The best of the world’s top cuisines come together for a magnificent Sunday brunch at JW Café.
By Christy Lau
In our bustling city, brunch is a weekend highlight with numerous hotel restaurants and stand-alone cafés offering their specially curated range of bountiful Asian and Western choices, allowing you to create an adventurous platter for a unique gastronomical journey. With so many varieties, it is hard to make your pick. But after spending an afternoon at the JW Café at JW Marriott Bangkok, we have to say that this elegant and modern restaurant stands above the rest when it comes to Sunday brunch. Their unlimited foie gras selection and 11 stations of signature premium delights are just two of the major draws.
Formerly known as the Marriott Café, this bright and breezy establishment has shed its antiquated wood-based colour scheme and undergone a vibrant makeover, now sporting industrial-inspired lighting fixtures and sleek marble pillars and countertops.
Gleaming white table tops and ceramic dinnerware lend a touch of sophistication to the whole meal, while floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with daylight, creating a laidback ambience anyone would be happy to spend a couple of hours in.
Food and Drink
Always popular with the brunch crowd is the Seafood on ice, taking centre stage in the café’s main dining hall, with three lavish ice trays filled with squid, mussels, blue crab, king crab, rock lobster, shrimp and river prawn, alongside five oyster varieties. Just behind lies the foie gras station, where you can pamper your taste buds with an unlimited fl ow of the buttery French delicacy. Situated close by, and tempting us with the unmistakable aromas of cream and cheese, is the pasta corner, where the Italian staple is made fresh-to-order and can be customised with various toppings. For those who love their pasta extra cheesy, the bacon and mushroom carbonara gets a luxurious bath in the parmesan cheese wheel, before being placed into your waiting hands.
At the carving station, the pièce de résistance is Pork porchetta, a fatty pork loin with crackling skin, best paired with a sauce made from puréed cooked apples. Other options to fill up an empty plate (and stomach) are the Leg of lamb and Roasted prime rib.
In line with the café’s “local inspired” concept is the Thai station, which pays homage to its country in the most splendid way. Here, you’ll find delights like the Nam ngeaw chicken, a classic Northern Thai dish known for its aromatic broth infused with authentic spices and herbs, as well as the signature hand crafted Thai boat noodles, which is given a delightful upgrade with the addition of slow-cooked, five-spice rubbed wagyu beef brisket, served in a fragrant, rich broth.
As for the selection of cold cuts, JW Café offers a variety of ham, including homemade Beef pastrami, and the always-popular Parma ham, Iberico ham and Salami Napoli, best paired with the impressive cheese board. The adjacent salad bar allows you to top off your heavy protein assortments with some fresh mixed greens.
Moving along to the Indian station, we indulged in authentic Biryani cooked by the in-house Indian chef, along with Naan and various types of masala curries. There is also a Japanese corner, which safeguards sashimi, the California maki and a variety of nigiri with salmon and tuna toppings.
Finally, to sate your sugar cravings, there is an exciting dessert corner with everything from chocolate lava and tarts to Crème brûlée and the must-try Mango sticky rice with five different types of glutinous rice sweetened with pandan, butterfly pea and turmeric.
Whether you opt for alcoholic or non-alcoholic options, the drinks here won’t disappoint. Refreshing with their vibrant fruit flavours, the punch and iced lemon tea are free with the basic brunch package. For a more euphoric afternoon, go for the free-flow option and treat yourself to white wine, red wine or sparkling champagne chosen by the experienced sommelier.
The Sunday Brunch costs B2,040++ per adult, inclusive of soft drinks, coffee or tea. For the free-flow wine package, there is an additional B1,190 per person.
Kids eat for half price.
JW CAFÉ
1st Floor, JW Marriott Bangkok
4 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 2
Bangkok Thailand
Open for brunch every Sunday from 12pm to 3pm
Tel: 02 656 7700
www.jwmarriottbangkok.com/dining/jwcafe
