The F&B news coming out of Capella Bangkok keeps rolling in these days. Now, the hotel is announcing one of its more unique concepts: Stella. The venue is touted as a bespoke cocktail bar and omakase dessert specialist. The twist here is the theme, which aims to pay homage to “women of character” from years past who have had a role in defining Asia as it is today.

Throughout the space, customers are greeted with narrative elements describing the triumphs of four female Asian heroes; Khun Ying Mo, a 1800s Nakhon Ratchasima warrior; Tomoe Gozen, a 12th century samurai star; Zheng Yi Sao, one of China’s most formidable pirate leaders; and Rani Lakshmi Bai, a rebel leaders in 20th century India. If you want to learn the stories in-depth, speak with beverage manager William Pravda or head barkeep Pranisa ‘Nisa’ Treechanasin, who can lead you through the warrior stories and the drinks designed in their honor.

 The bar isn’t all about the warrior concept though. It stands on its own two feet with a slate of cocktails and desserts that promise to hit the spot. The desserts are also paired with cocktails (or the other way around if you prefer). One example being the “Secret of Ya Mo”, a dessert made from Chiang Mai chocolate, cocoa nibs and cocoa pods. You are meant to wash the dessert down with the “The City of Khai” cocktail, made with Issan Rum, a touch of roasted rice, galangal, bit of chili spice and young coconut with tom kha foam.

Executive pastry chef Sylvain Constans is the brains behind the venue’s dessert omakase experience, which you can nab for B2,500 (desserts only) and B3,500 (desserts and drinks). To our knowledge, this is the only chef’s selection menu pairing desserts and cocktails in town, so if that’s up your alley you got it made.

The menu also sports a variety of non-sweet nibbles, like caviar, oysters, kushikatsu (deep-fried meat skewers) and kushiyaki Rossini (grilled skewers). There will also be live bands on hand each night to keep the atmosphere nice and cosy. A white peacock statue named Aegis sits at the middle of the bar, which the owners believe symbolizes integrity and eternal beauty. 

For reservations, reach out to stella.bangkok@capellahotels.com or call 02-098-3888.

You can also follow the brand at:

FB: www.facebook.com/stellabar.bangkok

IG: @stellabar.bangkok.

Andy Yang, a Thailand-born star chef who soaked up a Michelin star in New York for his restaurant Rong Tiam in 2010, is now opening a new restaurant at Siam Discovery. The new venture is named Pi Kun and will focus on Isaan food, using pork as the star ingredient in a nose-to-tail concept that tries to reduce waste. The opening is also happening alongside the reopening of Table 38, the uber-fine-dining restaurant from Andy that was once housed on Sukhumvit 38 and won a Michelin star in 2020. If you show up with a party of four, you get a free tam koh maha saap (papaya salad with crispy dough). Regardless, other highlight dishes include the signature kao pikun (smoked-coconut milk rice with grilled pork and a special jaew sauce from Chef Andy), kao moo tod makhwaen (fried pork with smoked-coconut milk rice and Thai herbs), and leng zaab (hot and spicy pork bone).

The interior is a colorful mishmash of Isaan inspired tapestries, dark wood chairs with floral silk patterns, sturdy wooden tables and hardwood floors. There is also a brightly back-lit bar, covered in more decorations in between bottles, where the bar team can be seen strolling back and forth whipping up drinks. 

For more information, visit Siam Discovery’s social channels (FB: siamdiscovery, IG:  @siamdiscovery)

VIE Hotel Bangkok is revamping its dining options with a new heavyweight in the French fine-dining scene called Signature Bangkok. Sitting on the 11th floor of VIE, the restaurant is led by former two-Michelin-star chef Thierry Drapeau and focuses on something called “floral cuisine”. Described as “cuisine of the soil”, the menu leans heavily on delicate flowers and herbs to accent the fresh seasonal ingredients used to make up the rest of the menu. It also follows what’s called a jus-based approach, which basically means many of the poetry, meat, and fish are seasoned or served alongside light gravies.

One interesting aspect of this restaurant apart from other French venues is a move away from heavy butters and spices. In fact, that is the main rationale behind the flowers and herbs, as they help to increase flavor dimensions without making the dishes excessively unhealthy. All menus include canâpes, mise en bouche (think of it like a smaller amuse-bouche), mignardises (a dessert served at the end of the meal), and a signature gift to take home.

