Street fare and last meals: Thailand's top 20 executive chefs talk food
Chefs and business partners pose before getting down to work at this year's Bangkok Chef Charity Gala Dinner.Tonight -- August 4 -- some of the Kingdom’s top chefs will step out of their kitchens to donate their time and talent to cook up a storm for a good cause: the Bangkok Chef Charity Gala Dinner 2011.
At the annual event, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok, the executive chefs of participating five-star hotels pair-up to create a nine-course menu that is forecast to be an Epicurean’s delight.
Post dinner, the services of the chefs go under the hammer; the city’s gastronomes bid for a gourmet meal for six people to be prepared by a selected pair. Proceeds from the dinner and the auction go to benefit underprivileged children in the remote areas of Thailand.
Here, 20 of the participating executive chefs share some of their favorite culinary experiences.
What's your favorite thing about Bangkok's food culture?
"My favorite and most memorable experiences have been the street food here. In the last 10 years I have lived here twice, and there are vendors still around, delivering a consistent product. The passion and freshness of Thai food is and always will be a part of my memories."
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Erwin Eberharter, Dusit Thani Bangkok
"For me it is the excellent street food, the exotic herbs and spices, recipes from the 18th century that are still in use, and the fact that street hawkers are encouraged and not banned like in some other Asian nations.
"Thai sweets are also a very special art, and are made from recipes passed down through the centuries. In terms of international cuisine, many guest chefs visit each month as some of the world’s finest establishments are keen to show off their cuisine here."
Leonardo Concezzi, St. Regis Bangkok
"The city has a very variegated culinary scene, almost unlimited I would say, and for a chef this means being in the right place. Some of the best chefs in the world have passed through Bangkok, leaving their imprints, making things very challenging and exciting for all of us.
"The local culinary tradition is also very rooted and extremely interesting and I have highly 'trained' customers who recognise good food. For me the most interesting thing about Bangkok is the street food. If you walk around Bangkok with your eyes open, you will see a great food show, an immense recipe book with live pictures from which you can take unlimited inspiration."
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Gael Lardiere, Royal Orchid Sheraton
"It is definitely the diversity of the food as well as the freshness of the products found here. With everything from street food to five-star cuisine, not many places in the world offer such variety.
"If you are up for the challenge you will never be hungry, as every corner in Bangkok has something for you to try. For me the eating culture here is also very special. The Thai people love to eat and it’s a part of the family rituals, networking, business deals –- everything is decided at the dining table.
"Instead of saying ‘Hi, how are you?’, Thai people greet each other with ‘Hi, have you eaten?’ I think that shows how important food is to their lives and their culture."
"With so many different cuisines and choices the variety of food is endless. In particular, I love the Thai street food stalls which serve some my favorite dishes like the Thai spicy salads (Yum), Larb Nam Tok and Gai Yai. With the aroma and flavours of the various spices used it is impossible to resist them every time I walk past."
Mario Hofmann, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
"I love Thailand’s vast variety of herbs and spices as well as the fresh ingredients that allow me to experiment and create new dishes. Also, the Bangkok dining scene is remarkably vibrant with food available 24/7, ranging from street eateries to fine-dining restaurants offering everything from almost every culture.
"Although Thais predominantly enjoy traditional Thai cuisine, eating out is essentially a family and social activity, which makes them relatively open-minded about food. This allows room for a chef’s creativity and culinary experimentations."
Santo Zoppis, Thai Airways International
"For me it is basically simple Thai food that I can have at any time around Bangkok, which in my opinion offers the best street food in Asia.
"You can eat Thai specialties around the clock at very affordable prices. I especially like Thai soups (kui tiew) and duck curry, but my favorite is rice with kapi, served with sweet pork, shredded green mango, eggs and chili."
