Full-on fiery feasting, even hotter entertainment and a scorching chilli-eating competition burst into flames at Langsuan's lushest address.
Thailand's hottest "Chilli Fest" returns to Urban Oasis at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok on Saturday, 27th April 2024, filled with even more fiery eats from Bangkok's leading restaurants and MICHELIN-calibre chefs, smoking hot entertainment and a fire show, an eye-watering chilli-eating competition and much more. This year's event even adds on a round-the-world, five-course dinner showcase of the cuisine of the legendary Chef Ian Kittichai.
Chilli Fest Feasting
- Spice-loving guests can ignite their taste buds with a journey around the world of flaming menus from Myanmar, India, China, South Korea, Pakistan, Mexico, Malaysia, Spain and, of course, Thailand. Talented chefs from upscale Bangkok restaurants serve up tastes and plates in a roving marketplace setting with prices starting from THB 120 only. There are even plant-based options for vegetarian chilli-heads too.
Featured chefs, award-winning restaurants and temperature-raising dishes include:
- Thep Nakorn: Chef "Ton" Thitid Tassanakajohn, the mastermind behind the restaurant on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Le Du, returns for the second year with his incredibly moreish Thai boat noodles and mouth-watering krapow.
- Saneh Jaan: This one MICHELIN-Star restaurant is famous for its first-class ingredients from across Thailand. Chef "Toi" Pilaipon Kamnag prepares spicy stir-fried noodles and shrimp with coconut milk and Thai Jinda chilli paste, and spicy pork with lime and Prik Ki Nu Suan.
- Inddee: Chef Sachin Poojary delivers a modern Indian fine dining sensibility, honed by a wealth of experiences including in the Taj Mahal Palace kitchen, earning Inddee its first MICHELIN star within just one year of opening. Chilli Fest guests can look forward to savouring his Bhut Jolokia momo, kanthari chili paniyaram with pork and butternut squash.
- Restaurant Avant: Chef Haikal Johari delights diners with his flair in delicious fusion dishes, blending modern European cuisine with an Asian touch. Having once led the esteemed kitchen of the one-MICHELIN-Star 'Alma' in Singapore, and now returning to Bangkok as the co-owner and executive chef of Restaurant Avant, located on the 30th floor of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. He's serving up grilled koshihikari with mentaiko and coconut, and pineapple gazpacho with mint and gochuchang.
- Restaurant Coda Bangkok: Chef "Tap" Supasit Kokpol, the founder of this popular modern Thai-Chinese restaurant and successful challenger on Iron Chef Thailand Season 9, presents his culinary prowess with dishes including spicy Northern sausage hot dog and Chef Tap's signature burger.
- Vaso: Coming from stellar tenures at MICHELIN-starred La Terraza and Dos Palillos in Spain, and currently helming Bangkok's Vaso Spanish Tapas Bar with his oh-so-colourful characters, Chef ?lvaro Ramos presents contemporary tapas such as gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and alb?ndigas patata paja.
- Urban Refugee Kitchen by Na Projects: Na Projects and Urban Refugee Kitchen aims to help refugee families one meal at a time. At Chilli Fest, guests can savour Pakistani flavours while supporting the Urban Refugee Kitchen with homemade delicacies prepared by refugee families, including veggie samosas, biryani rice with eggplant masala, biryani Rice with beef masala and gulab jamun. All meals prepared will enable your hosts to afford housing, food, and necessities as they seek asylum in this City of Angels.
- Aromkwan: Founded by Chef "Bank" Vishnu Prempuk, Aromkwan is Bangkok's renowned Asian smokery. Chef Bank, of Malaysian-Indian-Thai-Chinese descent, draws inspiration from his heritage, particularly recipes from his Malaysian grandmother. Taste Chef Bank's passion for BBQ through the restaurant's most popular dishes like smoked pork knuckle biryani, BBQ ikan bakar and Asian slaw.
