What got you interested in knives?
I was a chef for almost 10 years and felt a close bond with the knives I used every day. Knives are like a chef’s hands. When I cut something, I cut it with passion. It’s an emotional thing. It’s a part of us. It’s got history in it.
 
Why do you only supply Japanese knives?
With Japanese knives the charm is all in the craftsmanship. Every step of the process is traditional—they’re handmade with no machinery involved. Artisans make only seven knives per month, while some tailor-made knives can take years.
 
Who does Cutboy cater for?
It’s for chefs who have been working for a while with 1-2 knives and know what kind of knives they like. Money is also a factor since the title “chef” here is pretty different from the West.
 
Are there any popular bladesmiths in Thailand?
There’s very little in the way of kitchen knives as it’s something very new to Thai chefs. Also, we don’t have enough good materials in the country.
 
How do you select the knives? 
Japanese knives have got more soul and back-story. One family I met was a samurai sword maker before changing to make kitchen knives. Western knives are usually mass-produced with machinery. The Japanese knives are high-carbon and made with a real human touch. Therefore, it offers a much better quality but also needs a lot of care. Every blade is unique. 

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The 15th International Festival of Dance and Music in Bangkok presents 17 world class and award-winning performances spanning ballet, opera, contemporary dance and music from all over the world. 

The Nutcracker on Ice, United Kingdom. The ballet classic set on Christmas Eve is brought to the ice courtesy of The Imperial Ice Stars and their 20-strong cast of Olympic, World, European and National Championship skaters. Sep 13-15, 2:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm. B700-3,000. 
 
Les Contes d’Hofmann (The Tales of Hoffman), Russia. This opera staged by Russia’s Golden Mask award-winning director Dmitry Bertman tells the story of a hopeless man and his struggles with love and loneliness. Sep 17, 7:30pm. B1,000-4,500.  
 
Symphony Concert: Helikon Symphony Orchestra, Russia. The 95 members of the orchestra of the Helikon-Opera Theatre conducted by Viadimir Ponkin, who’s led the likes of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Orchestra and the Stockholm Radio Orchestra. Sep 18, 7:30pm. B700-2,500.
 
II Barbiere Di Sigvilia (The Barber of Seville), Russia. The Helikon-Opera stage Gioachino Rossini’s classic opera buffa (comic opera). Sep 19, 7:30pm. B1,000-4,500.  
 
Chick Corea and The Vigil, USA. Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Chick Corea teams up with Tim Garland (saxophone), Charles Altura (guitar), Marcus Gilmore (drums), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), and Luisito Quintero (percussion) to perform music from his extensive back catalog spanning avant-garde jazz and bebop to children’s songs. Sep 20, 7:30pm. B700-3,500.   
 
The Ten Tenors with Orchestra, Australia. The 10-strong musical ensemble from Down Under visit Bangkok for the first time to present their classical take on rock hits past and present. Sep 22, 7:30pm. B700-3,000. 
 
The Ramayana, India. New Delhi-based company Shri Ram Bharataya Kala Kalendra bring The Ramayana epic to life imbuing it with a contemporary significance. Sep 23, 7:30pm. B500-1,500.
 
Correr O Fado, Portugal. The Quorum company present this forceful ballet set to fado, a Portuguese traditional form of music with a tragic bent. Sep 25, 7:30pm. B600-1,800.  
 
Dutch Jazz Night, The Netherlands. Around for more than 65 years, the Dutch Swing College Band featuring Margriet Sjoerdsma visits Bangkok, performing with other famous acts including The Beets Brothers with Judith Nijland and Koh Saxman, and the Jazzikia Group featuring Saskia Laroo and Warren Byrd. Sep 26, 7:30pm. B600-2,000.  
 
The Orchestra of the Teatro Regio di Parma with Two Top Opera singers, Italy. After performing at festivals and theatres around the world, the Orchestra of the Teatro di Parma join here with accomplished singers, tenor Bruno Ribeiro and soprano Annamaria Dell’Oste, to perform operatic hits. Sep 27, 7:30pm. B700-2,500.
 
Inaki Urlezaga Dance Theatre, Argentina. Argentinian dancer and choreographer Inaki Urlezaga teams up with the Ballet Concierto in this tragedy about a love triangle. Sep 28, 7:30pm. B700-2,500.  
 
Michael Jackson Tribute Memory Concert. MJ tribute concert with choreography by Lorant Koncz featuring all the King of Pop’s big hits from “You Are Not Alone and “Thriller” back to his Jackson 5 days. Oct 1-2, 7:30pm. B700-2,500. 
 
Mike Stern Band featuring Anthony Jackson, Steve Smith and Bob Malach, USA. Six-time Grammy Award nominee Mike Stern, who’s played with the likes of Blood Sweat & Tears and the Miles Davis’ band teams up with Anthony Jackson (bass), Steve Smith (drums), and Bob Malach (saxophone) to brings his blend of R&B, rock, swing, funk and world music to Bangkok. Oct 4, 7:30pm. B700-3,000.
 
