Holiday TimeBangkok Post

 Read more news at bangkokpost.com Tuesday, decembeR 26, 2017

A Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok “stay-cation” provides the great escape — minus the hassle of planes, trains and automobiles

Christopher Lombardi

There’s much to be said about travelling to far-off lands as part of a much-anticipated holiday trip. The fly-away hol-iday has so much to offer, from

the excitement of seeing new sights and hearing foreign languages, to the intrigue of sampling exotic cuisines.

And who doesn’t relish the thrill of fill-ing out visa and travel insurance forms, packing for a variety of unknown weather conditions and meeting new people while lingering in serpentine immigration queues — not to mention those scenic, hours-long airport transfers.

HOLIDAY TIME’S ONLINE @ https://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/1372175/holiday-time-2017

The perfect high-end holiday, right in your own back yardThe perfect high-end holiday, right in your own back yard

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2 I HOLIDAY TIME Bangkok Post I Tuesday, december 26, 2017

Let’s Relax at Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20

Haute festive dining at Savelberg

Sit back and relax as the

package includes all the essentials for your holiday

Michelin-starred Chef Henk Savelberg presents a European festive set menu for Christmas and New Year at Savelberg Bangkok

Chef Henk Savelberg, who has the distinction of having been awarded a Michelin star in four different restaurants across the Nether-lands, and has now been awarded a star in the Michelin Guide to Thailand for his Bang-

kok restaurant, is preparing a Modern French menu for diners at Savelberg Bangkok during the Christmas and New Year festive season.

Served on 24, 25 December and on 31 and 1 Janu-ary, for both luncheon and dinner, the seven-course menu is priced at 6,000 baht plus service and gov-ernment tax.

Dinner begins with a Faberge egg overflowing with 15 grams of Royal Oscietra caviar, followed by a course

of sliced lobster with a bunch of shimeji mushrooms, lemon grass, ginger and pomelo.

An oyster is served with a puree of sauerkraut and pork, and then comes a course of turbot with orange and hazelnut. A rich dish of foie grass and black truffle is accompanied by green cabbage, with the main course being pigeon roasted with liver and beetroot. A pre-des-sert of apple pie follows, with dinner concluded by a sweet serving of rhubarb with white chocolate, vanilla sauce, and tarragon leaves.

SAVELBERG THAILAND at Oriental Residence Bangkok. 110 Wireless Road. Tel. 02 252 8001. www.savelbergth.com.

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For those who wish to tweak the leisure get-away equation to all but eliminate time-eating formalities and travel while still enjoying that pampering splendour, exotic vibe and sense of ‘escape’, Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok has the perfect solution: [stay + vacation = stay-cation]

One only need do the math to realise the dividend of making Bangkok-hometown the holiday destination of choice, namely, more of that precious leave-time to spend surrendered to the seductive caress of care-free holiday bliss — sans the aggravation and inherent uncertainties of multi-modal, cross border travel.

With its convenient lower Sukhumvit Road location, Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok is so downtown, many readers likely pass right by the understatedly grand edifice on a regular basis. But don’t let the familiarity fool you — this stately palace of pamper hits all the right notes for a uniquely soul-sooth-ing, in-town leisure experience, far removed from its urban hustle-bustle surrounds.

Each of the 345 Luxury-, Luxury Club rooms and Suites are stylishly appointed and comfort-designed to provide a hits-the-mark balance of practicality and refined elegance, with a wealth of thoughtful details and meticulous touches that afford all the comforts of home… plus amenities aplenty.

Standard-class Luxury room appoint-ments include complete in-room entertain-ment system with flat screen TV, rain shower and extra-large bath. Alternately, stay-cat-ioners with a penchant for exclusivity can opt for the hotel’s Luxury Club Millesime rooms, with more space, sublime décor, premium Bose sound system and execu-tive workstation. Along with the extra-tony digs, Club Millesime guests enjoy a number of enticing extras, including VIP check-in and access to the 31st floor Club Millesime lounge. Here in this rarefied realm of serene elegance, guests may relax in soft-leather comfort while enjoying ongoing dining services throughout the day, including a la carte breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés.

