Is it hard to import coffee beans?
Yes. Coffee is not easy an product to import. The tax is probably 100% of the cost, and the number of importers is also limited.
What makes a good cup of coffee?
Before the coffee reaches you, it goes through about 40 hands to grow, tend, harvest, process and roast. The final step is the barista, who probably plays the most important role. A good barista needs to really know their coffee, so that they can get the most potential out of all the different beans. They need to respect what they do.
What’s your favorite region for coffee?
Different soils give you different coffee beans. I like the African region. Places like Kenya offer exciting beans; it’s almost like traveling.
How did you get into doing this?
We’ve been learning about coffee for years. We met a small community of coffee lovers—from farmers to roastmasters—who are happy to work independently and on a smaller scale, and we learned a lot from them. Coffee connects us to others.
Shang Palace (Shangri-la Hotel Bangkok, 89 Soi Wat Plu, 02-236-7777) is hosting five Chinese chefs who have been flown in from the soon-to-open Shangri-la Hotel at Qufu, the hometown of Confucius. All of them will be cooking local dishes, inspired by the cuisine of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
What’s it like: This space age nightclub, a Bangkok mainstay, is divided into two zones—club and restaurant. Expect regularly rotating shows that often border on performance art. The fact that you’re eating in bed is pretty special, too.
Six eateries dishing up robots, ninjas, temporary blindness and
mangrove swamps for those days when you’re bored with restaurants.
The labyrinth of sois extending north of BTS stations Phrom Pong and Thonglor has got to be the hottest neighborhood in Bangkok right now. It seems there isn't a week that goes by without a new venue opening there. You've heard of Smith, Quince and Rainhill but, trust us, there are many more, from obscure Swiss eateries to preppy secondhand shops.
1.) Amore (SHOP) Made famous by the evening gowns they tailor for Miss Thailand Universe pageants, Amore specializes in glamorous dresses for special events. The founder Pakamon “Khem” Taweesuay does a mix of original creations and homage models.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. 02-259-6211
(EAT) Yes, knitting is still hot! The main draw here is that it’s a great place to knit, providing all the materials you need in its shop, along with some friendly tips, and a cute café to get your knitting done. Big Knit Café has a compact menu of baked pasta, Thai single-dishes and plenty of cakes.
(EAT) It doesn't look like much with it's crudely painted scenes depicting the Swiss Alps and otherwise barebones decor, but this little cheese shop and restaurant has some of Bangkok's best fondue and raclette.
Open Mon-Sat 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm. 02-259-0590
Sure, Opposite was great for a pop-up dinner, but those after some impressive food in an artsy space that they can visit time and time again can look forward to Opposite Mess Hall (2/F, Opposite, 27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 51) arriving this May. Joining Somrak Sila and Chris Wise, the guys behind WTF, will be Jess Barnes (Quince’s former chef) who will whip up his signature style of bold, no-fuss dishes that utilize local ingredients.
