Showing 1-10 of 37 results
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The butterfly effect
B Magazine, Richard Mcleish, Published on 19/09/2010
» In an unlikely marriage, HP, the world's largest PC manufacturer, has combined brand power with Vivienne Tam to deliver the HP Mini 210 netbook, catering to a niche market with its fashion-world cross-over potential. But it's not the first attempt. The Tam and HP partnership started back in 2008, with the HP Mini 1000 digital clutch, and the new Mini continues that legacy, this time with a butterfly motif that is said to somehow symbolise "love, freedom, independence and transformation".
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Pub grub hub
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 21/11/2014
» Sanity aside, there’s a new comfort burger point in town. It’s housed in the cosy wood-laden surrounds of the shophouse that the original incarnation of Seven Spoons once occupied. It houses 10, maybe 12 at a pinch, but this isn’t the place for the be-seen scene. Not yet anyway. To diversify from its origins, the visuals follow a Polynesian bent, with a tiki twist. It’s still finding its feet decor-wise, but seems to have the right intent – the young front man Pavee “Wham” Bhayungvej was a visual merchandiser in a past life, after all. The music is on point and inviting as can be. The two-storey shophouses of the area ooze charm and potential – it’s a shame they are so far away – unless you live over in Samsen or the like, of course. The crowd is a mix of Wham’s friends, Seven Spoons devotees and the odd walk-in, who would be pleasantly surprised to see what they find inside the snug room.
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Old world, new venue
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 29/08/2014
» With the arrival of two major mall-esque F&B destinations in the city this year — Groove and Central Embassy — it is safe to say that shopping centres have reclaimed some of the F&B traffic. Water Library is an interesting case in point, having gone from shopping mall (Chamchuri) to high-end independence (Thong Lor) and back again (Groove and Central Embassy). So it was always going to be interesting to see what the well-reputed brand had planned. It seems they have headed back to their European roots, not so subtly inferred with the entrance of the venue that is arched by an iconic steel arm reproduction of the Eiffel Tower. The Old World den-like interior is broken up to a lounge-style entrance area, two internal rooms (loosely divided) and a back section (yet to be opened) that will spill onto an outdoor balcony under construction; totalling enough space for around 100 diners on completion. It’s Old World Euro charm in a shiny new shopping mall, and somehow it works — welcome to Bangkok. During our afternoon visit, diners were a mix of pit-stopping shoppers, groups of well-dressed businessmen and the odd stray tourist.
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More is more
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 19/09/2014
» Nestled at the front of Groove upstairs, this hunting lodge-themed restaurant is starting to garner plenty of attention in the area with some pretty stiff eating competition. To pull off the concept, they have gone all out with the decor to good effect, which is fun enough to dispel the mall feel that other venues in the precinct suffer from. It’s easily located by the iconic grizzly bear that towers over the entrance, instantly confirming the hunting tendencies of the place. The expansive premises has enough room for about 80 diners inside, which can stretch to over 100 with the outdoor area. Hang up your rifle on entry as you slink onto a bar stool after a solid morning’s hunting. The crowd is a steady stream of cool kids that all seem to know each other — friends of friends of friends, etc — Bangkok-style.
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Sets to impress
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 26/09/2014
» And Bo.lan has a new home. The dynamic culinary duo behind the original incarnation over on Sukhumvit Soi 26, Duangporn "Bo" Songvisava and Dylan Jones, have transplanted themselves to Soi 53 and spread out into a more spacious (and stylish) premises not far from the Thong Lor BTS. While they had plenty of renovations to do, Dylan assures us, it seems the place has been there for decades with an already settled feel. Again, it's a house set among a well-kept garden — this time with a pool — that colour the main view and light source of the moodily-lit house. It seems they are enjoying the bigger space, particularly in the kitchen apparently, again creating a transporting effect through the portal driveway entrance to the secluded surrounds. There's enough room for 60 diners (80 at a push), with two private rooms available. They are pushing the environmental aspects of the place, (which is still largely overlooked in this city of appearances), reducing waste, installing LED lights and recycling organic matter and grey water. They are also moving towards being carbon-zero and hope to achieve this by 2018, which by then the city should have a better handle on such issues (and the real definition of words such as "farmer's" and "organic"). During our mid-week afternoon sitting, many local Thong Lor ladies were lunching with their well-dressed mums, but things get decidedly more moody in the evenings with all the mood lighting and timber, and the crowd morphs accordingly. Tunes sound like reminiscent of a molam Paradise Bangkok party, right in line with the other sensory stimulus.