And all guests are invited to explore the many culinary wonders served up daily at the property’s popular house dining venues.

For a deliciously uncommon buffet experience, Voila! is a virtual cornucopia of multicultural cuisines. Be it the tippy-top class top o’ the morning breakfast spread, dizzying-selection seafood feast, bounti-ful brunch or special holiday event, this standout nosh-spot is truly a nexus of world cuisine excellence.

And way upon on floor 32, L’Appart offers a dining and socialising experience unlike anywhere else in town, with the timelessly stylish décor motif simply dripping with classic French charm. Stepping through the door is a like a journey to another place and time: The layout is based on the clas-sic Parisian apartment design (hence the restaurant’s name) common to the Belle Époque era popularly associated with posh tea rooms, La Vie En Rose and Coco Chanel. Guests may sit at the Chef’s table as Head Chef Nicolas Basset and his team

prepare the evening’s culinary works of art, then retire to the Library Bar which, come evening time, becomes a humming hive of sophisticated soirees that exude a timeless bon vivant vibe.

For fabulous brunching and buffet dining, Viola! sets the standard for casual-elegant all-you-can-eat fine cuisine. With hosts of roasts, glistening ice terraces of ocean fresh seafood, over-fresh pizzas plus a multitude of cuisines and rotating menu of dessert selections, Viola! is an international dining experience that truly lives up to its name.

If relaxation is a priority, Sofitel Sukhum-vit Bangkok has just the ‘me-time’ solu-tion. Their award winning in-house spa, Le SPA with L’Occitane Spa, was named “Best Luxury Hotel Spa in Thailand” at The World Luxury Spa Awards 2017 and 2016; “Best Luxury Hotel Spa” Country Finalist 2015; and, winner of “World Luxury Spa Award 2014”, while holding the distinction of being the first wellness retreat in Bang-kok to combine French-Mediterranean spa philosophies with Thailand’s healing arts. Located on a dedicated health and well-being floor, the menu offers a full menu of classic spa treatments, including body scrubs, aromatherapy and facials, acupres-sure, bath rituals, among many others.

And when it comes to getting down to business, Sofitel’s new bespoke Magnifique Meetings service and facilities offers 15 meeting venues located on an integrated, multi-functional meetings floor, fully equipped with the latest multimedia and communications technology.

But most rewarding about the Sofitel Sukhumvit “stay-cation” experience are those facets of foreign travel which guests will not have to give up.

As a leading world hospitality brand, it’s no surprise that Sofitel Sukhmvit is a hot-spot destination for travellers from around the world. This is reflected in the hotel’s pan-cuisine dining, as well as in its staff international personnel, which includes native-speaking hospitality professionals from France, Japan, China and Korea, along with Thai staff fluent in Arabic and Portu-guese — truly a polyglot’s paradise!

Amid the rainbow of national origins, all Sofitel Sukhumvit staff exude the hospital-ity group’s signature warm sophistication, flawless professionalism and can-do ser-vice approach that makes every guest feel at once like a VIP visitor and member of an extended family.

Despite the otherworldly luxury and international ambience that defines this nexus of hospitality and refinement, there is nothing at all exotic about Sofitel Sukhum-vit’s location — right on Sukhumvit Road in one of Bangkok’s most popular tourist districts, just steps from the BTS Sky Train’s bustling Asoke station.

SOFITEL SUKHUMVIT BANGKOK HOTEL 89 Sukhumvit Road Soi 13-15. Tel. 02 126 9999. Email: h5213@sofitel.com. www. sofitel-bangkok-sukhumvit.com/.

The perfect high-end holiday, right in your own back yard

An award winning lifestyle well-ness hotel, Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, offers a three-night stay Well Relaxing Pack-age including daily interna-

tional breakfast buffet, free in room mini-bar, a 60-minute Thai or Aromatherapy Massage for two, a 500-Baht dining voucher and free entrance to group exercise class including Muay Thai Cardio.

Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 is located in the heart of Bangkok and within walking dis-tance to BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit. It is a perfect location for the shoppers and urbanites as shopping malls, restaurants, coffee shops and night life districts are surrounded. Guests can enjoy full facilities including The Twist Bar & Bistro, Eat Well Café, Well Spa, rooftop salted swimming pool, gym and sauna as well as free wifi and infused water stations. The hotel also offers complimentary Tuk Tuk shuttle to the BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit. Ideal for health loving guests, all Executive Rooms and Execu-tive Suites are equipped with an exercise bike, yoga and Pilates equipment.

The three-night package starts from Baht 9,499 for Superior Room, B10,999 for Deluxe Room and Baht 14,599++ for Executive Room and Baht 19,399 for Executive Suite, with a spe-cial rate for extended stay.

The Well Relaxing Package is valid for book-ing from now until 31 March 2018 and stays from now until 30 June 2018.

WELL HOTEL BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT 20 Tel. 02 127 5995, www.wellhotelbangkok.com or email rsvn@wellhotelbangkok.com.

Tuesday, december 26, 2017 I Bangkok Post HOLIDAY TIME I 3

Nautical utility is seamlessly interwoven with the eques-trian heritage of the house: knotted ropes which mirror braids and bridles become

cable details in jumpers; illustrations from a 17th century equestrian treatise, Della Cavalleria, translate into paisley prints and intricate embroidery. Goatskin sailor shorts and lambskin mini-dresses are dec-orated with palladium horse bits; even the stitching applied to leather takes inspira-tion from the traditional techniques of sad-dlery. Workwear silhouettes and tuxedo tailoring are adapted to contemporary femininity: cargo and tuxedo trousers made modern by their precise proportions; utilitarian denim double-woven to reveal underside glimpses of Bourgogne red. These eclectic narratives, and the shapes they inform, are united and intermittently interspersed throughout the collection with compelling repetition, both new and familiar at once.

Silk twill scarves continue to inspire: appropriated, deconstructed and ampli-fied, here they become bias-cut skirts, car-digans and twillaine dresses, sometimes silhouettes of the original, sometimes a repeat of their illustrations printed over each other. One example, decorated with marbles, becomes a variant of a polka-dot dress, fastened with bespoke resin imita-tions of the marbles in lieu of buttons. The elegance of these classic scarves is treated with apparent irreverence, but their mani-festation is meticulously refined.

A saturated, solar palette of aurora oranges, ocean blues and cantaloupe yellows pays tribute to the season. Here the worlds of reality and imagination are blurred: summer sophistication refracted through a prism of feminine fantasy.

HERMES: G Floor, Central Embassy Tel. 02 160 5890-1; M Floor, Siam Paragon Tel 02 129 4800-1. Open 10.00 - 20.00.

Spring-Summer women’s pre-collection distorts familiar codes of dress, playfully reworking tradition and sartorialism

Whimsical Indulgence

Marble cacao cake!

Capture the vibe of this season with cosy bed linen, glittering illuminations, and festive décor. Find your signature look

at Jaspal Home for everything you need to get ready for the celebrations ahead. Offering gift sets and an expansive range of accents to revamp your homes with a seasonal charm.

Add a touch of subtle holiday style to your bed with our Attilio bed linen, 800 thread count set made of micro modal cotton. An indigenous display of stripes available in pure white or sienna to match your preference. Sophistication never runs out of style and is a complement to every season.

Shop a collection of trendy, classic, and luxurious products at Jaspal Home to uplift the festive shenanigans.

Available at JASPAL SHOPS at: Central Embassy 4th Fl.  Tel. 02 160 5961;   Siam Paragon 3rd Fl. Tel. 02 129 4505; The Emporium 3rd Fl. Tel. 02 664 8566.

Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok pre-sents “Cake Marble Cacao”, a unique gift for chocolate lovers. 

This 1.5 pound cake is made accord-ing to a recipe from Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. The cake is priced at 750 baht net and is available at the Lobby Lounge until 6 January 2018.

The  classic marble cake is inspired by classic products and loved by Paris-ians. Created using premium quality chocolate from France and the finest roasted hazelnuts as main ingredi-ents, the cake is glazed with roasted hazelnut ginduja and topped with medley of dark milk chocolate coins, presented as an afternoon treat in a small slice to enjoy with coffee or tea.