Each evening’s menu is introduced with a title, setting the stage for what diners can expect next. For instance, the five-course “Le Grande Bouquet: Discovery & Heritage by Thierry Drapeau” menu introduces Bangkok epicureans to “The King of Vendee”, a classic French Burgaud duck roasted presented with creamed cacao, pumpkin, and Nasturtium flowers. The menus come in two sizes, three- and five-courses, and come with wine pairing options (the venue has a nice selection of biodynamic wines handpicked from boutique wineries). If you do go the wine-pairing route, Head Sommelier Théo Lavergne, formerly the sommelier at the two-Michelin star Le Clarence restaurant in Paris, will be there to guide you through the pairings and share stories of the vineyards the wines come from.

Some more highlights include Blue lobster from Brittany subtly flavored with oxalis flowers, grilled Normandy scallops with fennel, capers, and anise, and, for a touch of sweetness, Calamansi citrus with almonds and marigold. 

In a big boon for the plant-based movement here, Signature Bangkok offers a full-on organic vegan menu. Available as a standard nightly option, the organic vegan menu follows the same rigor in preparation and presentation. An on-site organic kitchen garden provides fresh, seasonal flowers and herbs.

The restaurant has recently expanded its offering to include lunch. It’s not just a watered-down version of the dinner menu, either, it’s an all-new, 3-course menu (B990/person) crafted by Chef Drapeau and focusing on the venue’s signature style of floral cuisine. You get your choice of starter, main, and dessert, plus espresso or tea if you fancy.

Advanced reservation is recommended. You can do that via the website at https://signaturebangkok.com/book-a-table/ or by adding the restaurant on Line through https://bit.ly/3ql8Jyn

For more information, visit:

Web: www.signaturebangkok.com
IG: https://bit.ly/2Jpoxiy
FB: https://bit.ly/3lupvYd
Line: https://bit.ly/3ql8Jyn

Signature Bangkok, 11/F, VIE Hotel Bangkok, Phayathai Rd, Ratchathewi BTS Station. Open Thu-Sun 12-3pm, 6-9pm.

Thailand’s famous fashion brand, Baking Soda, helmed by designer Maynart Nantakwang, has just launched a capsule collection in collaboration with Patipat Chaipukdee’s Casa Dry Clean Only — and we can’t think of two more appropriately named brands for a fashion collaboration, franky. Both brands are heavyweights in the local streetwear scene, sporting bold and distinctive patterns strewn across loose-fitting tees and whimsical cropped skirts, among other items. 

The collection is kind of an ode by both designers to one another, each borrowing distinctive elements from each other's styles and known interests — like Soda’s famous rose patterns and Dry Clean Only’s iconic eagle emblem. The collection won’t destroy your wallet, either, with items starting at B900 and going up from there. 

You can find Baking Soda x Case Dry Clean Only’s capsule collection displayed on the first floor of Siam Center from now until April 2021. Check out some of the staple pieces below, or visit both brands' Instagram pages for easy browsing (@sodaxdryclean and sodabkk.com). 

If you are a fan of Korean fashion brands then you probably already know about apM, the massive fashion retailer in Seoul’s Dongdaemun District. The brand is credited with starting that country’s premium fast-fashion movement, and to date has about 1,300 different brands under its wing. Now, Siam Center has partnered with the brand to create Thailand’s first-ever digital showroom for apM brands, found on the mall’s first floor.

The showroom will update in real time, as apM adds and removes brands from its store – around 800 will are available in the digital showroom right now, in a wide array of styles. The room will update its fashion selection about one time ever month, led by brands like Allover, Angelo, First Name, Dude, 2 d K, Gentle Women, Top, Papermoon, Design by Youngmin, Maiden, One by Two, Pincode, Verveine, 101 Moon, Forming, Lamerei, Paris Match, Sof, Table, Where Wear, and more.

When you walk inside, you will be able to browse the selection of clothes and try them out. If you find something you like, they will order it and it will arrive in Thailand within 14 days. Doing the launch period, you can even snag a B2,500 discount with free shipping.

For more information, visit:

FB: apmthailand

IG: @apm_th

Line: @apm_th