“Perhaps more than anything else, it is the French chef’s willingness to question and build on the past, to innovate, to revise, that has kept French cuisine pre-eminent among western cuisines…” So says the Oxford Companion to Food under its entry for France. In Bangkok, it’s two French-trained Thai chefs who are developing French food…
Read moreFaithful and creative
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone fans are desperate to know: “Is the film true to the book?” Well, that depends. As the Sorting Hat says while reading Harry’s mind, “It’s all here, in your head.” The world that millions of passionate fans have conjured in their own imaginations…
Read moreLotus positioning
The 42-storey Thai Farmers Bank headquarters lies on the “wrong” side of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, giving staff an unusual view of the city. This is not the bank’s only unique outlook: it’s considered to have one of the more visionary IT and overall re-engineering strategies in Thailand’s post-crisis environment. Thai Farmers Bank (TFB), the…
Read moreCarbon dated transactions
When customers at a downtown branch of Thailand’s fifth-largest bank take a deposit or withdrawal slip, they take a sheet of carbon paper too – it means they can write their own receipt. It’s no surprise then, that Bank of Ayudhaya (BAY) customers were taken aback by the August launch of the bank’s first foray…
Read moreA home away from home
What do expatriates do when they want to live in a house in Thailand that reflects their own style? Designer Kristina Zanic and her husband Brian found the answer: find a house that has potential, and negotiate for reduced rent in return for you footing the renovation bill. Nearly three years ago they found a…
Read moreThe business of relaxing
A designated, beautiful space for you to let your troubles evaporate, your stress dissolve. Treatments to relax and re-energise your tired, hard-worked body and mind, over the course of just a few hours. Welcome to the day spa concept: already wildly popular in places like the US and Singapore, Thailand has only recently caught the…
Read moreHoliday home market looks appealing
The top end holiday homes market is seeing movement after the overall market effectively closed down during the crash period, say experts. A real return to action in the middle market is not expected for another three to five years, but prices have bottomed-out, meaning now could be a good time to buy. Executive director…
Read moreBuy art for art’s sake and it just might pay off
Investing in the Thai art market is not for those wanting to make a quick buck. For most collectors, buying art is driven by a love of particular pieces. Financial gain is secondary, and in most instances collectors will rarely sell pieces they like, even if their market value increases. Nevertheless, there can be good…
Read moreThailand’s paper industry: Predictions difficult, potential there
If you want to take the pulse of Thailand’s pulp and paper industry, the Thai economy is the wrist to grab for a beat. “There is some lag, but Thailand’s GDP is really like an index for how the paper industry is doing,” says Price and Pierce (Thailand) project manager Nillachai Damrongkijudom. Unfortunately, the Thai…
Read moreHope diamonds: Beyond sparkle
A branded diamond: It’s a new concept in the world of diamond retailing. And Thailand was chosen as the first country in which to launch the first-ever branded diamond targetted towards consumers. The name of the diamond is Hope. Launched in August, it will hit shelves at six selected jewellery retailers later this month. So…
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