SEM MM and ONQOTO by Grupo Corpo, Brazil. Groupo Corpo (Body Group) takes Brazilian dance to the next level with its mix of the cerebral, cosmopolitan, primitive and existential. Oct 6, 7:30pm. B700-2,500. 
 
Giselle, Germany. The State Ballet of Karlsruhe stages this tragic tale of a young dancer and her unrequited love. Oct 9, 7:30pm. B700-3,000. 
 
Gala Performance, Germany. The State Ballet of Karlsruhe performs dances from many classical ballets such as The Dying Swan, Les Sylphides and Sleeping Beauty. Oct 11, 7:30pm. B700-3,000. 
 
Romeo and Juliet, Switzerland. The Geneva Ballet company stage their take on William Shakespeare’s most famous play about two star-crossed lovers. Oct 14, 7:30pm. B700
 
Thailand Cultural Centre, Main Hall, from Sep 13-Oct 14. Ratchadaphisek Rd., MRT Thailand Cultural Centre. Tickets available from Thaiticketmajor. 
 

 

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Here’s our roundup of the top hotels for a late breakfast or an all you-can-eat weekend feast.

Rather go to a restaurant? Here's our pick of the top standalone places for your Sunday brunch.

 

Colonnade

The deal: B2,700 with a cocktail.

The selection: The standouts are the cheese, charcuterie, homemade pasta, braised ox tail and wagyu prime ribs. But Kerry Hill’s architecture paired with Ed Tuttle‘s interiors ain’t bad either.

Who is it for: Those who have a luxurious brunch in mind—good food and great service.

The Sukhothai Bangkok, Sathorn Rd., 02-344-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm

Europa Brasserie

The deal: From B2,950 with soft drinks.

The selection: Good quality fare, from very fresh seafood to a la minute orders like Australian beef tenderloin Rossini, dover sole with wild rice and lamb chop with black olives, vine tomato and rosemary.

Who is it for: Those who want a quieter brunch chilling by the pool.

Siam Kempinski, Rama 1 Rd., 02-162-9000. Brunch on Sun 12-2pm

Up & Above

The deal: From B2,100 with soft drinks, B2,800 for free-flow cocktails, wines and beers or B3,500 with all drinks (two people get one bottle of Champagne, too). 

The selection: Although they come under the umbrella of a very Japanese hotel, Up & Above serves up a fairly standard international buffet. As is becoming increasingly trendy, there are also mains you can order from the kitchen, including the likes of Maine lobster roasted with hollandaise butter sauce and served with ink pasta and 150-day tenderloin steak.

Who is it for: Those with deep pockets and large appetites, who want it all.

Okura Prestige Hotel, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000. BTS Phloen Chit. Brunch every Sun 12-3pm

China House

The deal: From B980 with soft drinks. The selection includes a small buffet and an all-you-can-eat a la carte menu.

The selection: Many dishes are prepared a la minute and served at your table, ranging from steamed scallop and minced shrimp dumplings wrapped in spinach wheat dough to Teochew-style steamed crystal dumplings with peanuts. Mains are equally ambitious, with dishes like minced duck in shacha paste wrapped in salted egg and dough and our faves, suckling pig, moo daeng (honey glazed pork slices) and tung po steamed pork belly—totally scrumptious. 

Who is it for: Those who are ready to trade in the variety and casual vibe of a big buffet brunch for some Shanghai chic.

Mandarin Oriental, 48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000. Brunch every Sun 11:30am-2:30pm

Glow

The deal: B780 with soft drinks. The selection: Compact buffet line and made-to-order dishes, including selected signatures taken from sister hotels and resorts in the COMO Group around the world. The brunch also boasts hangover cures in the form of cocktails like the Kafé-Maria (tia maria, frangelico and vanilla ice cream, B280).

Who is it for: Those who want something a bit healthier and without all the fuss.

Metropolitan Bangkok, South Sathorn Rd., 02-625-3366. Brunch on Sun 10am-2pm

Tables

The deal: B1,600 with free-flow soft drinks or B1,980 with free-flow wine.

The selection: The concept here is all about chefs sauntering over to your table to add the final touches to your beef Bourguignon, risotto with black truffles or stir-fried scallops with garlic. Key ingredients stay on but recipes rotate, so that means lobster thermidor one week and a lobster salad the next. There is a buffet, with a serious seafood station while desserts have their own room, so that there’s a slight Charlie and the Chocolate Factory effect when you step on in.

The vibe: Tables has this darker, Southern European meets gentlemen’s club vibe that doesn’t exactly feel like a fresh Sunday morning—but it’s definitely elegant.

