From taco heaven to a 24-karat donut, here’s what to look out for.
By Ashima Sethi
New Gift Service
A new entrant to Thailand’s growing gift market, KARRAT is all about enjoying the finer things in life, curating a line of extravagant gifts for those who prefer to live life lavishly. Their first item, the luxurious KARRAT Donut (THB 3,900 a box, pictured above), is marketed as fine jewellery that you can eat. Just as appealing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds, the one-pound donut is meticulously hand crafted from Cristal choux à la crème and stuffed with the highest-quality Madagascar vanilla cream. It’s then covered in a vintage 2012 Cristal champagne glaze and topped with 24-karat edible gold flakes for that added glitz. Each specially-crafted donut comes with its own special packaging and a fork and knife set, so you can dig in instantly (after taking loads of Instagram photos, of course). Facebook: @karrat.official
New Fine Dining Venture
Two Michelin-starred Chef Thierry Drapeau has introduced his latest culinary venture at VIE Hotel Bangkok called Signature Bangkok. An affordable fine dining experience, the menus showcase his refreshing approach to modern French cuisine, putting focus on each ingredient’s story to encourage guests to connect with nature through gastronomy in what Chef Thierry describes as ‘floral cuisine.’ Currently, diners can choose between the Three-course (THB 1,990++) and Five-course (THB 2,990++) menus (a vegan degustation is also available), each featuring innovative plates like the Blue lobster, a dish of Brittany lobster, cucumber, and oxalis flower; and My childhood souvenir, where roasted lamb is served with a tagine of vegetables, mint and basil. Add a three glass wine pairing for THB 1,490++. www.signaturebangkok.com
New Taco Joint
Having opened its doors towards the tail end of last year, El Hefe is a promising addition to Bangkok’s list of Mexican eateries. However, compared to their competitors, the restaurant’s biggest selling point is their 20 different types of tacos, including many that are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Served in sets of three, choose between enticing options like the Roasted veggies taco (THB 260) made using charred bell peppers and onions and served with a signature kiwi salsa; the Chili relleno taco (THB 290) filled with cheese or vegan cheese-stuffed peppers and topped with a brown broth sauce, onions and cilantro; and the Quesabirria (THB 290), a cheesy beef birria taco that’s a meeting in the middle between a taco and a quesadilla, served with a chilli consommé to dunk into. The restaurant also boasts a tequila bar and a menu of fun cocktails if you want to get boozy! Facebook: @elhefebkk
New Restaurant
The founders of Conti aim to craft a rustic, European-inspired dining experience that emulates the feel of a Parisian bistro, Florentine enoteca, or Catalan bodega. On the menu, appetisers span cold cuts and cheese, Beef tartare (THB 370) with mustard, quail egg yolk, and crispy lotus roots, and the indulgent Foie gras ravioli (THB 250). For something heartier, diners can dig into signature pasta dishes like the Smoked pork gnocchi (THB 260) and Seafood pasta (THB 390), where prawns, scallops, and calamari are cooked in olive oil, garlic and chilli. The restaurant also specialises in tempting mains from both land and sea, including Mussels in white wine sauce (THB 280); Steak flambé (THB 1,590) with pan fried foie gras, cognac, and beef jus; and Crispy duck leg (THB 390) served with mashed potato and tomato confit. Facebook: @conti.bkk
