the much anticipated creation of world renowned chef Santi Santamaria. The three-Michelin-starred Spanish chef presented a magnificent example of his signature Catalan cuisine with a richly expressive Duck Parmantier style with Truffle sauce accompanied by a 1995 Chateau Angelus.

The Dusit Thani provided the decadently delicious dessert presented by Aalst Chocolate in the form of White Chocolate Mousse with Quenelle of Soft Cream, Mint, Fig Sherbert and Red Berries, perfectly complemented by a 2003 Mascaron de Ginestet Sauternes.

After dinner a charity auction of vintage wines was held, featuring the products of guest wineries from France, Italy and Australia - Ch?teau Ang?lus, Ch?teau de Beaucastel, Leeuwin Estate and Pio Cesare. All proceeds went to the Kings Royal Project.

The organisers crowned the event with a speech of recognition and thanks and added that next year’s event promised to be even more ambitious - a whisper at the dinner tables suggesting invites to several superstar celebrity chefs and even more ostentatious events to delight Bangkok’s tasteful masses.

This should provide us with just enough time to digest the culinary expertise and reintroduce our gloriously whetted appetites to the next round of decadent degustation.  

Tropical Living: July 2007, Volume 7 Issue 2

Many of the properties on this site are for sale or for rent.
If you wish to know more about them don't hesitate to CONTACT US HERE