2/F, Grand Hyatt Erawan, 494 Ploenchit Rd., 02-254-1234. BTS Chit Lom. www.bangkok.grandhyatt.com. Brunch every Sun noon-2:30pm

Trader Vic’s

The deal: B1,650 or B2,585 with free-flow booze.

The selection: Besides the standard options, there are some tasty Thai favorites, due to having the big Thai chef Chumpol Jangprai in the house and an impressively well-stocked walk-in cheese room.

Who is it for: Dates, families and middle-aged couples after some riverside relaxation. 

Anantara Riverside, 257 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-476-0022. Brunch on Sun 11:30am-3pm

Four Seasons

The deal: B3,473 with free-flow brooze and soft drinks

The selection: Dishes drawn from Shintaro, Madison, Biscotti and Spice Market.

Who is it for: Due to the top-drawer restaurants, you can expect serious foodies, well-moneyed families and expats.

155 Rajadamri Rd., 02-126-8866. Brunch on Sun11:30am-3pm

Sunday Jazz Brunch

The deal: B2,200 or B3,090 with free-flow beers, wine and cocktails.

The selection: International selections ranging from seafood to sushi and Indian curries. 

Who is it for: Those who don’t mind a long buffet line with jazz music as a background. 

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm 

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Here’s our roundup of the top restaurant spots for a late breakfast or an all you-can-eat weekend feast. 

Rather go to a hotel brunch? Here's our pick of the best all-you-can-eat buffets for your Sunday.

Crepes & Co.

Despite having to move to a new venue last year, this restaurant retained its colonial allure by taking up residence in a charming white house on Langsuan. Great service and a nice garden only add to the appeal. When it comes to the food, in addition to the array of sweet and savory crepes (B140-B555), the frequent Greek and Moroccan promotions keep things interesting.

59/4 Langsuan Soi 1, 02-652-0208. Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 8am-11pm

Smith 

With its focus on local produce, emphasizing nose-totail-eating, Smith’s brunch menu covers a fair bit of ground: pork rillette, eggs benedict served with pork belly, haggis and blood sausage, as well as pasta dishes. It’s particularly homey fare and fantastic for the price (B950). Top up your Sunday with some free-flow booze (B485) as you kick back in the achingly fashionable industrial chic setting.

1/8 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-261-0515-6. Brunch on Sat-Sun 11am-3pm

Gastro 1/6

The outdoor cafe at the RMA Institute is not only an idyllic, overgrown hangout but also a great place to get a straight-up brunch the way you may have had it on Sunday mornings in New York. A special treat is the Spanish tortilla with Iberico ham, a fluffy, creamy baked omelet topped with thin slices of salty, chewy ham. We also love how they handle their poached eggs: fat and fluffy on the outside and just starting to thicken on the inside. Sample them in their priceybut-good poached eggs with asparagus and truffle oil (B320).

RMA Institute, 238 Soi Sai Namthip 2, Sukhumvit Soi 22. Open daily Tue-Sun 10am-3pm 

Chu

Chu’s Chef Chirayu na Ranong has just expanded the popular café’s original venue while sticking to the same fuss-free casual tone of old. The menu, too, has been expanded. While most of our favorites remain—from the French toast (B250) to the rich brownies (B65-70) and succulent hot chocolate (made with 58% pure cacao, B120)—there are also some new dishes, like scrambled eggs with cherry tomato salsa and Joe Sloane’s chorizo (B250) . And the great thing is the place welcomes breakfast lovers all day, every day.

2/F, Exchange Tower, 388 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-663-4554. BTS Asoke. Open daily 8am-7pm (subject to change)

Hyde & Seek

This boozy nighttime hangout famed for its cocktails and big dinners also does brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, bringing their playful and  calorieunconscious formula to traditional egg dishes. They do classics like eggs benedict, except their version comes with lobster hollandaise sauce and caramelized bacon (B250). Also exciting is the brioche French toast (B240), which comes with thick cut bacon (another rarity) and proper maple syrup. (The difference from honey is pretty earth-shattering.) We also love that they do carafes of breakfast booze like sangria (B200) and bellinis (B380). 

1/F, Athenee Residence, Soi Ruam Rudee, 02-168-5152. Serves breakfast Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 11-1am 

Chesa

Located in a standalone house at the end of a quiet, leafy alley, Chesa isn’t particularly fancy but it is homey, rustic and warm, with the chef and manager making regular appearances. The deal, B1,350, is for the all-you-can-eat a la carte menu (B1,980 with free-flow wines and bloody marys) and you can sample many dishes thanks to the tapas-sized servings they bring to your table. Make sure to try the capuns dumpling (dried meat with lettuce) and raclette.

