Old New York - Modern Bangkok

Fashion designer Tawn Chatchavalvong and Executive Chef Christopher Miller of The St. Regis Bangkok collaborate in the latest special edition afternoon tea experience inspired by the glamorous legacy of the original St. Regis hotel in New York and a more modern version, by the same brand, in the Thai capital.

Using his signature “modern take on classic silhouette”, Tawn C. has designed special obelisk-shaped tea stands which reference the iconic Manhattan skyline and the modern city views from The St. Regis Bangkok. He has also created a signature look – similarly inspired – which will be worn by the hotel’s associates during afternoon tea.

“I am proud to partner with Chef Christopher Miller and The St. Regis Bangkok on the ‘Old New York - Modern Bangkok’ afternoon tea experience. It’s very much in line with my personal design style of blending the classic with the contemporary. For this project, I also drew inspiration from Mrs. Caroline Astor’s passion for afternoon tea,” said Tawn Chatchavalvong.

The tradition of afternoon tea dates back to the 18th century when the Duchess of Bedford of Great Britain established an afternoon snack which soon became a social get-together in middle and upper class households. This ritual was adopted by Mrs. Astor – the mother of the founder of The St. Regis and grand dame of New York high society during the Gilded Age – who transformed the occasion into an exclusive private social gathering for the city’s elite.

The new menu, created by Chef Christopher with input from Tawn C., reflects the best of both worlds. “We kept the classic New York foods quite traditional in terms of taste, and we’ve tried to reinvent traditional Thai dishes without straying too far from the original idea and flavour” said Chef Christopher.

To start, guests are served caviar, chive and sour cream cornets accompanied by sparkling tomato essence poured from a Champagne bottle, a nod to Old New York’s blini and caviar indulgences and the city’s Prohibition-era speakeasies.

Other New York-inspired bites include oysters Rockefeller; pastrami and mustard on rye; and smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, as well as the legendary St. Regis New York cheesecake.

The classic cheesecake is also given a Thai twist with bitter orange and gooseberries used to create a som saa cheesecake. The classic scone is also reborn as a coconut and raisin scone served with jams and creams.

Representing The St. Regis Bangkok, traditional Thai treats are given a new slant, including the mussaman chicken petite pie, which sees the thick rich curry sauce enclosed in a pithivier. The mor gaeng brûlée features a conventional duck egg and coconut milk custard dessert topped with caramelized sugar. There’s also a variation of a classic Thai summer dish known as pla haeng taeng mo, with air vacuumed out of the compressed watermelon with dried fish and fried shallots for a denser bite when compared to the original.

The afternoon tea set also includes:  sweet shrimp and chili jam toasts, lemon and pistachio cannoli, citrus jelly, kanom krok (kaffir lime scented coconut cupcakes with pandan cream), and kanom babin (chocolate and coconut cake). The decadent delights are served with complimentary TWG tea or coffee from 15 March to 31 May 2019 at The St. Regis Bar and The Drawing Room on the 12^th floor of The St. Regis Bangkok.

The “Old New York - Modern Bangkok” Afternoon Tea is priced at:

• THB 1,900++ per set for two persons, including tea and coffee
• THB 2,100++ per set for two persons, including additional two cocktails

For reservations and further information, guests can call +66 2207 7777, email [email protected] or visit stregisbangkok.com