Bangkok--9 Feb--The Oriental Hotel's
"America's Best Chef" Thomas Keller - Culinary Debut in Bangkok at The Oriental Hotel's Le Normandie
- from 21 - 25 March 2007 inclusive (lunch and dinner) excluding lunch on Sunday, 25 March...
- The first and only American born chef to have two three-star Michelin restaurants since the guide's inception in 1900...
- Named "America's Best Chef" by Time Magazine in 2001...
Widely regarded as one of America's finest chefs, Thomas Keller is chef and owner of The French Laundry, Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery, in Yountville, California; Bouchon in Las Vegas, Nevada; and Per Se and Bouchon Bakery at The Time Warner Center in New York City.
Most recently, the French-based Michelin Guide bestowed "three stars" to The French Laundry and "one star" to Bouchon in Yountville. In 2005, Per Se also received a three-star rating, making Keller the first and only American born chef to have two three-star restaurants since the guide's inception in 1900.
He is the author of the award-winining The French Laundry Cookbook and Bouchon Cookbook.
In 2001, Keller was named "America's Best Chef" by Time Magazine and as "World Master of Culinary Arts" by a panel of international judges at the Wedgwood Awards.
He and his restaurants have collected many accolades in the last decade, including eleven awards from the James Beard Foundation such as: "Outstanding Wine Service", "Best Service", and, in 2005, "Best New Restaurant" for Per Se. In 2004, Keller was named "Best Chef" by Reader's Digest Magazine.
The French Laundry has twice been voted Number 1 in the list of "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" by London-based Restaurant Magaizne. The restuarnat has also received the Mobil Travel Guide's Five Star Award since 1999.
In his teens, Thomas Keller learned to cook from his mother while working at the Palm Beach restaurant she managed. With no professional training, he moved to France and served "stagiaire" apprenticeships in ten Michelin-starred restaurants, including Taillevent, Guy Savoy and Le Pre Catalan. By the earlyl 1980s he was working in New York City where he gained national recognition at La Reserve and Restaurant Raphael. He then opened Rakel, where he developed a loyal following bolstered by rave reviews. In 1991 Keller moved to California to be the executive chef of Checkers Hotel in Los Angeles.
Thomas Keller purchased The French Laundry in 1994. His goal was to create a three-star country French restaurant inteh heart of Napa Valley.
For more information about Thomas Keller's culinary presentation at Le Normandie, The Oriental Hotel, from 21 - 25 March 2007, call 02 659 9000, ext. "F&B Dept.".
Wasana Jukcomping (Ms.)
Public Relations Manager (Local)
The Oriental Hotel
48 Oriental Avenue
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel : 66 (2) 659 0204
Fax : 66 (2) 238 0265
email: [email protected]
www.mandarinoriental
Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net