5 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-261-6650. www.chesaswiss.com. Brunch every Sun 11am-3pm 

Rocket

One of the new breed of chill café-cum-brunch spots popping up all over town, Rocket certainly fits the bill with its charming location down a quiet but up-and-coming soi, its preponderance of wood and a simple menu of salads, sandwiches, soup, fresh baked pastries and quality coffee. The focus here is squarely on artisanal products and brunchstyle dishes. Salads include the beetroot, with goat cheese and rocket (B165), while sandwiches cover simple but tasty combinations like salami-cheese on homemade focaccia (B175) and gravlax on Danish rye (B175). There are also lighter breakfast options, from omelettes (B120) and eggs benedict (B185) to house made granola served with yoghurt (B110).

149 Sathorn Tai Soi 12, 02-635-0404. www.rocketcoffeebar.com. Open Tue-Sun 7am-7pm

Café Tartine

We tend to visit Café Tartine for their French sandwiches made with great crusty baguettes and simple but high quality ingredients. As if we need any further excuse to visit, their weekend brunch provides it. Expect classics like eggs benedict (B220) and crepes (B160-180), while you simply must end your meal with the chocolate pumpkin tart (B100)—delicious.

Athenee Residence, Soi Ruam Rudee, 02-168-5464. BTS Phloen Chit. Open daily 8am-8pm

Garden of Dream

Located on the top floor of Opposite Mess Hall, Garden of Dream is a welcome spot in which to brunch, with its bare cement meets tropical garden kind of ambience. It’s a long way up the stairs, but once you’re there, you can relax for hours by their plentiful windows while chowing on dishes like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (B195). Heartier options include macaroni and cheese with bacon (B300) and mushroom risotto topped with baked ribs (B250).

4/F, Opposite, Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-662-5057. Open Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 5-10pm; Sun 11am-8pm 

Roast

It’s well known that Roast whips up excellent artisanal coffee, which they roast by themselves at their new home, Coffee Roasting, and even distribute to many other cafés. But what makes them even more popular are their breakfast dishes including standard but succulent items from waffle and strawberries (B240) and eggs benedict (B240). They also have a pairing menu for coffee and dessert—order a cup of Brazil French press coffee served with a brownie (B550 for two). 

Seenspace, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2865. www.roastbkk.com. Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-10pm.

Simple

With its warm brick and redwood interior, this newly opened organic grocers-slash-café-slash-restaurant claims to offer up the best produce sourced from local farmers. That means you can expect everything from brown rice and pure coconut oil to freshlybaked pain au chocolat (B75) and frittata (Italian omelet, B250). As for brunch, your options span eggs benedict (B260) to homemade granola with yoghurt and seasonal fruits (B180). The welcoming staff will also give you the lowdown on what goes into their products, where they come from, how they are made and what’s good on the menu. 

235/5 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-662-2510. Open Tue-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat-Sun 7am-8pm.

Napa on 26

Napa tends to attract either groups planning on maxing out on the free-flow, or savvy couples who realize that this is a sit-down brunch experience that’s pretty close to a fine-dining one. Besides the small buffet line (which has an excellent choice of French cheeses), the mains, served at your table, are actually where Napa shines. These range from a light pan-seared sea bass on capsicum and coriander sauce to the comforting braised lamb shank with mushrooms and mashed potatoes. The pleasurable experience comes with a plesant price tag of B950 or B1,500 with free-flow wines or B2,500 with a premium wine selection.

2/F, Nihonmachi, 115 Sukhumvit Soi 26. 02-258-2622. www.napaon26.com. Brunch every Sun 11:30am-2pm 

Brooklyn Baker

Perhaps more than anywhere, we feel really welcome here thanks to the friendly staff. Seat yourself in the relaxing small garden and nosh on comforting fare like egg rothko (egg-stuffed cheese toast with bacon, sausage and salsa, B240), buttermilk pancakes (B220) and French toast (B215). Order some coffee (from B50), Twist juice (B100) or strawberry lassi (B100) and settle in for the long-haul. 

51/7 Soi Polo (between Soi 2 and 3), Wireless Rd., 081-855-7090. Open daily Mon-Sun 10am-7pm

Tribeca Restobar

The new Tribeca, owned by siblings Rishi and Shareen Arora, dishes out American-influenced cuisine with an all-day brunch focus in a fancy New York-inspired setting. Tribeca’s food is to the point—as egg-y and bacon-y as it can get. Climb up themini-spiral staircase to a more relaxed mezzanine benches, which in turn leads onto a small outdoor terrace hidden at the back of the restaurant before ordering up the pancakes with sous-vide poached eggs, maple glazed pork belly and Hollandaise sauce (B195), carbonara with confit belly (B295), tiger prawn with tagliatelle (B380) and huevos rancheros (chorizo rice, chili con carne, guacamole, tortilla and eggs, B220). Top it all off with the all-you-can-drink mimosas, bellinis and bloody marys at B499.

Nihonmura Mall, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-712-9209. Open Tue-Sun 9am-midnight

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