I’ve always liked eating dessert. For a long time I dreamed about opening a dessert restaurant. I was afraid someone would do it before me.
I taped cooking shows and watched them over and over again as a kid. I always enjoyed seeing the women beating eggs or whipping cream. Over time, I realized I wasn’t really into savory cooking. I just love the sweets.
Kulapat “May” Kanokwatanawan, 29, owner of the incredibly popular dessert café After You, talks to BK about the sweet success of her business and explains why she really doesn’t begrudge her many imitators.
Do you think your innocent looks made you a good fit to play the character Jan Dara?
My character Jan was once an innocent boy, but his life experiences and treatment as a child influenced the adult he became. As an actor, developing my character according to the script is much more important than my looks. I should be able to adapt myself to play every character I am assigned, and leave it to the make-up artists and lighting crew to make me look the part.
When the Nonzee Nimibutr-helmed erotic period film Jan Dara was released in 2001, it created quite a stir, with its frequent sex scenes pushing the bounds of Thai censorship. This year sees a remake from M.L Pandevanop “Mom Noi” Devakul (scheduled for Sep 6), which will feature the fresh-faced Mario Maurer in the lead role of Jan, a young man from a wealthy family who is caught up in a cycle of sexual abuse. The actor and model explains to BK how there’s a lot more to the movie than erotica.
I’ve wanted to be a singer since I was a little kid. I loved watching artists on the television, imagining myself being there one day.
While my friends played football after school, my brother [singer Jirayuth “Joe” Wattanasin] and I would hop in a tuk-tuk and go to a music studio for a jam session.
As veteran pop singer Jetrin “J” Wattanasin, 41, gears up to celebrate 20 years in the industry with four special concerts this weekend, he opens up about his early musical memories and his love for his family, including his hopes and dreams for his children.
From now until Aug 15, you can spend your Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings getting your fill of imported oysters from France and the USA as part of the World Oyster Festival Dinner Buffet (B1,199) at the Glass House, Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn Bangkok (33/1 South Sathorn Rd., Bangkok, 02-210-8100). Expect everything from Oyster Kilpatrick to Oyster with Thai spicy sauce and Oyster Florentine with spinach. The accompanying international buffet will also feature salads, choice meat cuts and desserts.
One of the best things about all the new hotels opening up around town is that so many of them come with brand new eateries to try out. Asia Bar+Kitchen (G/F, Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam, 889 Rama 1 Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok, 02-216-2288) is a case in point, comprising a BBQ section as well as a raw kitchen, to showcase recipes from all over Asia. Expect dishes like Cantonese Hor Fun (B130) and Penang fried koayteow (B130).
It may be perched way out on the edge of Bangkok but Material Concept Bar (17 Soi Seri Villa 3, Srinakarin Rd., 089-686-8665) seems like the kind of place where you can really unwind to some chill tunes spun by a live DJ. With its sub dued lighting, this modern-style eatery is definitely going for a homey feel. Try their Caesar salad (B180), smoked duck breast with berry sauce (B220) or ribeye steak (B480). Come before 9:30pm and take advantage of their buy 1 get 1 promotion on wines and cocktails.
How do you describe your relationship with the music you create?
As with anything I do in life, I put my heart and soul into producing music. All my remixes are very, very special to me, and I’m thankful to everyone who appreciates the music I play and produce.
Who are your biggest influences?
Legends like Michael Jackson and Madonna, to name just two. They’ve inspired me in every way with their music and helped me to become the person I am today.
Following their grand opening on Jul 11, new nightspot Levels presents one of India’s most successful party starters, DJ Aqeel. He speaks to us ahead of his one-off gig this weekend (Jul 14).
I would draw every day and on everything I could find. I never thought that my passion for drawing could become a career until I learned what architecture was all about.
Like other typical parents at the time, mine wanted me to be a doctor. However, it was out of the question once I discovered that I was so afraid of blood. They understood my fear, and wanted me to be an engineer instead.
Veteran director, actor, and Yellow Shirt activist, Saranyu “Tua” Wongkrajarng, 51, is currently directing the musical Lang Ka Daeng, about a sane man committed to a mental hospital. Here he talks politics, box office flops and the dismal state of our entertainment industry.
As summer heats up, head over to Machi Machi (3/7 Phitsanulok Rd., Thewet, 081-452-7037) for ice-cream in flavors like matcha green tea, strawberry ripple and cherry frozen yogurt. Other desserts are also available, like waffles topped with ice-cream and chocolate sauce or brownies with marshmallows. If you’re in need of a caffeine burst, try Cuphouse (Soi Sukhumvit 63 near Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-381-5040), another new cute and slightly arty coffee house.
Fans of Mexican food, whip out your sombrero and visit the new brightly decorated eatery Que Chido (Tree Square Project, 1133 Intraporn Rd., Wang Thong Lang, Bangkok, 081-867-5614, 02-935-6800). They serve food from the northern Mexican state of Sonora, a large wheat producer, so you can expect burritos (beans, ground beef, pork or chicken, B220) and chimichangas (deep-fried burritos, B230), as well as another local delicacy, pozole sonorense (soup with beef, beans and corn, B180). The menu is rounded out by tacos (B250), quesadillas (B190-B200) and nachos (B180).
