Jim Thompson, Thailand’s iconic lifestyle brand, has taken a bold step of late into the world of hospitality. The famous Jim Thompson Museum located near the National Stadium recently unveiled its newly renovated F&B wing, which now houses two venues, most recently Jim Thompson, A Thai Restaurant.

 

The restaurant, which opened in mid-October, pays respect to the legacy of the entrepreneur (and spy). The design company HBA has incorporated over 70 pieces of Jim Thompson Home Furnishings into the interior design of the restaurant's dining room, which further contributes to the historically rich setting.   

 

 

Leading the culinary team is Executive Chef Pepe Dasi, whose culinary journey has led him from two and three Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain as well as to Norway and Australia. Driven by his passion for Thai cuisine, Chef Pepe found his way to Thailand where he’s crafting traditional Thai flavors with a unique Spanish twist.  

 

Taking a closer look at the menu, for starters there’s brioche toast featuring pickled mackerel, Thai Excalivada, and cream cheese. This dish draws inspiration from the classic tomato namprik and includes vegetables cooked in ash to create a smokey scent, which pairs well with the organic pla raa from Udon Thani. There’s also the mieng kham iberico, where the twist lies in the addition of organic Iberico pork, Koh Panyu shrimp, Basque piparras, and Andalusian sherry pickles. For those craving seafood, there are the rice prawns created based on Jim Thompson’s Malaysian adventures. The river prawns from Ayutthaya are served with an aromatic herbal salad and a Penang-style yellow curry accompanied by classic roti bread.  

 

 

Save some room for dessert and try the Thai basque cheesecake that involves Thai tea and pistachios, or the must-try wafer, which is a signature dessert that features a nutty flavored duck egg custard served in a crispy waffle sandwich paired with custard ice cream and crispy shallots. 

September saw the opening of the Jim Thompson Museum’s other offering, OSS Bar, a spot celebrating the clandestine life of Jim Thompson himself, featuring the Bangkok bartending talents of Khun Ploy Siriwan Sinpan.