- Canes: CANES, a collaboration between scientists and chefs to provide exquisite plant-based cuisine, is dedicated to its acronym ? Cruelty-free, Altruistic, Natural, Evolutionary, and Sustainable practices. At Chilli Fest, CANES's head chef, Chef "Son" Siripong Kosol brings forth dishes Northern-style chilli paste made from Kariang chilli, served with vegan crackling and Vegan dry boat noodle with roasted Hua Rua chilli.
- Lady GooGoo: GooGoo, a Burmese foodie and traveling chef with a mission to advocate Burmese cuisine with modern touches to the world, brings her flavour-packed BTS (Burmese tea salad), BCFC (Burmese chilli fried chicken) and summer mohinga (Burmese Khanom Jeen).
- Gaby, Megan & Diego: Latin power is on fire in the kitchen with Megan Leon, Gaby Espinosa and Diego Zarco. With skills honed at Bangkok's Gaa, 80/20, Bo.Lan, Nahm, Eat Me and Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh, this dynamic trio teams up to serve up coctel de camar?n estilo "sinaloa" and flauta de Chorizo "naem".
- Summer Palace: The team led by Chef Shui Wing Yau from this popular Cantonese restaurant prepares mouth-watering of flavourful Sichuan dishes with their own twists including spicy basil shrimp dumpling, poached chicken in Sichuan chilli oil sauce and braised pork knuckle with mala sauce.
- ANJU: Executive Sous Chef Shim Young Dae from ANJU Korean Rooftop Bar, Bangkok's first and highest Korean rooftop bar, makes his Chilli Fest debut with signature fishcake skewers with fiery spicy sauce and Korean fried chicken with chilli peppers.
- Bar.Yard: Last but definitely not least, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok proudly presents our rooftop oasis up in the clouds. Helming the grill there is the hotel's Executive Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara, who has put his unique twists on classic BBQ favourites. At Chilli Fest, enjoy pork shoulder taco al pastor, lobster quesabirria and vegan cheese truffle quesadilla. Round it all up with a decadent Mexican-style rice pudding, arroz con leche!
Exclusive Chilli-Fest Dinner
For a more intimate Chilli Fest feast, Stock.Room presents an exclusive five-course tasting menu by Chef Pongtawat "Ian Kittichai" Chalermkittichai, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on 27 April at its Cooking Studio. The legendary Chef Ian, among many other accolades, is the Iron Chef Thailand and the Co-host and Head Chef of the newly launched Hell's Kitchen Thailand television series. The degustation menu for the evening invites guests to explore Chef Ian's culinary world, with each course inspired by his various restaurant concepts across the globe. Get up close and personal with the chef himself at this limited-seat dinner at THB 2,999++ per person, which includes an entry to Chilli Fest as well. A premium beverage pairing is also available at THB 1,199++ per person. Advance reservations are required.
Chilli-Eating Competition
The bravest hot heads are invited to join the chilli-eating competition to vie for the grand prize. Contestants need to show their mettle by munching on increasingly hot chilli peppers, up to a 2,400,000 Scoville heat units, with the last competitor standing the ultimate winner. There will be a prize for the second and third winners as well. The contest is free and open to the public to register prior to the event for whoever dares. Contestants will be shortlisted.
Chilli Market
Chilli-Fest guests get the chance to shop local chilli products from That Daeng Sauce and Firepower Hot Sauces and hip merchandise designed by Akkara Bangkok, including t-shirt, tote bag, bucket hat and cap, exclusively for Chilli Fest. California Ink Bangkok also makes a return, inking up festival patrons with chilli tattoos for free!
Chilli Fest takes place Saturday, 27th April 2024 at Urban Oasis from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. The entry fee is THB 250 that comes with one complimentary drink. Early bird ticketing is now available online at THB 200 only. Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/PRChilliFest2024EN.
A portion of Chilli Fest proceeds will be donated to support Sati Foundation. Sati Foundation is a grass-roots non-profit founded in Thailand in 2013 that aims to improve healthcare and education for at-risk and underserved children and youth.
For information, please visit https://bit.ly/PRChilliFest2024EN or call +66 2 056 9999.