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Scando stylings
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 12/10/2014
» Cast aside any thoughts of amicable mass murderers when considering this bright new all-day venue in Sathon. Set in a cosy square space on an accessible soi, the style is a mishmash of cafes and restaurants you could find in any global city of style, particularly Copenhagen where the main partner spent her formative years. There are plenty of details for the aesthetics crowd to enjoy (courtesy of the other main partner) including high and low timber tables, recycled timber, a signature wall of light-bulbed letters and some arrangements that cater well to groups (book those early, particularly on weekends). The crowd is a 50-50 split between local and farang, with a stream of homesick Scandinavians getting their Euro fix. It’s good for a coffee, meal, drink, or more. There’s room for about 40 comfortably, and two narrow smoking perches outside.
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Comfort to a “T”
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 25/07/2014
» If you have made the leap of faith and moved down the nether regions of the Sukhumvit BTS line towards Bearing, your gamble is starting to pay off. The infrastructure of the area is kicking into gear, and T’s Cafe by Maison de Baguette is one such blossom, colouring in a new residential area that stood bare not long ago, and local residents must be wrapped. The space is a slither carved from an existing structure on a huge and semi-dormant family block of land. The dead-end soi gives it a neighbourhood and homely feel, with the friendly Japanese couple who own and run it already engaging the local community with leftovers and collaborations. Inside the smart conversion of the modest shoe-box-esque space, there’s enough room for around 15 diners. The interior is a calming spread of Ikea-esque neutrality, with light timbers, prerequisite industrial light fittings and cute patterned stools at the counter bench. The soothing soundtrack comes courtesy of a local jazz fan who willingly shared his collection. The crowd is majority Thai at this stage, but the Westerners will come.
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Peek-a-boo
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 08/08/2014
» The team that delivered the ever-popular Hyde & Seek gastro bar on Ruam Rudee in 2010 has dropped the long-awaited follow-up venue in Peek-a-Boo. And, as suggested by the name (which is known as ja-ay in Thai), they are in a particularly playful mood. The interior (courtesy of the fresh-faced 10 x 10 Design Studio) is in fact a forest of trees, three to be exact, with the bar positioned in the biggest trunk. There’s plenty of dark timber and greenery draped around the airy space that extends to two outdoor areas and room for 150 people. Groove as a food district is still finding its feet (and taste buds), and might need to rely more on nearby hotel patronage, but it has loads of potential with its breezy layout and solid spread of options, in what should be perfect for the indecisive who can just opt for Groove and decide the specific cuisine on arrival.
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Soap and spaghetti
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 20/06/2014
» What do soap and spaghetti have in common? Not a lot might be a fair answer, but actually it’s more than you may assume. The link between food and beauty products has come to the fore in Bangkok in venues such as the Karmakamet outlets. And the House of Lakshmi Mantra is the next to fall in line. Situated on a huge leafy block on a southern Sukhumvit soi, walking into Lakshmi Mantra is like entering the house of the crazy aunt you never had. It puts the itch back in kitsch, with the soapy aroma throughout the house definitely tweaking the nostrils. The quirkiness kicks off immediately with the soap and flower displays in every corner among the one-off items collected by the proud owner (one of the Supanniga partners). Take a seat at one of the mismatched tables, or, even better, head upstairs where there’s more space for bigger groups.
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Urban Isan barn
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 25/04/2014
» After an extended golden era of European dining in Bangkok, it seems that the city is ready to get back to doing what it should and does do best — be Thai. And a wave of new eateries are bringing authentic Thai cuisine back to Bangkok, in a modern setting and without the inflated Euro-centric price points. Opened in November, Z Cafe is a slick conversion of a shophouse into the obligatory industrial-chic interior complete with exposed brick wall sections, filament light bulbs and some handy use of plumbing in shelves. Downstairs houses enough room for around 30 diners that can look out onto the sub soi, which can get pretty colourful at night with the neighbouring entertainment venues of the area. Upstairs is a cosy space for another 30-35 diners — perfect for a private group(s), as was happening the night we visited. And the kitchen is on the third floor (sorry wait staff). The measured ambience is no fluke, however, as the place is associated with the Anna’s in Phuket and the Anna’s Cafe chain. The crowd is mainly Thai at this stage, with the area’s office workers embracing the Thai menu and the comfortable air-con interior. The cheesy pop soundtrack could do with a little refining, but with the mood set right, the rest is up to the kitchen.
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