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL BANGKOK 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu. Tel. 02 236 7777 or 02 236 9952.

4 I HOLIDAY TIME Bangkok Post I Tuesday, december 26, 2017

To welcome the festive season, Audemars Piguet, Swiss Haute Horlogerie brand with a history of over 140 years, presents new “Royal Oak

Frosted Gold Limited Edition”. At 41mm and with only 200 pieces made, the new edition boasts 18-carat white gold case and bracelet, glare-proof sapphire crystal caseback, blue toned “Grande Tapisserie” dial, Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, and water-resistant to 50m.

Meticulously crafted, effortlessly worn, the Florentine finish adorning the Royal Oak Frosted Gold is a textured surface decoration on precious metal invented decades ago and predominantly found on smaller jewellery pieces. By beating the gold with a diamond tipped tool, it

created tiny indentations on the surface that gave a sparkle effect similar to that of precious stones, like diamond dust.

Royal Oak Frosted Gold Limited Edi-tion is priced Baht 1,900,700.

… AND NEW CUFFLINKSTo accompany the new Royal Oak

Frosted Gold 41mm, Audemars Piguet refreshes its accessories collection with six new pairs of Royal Oak cufflinks: three in stainless steel with either a blue, black or silver “Tapisserie” pattern in the center. Two in pink gold with blue or black “Tapisserie” in the center. And last but not least, one in yellow gold with a blue “Tapisserie” pattern in the center.

DISCOVER AUDEMARS PIGUET at the Audemars Piguet Boutique on G Floor, Central Embassy. Tel. 02 160 5838

The New Royal Oak Frosted Gold

Limited EditionThe latest timepiece by Audemars Piguet

Revisit Rattanakosin

On this New Year’s Eve, Sunday 31st December, Blue Elephant Restaurant, led by Chef Nooror Somany Steppe, will trans-port you back in time to the

Rattanakosin era when Royal Thai Cuisine became renowned as one of the cultural symbols that represents the exquisite refine-ment of the Thai court.  Products used in the New Year’s Eve Set Menu are selections from the Royal Project as well as culinary gems of various provinces in Thailand.

Chef Nooror and her team have prepared a sumptuous, 7-course New Year’s Eve Menu – using primarily products from the Royal Project and organic ingredients from some of the best farms in Thailand – taste-fully blended with her famous curry pastes culminating in dishes of finest flavours and highest in aesthetics in presentation.

The gastronomic New Year’s Eve Set Menu includes among others: “Maa Auan Pheasant” using the locally-reared pheas-ant, and the Royal Project “Hill Tribe Rice” as Zakouski; “Walnut Foie Gras” and “Rice Vermicelli with Giant River Prawn” – the giant prawns fresh from Ayutthaya – as tan-talizing starters.

One of the main dish choices is juicy “Thai Wagyu Beef with Red Curry” featur-ing Sakon Nakhon raised beef served with  organic black jasmine rice.

Chef Nooror’s dessert creation “Pistachio Cake” is just one of the many flavourful sweets selections to be served in celebra-tion of the New Year.

The 7-course New Year’s Eve Feast at Blue Elephant Restaurant is priced @ Baht 4,280++ or Baht 5,038 net per person. For an additional Baht 1,500++ or Baht 1,766 net,

the diner will have a chance to savour some of Blue Elephant’s superb wines paired with each delicious dish. The restaurant’s pre-mium Champagne can be pre-ordered at a special price of Baht 2,800++ or Baht 3,296 net per bottle. 

For those diners wishing to ‘dress up for the occasion’, please wear your best pearls according to Blue Elephant’s theme of ‘chic and glam’ to ring in 2018 in style! Mais oui!

Last but not least, live entertainment will heighten the festive ambiance for the diners to ring in the New Year in style at Blue Ele-phant Restaurant.

BlUE ElEPhAnT COOkInG SChOOl & RESTAURAnT 233 South Sathorn Road (opp. Surasak BTS). Tel. 02 673 9353 – 8 Email: cooking.school@blueelephant.com

Rattanakosin Era Royal Dishes and Royal Project Produce for New Year’s Eve Set Dinner at Blue Elephant Restaurant