Yes! This is going to be a Thai-related post!
Oh I hope she isn’t angry with me… such a lovely lady, it would be a shame to be in her bad books. Exactly a month ago (evening of the first World Cup match), I joined The Big Red Food Review team and dined at Essence, Sheraton Imperial. Our host was Cindy Yoong, Director of Marketing Communications. The Big Red Food Review led by deejay Aly were reviewing a Thai Food Promotion that ran for two weeks… and yes, the two weeks have now come and gone… and that is why I hope Cindy isn’t upset with me. I totally missed the boat! Sorry Cindy… please please please forgive me – much love xoxoxo!
Some photos are from the media kit. Spot my shots… white balance completely off #fail!
Amazing dessert spread
Almost everyone I know has fond memories of Thailand. Some are funny, some are romantic… but generally speaking, everyone leaves Thailand with a great story. I remember my first trip to Thailand. Three dudes with no plan, no agenda and clearly no clue hopped onto a bus that departed from Puduraya which headed north towards Hat Yai. The overnight sleeper on wheels arrived Hat Yai in the wee hours of the morning and as we rubbed our eyes and disembarked, the three of us realised that we were in trouble as all the maps we had printed (which was in Latin alphabet) were totally useless to us. The streets were all marked in Thai script which made it impossible to identify.
Fortunately, before we could even scratch our heads (to figure out the mess we were in), a greasy looking Thai fella approached us and spoke in broken Cantonese. That didn’t do me a lot of good because those who know me will know that my Cantonese is as good as my French but fortunately my travel mates could make sense of what he was trying to say. He guided us to a nearby dodgy hotel and began to interpret for us. At the reception desk he says to us…
“Lei oi woon lui mou?” – Translate: Do you want to change money?
Indeed we needed to change some money. We travelled all the way without a single Thai baht between the three of us. The three of us nodded excitedly. He proceeded to talk to the hotel staff and they all smiled. After a quick discussion, he handed us three room keys. We gestured “No” and explained that we wanted to share a single room. Everyone’s eyes almost popped out in disbelief and my greasy friend looked shocked. He lowered his head and did a little squint so as to figure us out and asked again…
“Lei oi woon lui mou?”
To which we nodded… again. Then he exclaimed in English and said…
“3 man – 1 room… how many gerrrr?”
It was then that my friend had figured out what was going on. The greasy fella’s broken Cantonese led us to think that he was asking us whether we wanted to change money when in fact what he meant to ask was…
“Lei oi wan looi mou?” – Translate: Do you want to look for girls?
Clearly the three of us must have looked like horny rabbits to them when they thought we wanted to start an orgy. The fact that we looked like Cletus the Slack Jawed Yokel nodded eagerly didn’t help. Fortunately we managed to get out of this uncomfortable situation without further embarrassment. Greasy dude must have got a little cut for recommending the hotel… and soon disappeared.
Well Essence is far from greasy. It is anything but greasy… but it is a bit of an orgy… when it comes to food. It is chic and contemporary. Essence is Sheraton Imperial’s All Day Dining restaurant. Essence offers an a la carte menu and an impressive international buffet spread. What that means is you get your steak, sashimi, pasta and dim sum all in one place. Buffet breakfast is served from 6:30am to 10:30am, buffet lunch from noon to 2:30pm and buffet dinner from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. Okay enough regurgitating from the media release…
Our meal was prepared by Chef Charoensri Vatanayut and Chef Burin Pongchang who were flown in specially for this Thai Food Promotion. If a picture paints a thousand words then I guess you can piece together the amazing time we had at Essence… besides, I have run out of words!
Dilly setting the mood… ever so elegant…
As usual… can’t survive without my drinks
Aly showing JD how it is done! This Hot & Spicy drink was a blend of pineapple juice, coconut milk and blended chili padi
Poo Ja (deep-fried minced chicken with crab meat), Pla Sam Rod (deep-fried fillet of red snapper topped with sweet sour and hot sauce), Massaman Nua (beef in massaman curry sauce), Pad Pak Ruam Mitr (stir-fried mixed vegetables), Gai Pad Takrai (stir-fried chicken with lemon grass), Larb Gai (minced chicken salad with spicy herbs). My favourite dish was the beef curry. Hazim and I emptied the bowl.
Terry and Aly pause for a media moment. After that Terry resumed normal behaviour – harassing Evelyn, Cindy’s colleague
The Big Red Food Review Team… with a full stomach and ready for the first World Cup match
Dessert – Banana in syrup, Tub Tim Gnob and Pumpkin Custard
Much love goes out to Cindy and The Big Red Food Review Team. Look forward to seeing you all real soon.
If you want to read a more detailed review of the food, click here to read Aly’s review. More information about Essence is available here. You may also contact Essence at +603-2717 9900 to make reservations.
LOL so the 3 of you must hv hamsap faces!!!
hmm i hv a voucher to come here… the question is when :p
How the heck did you get from 5-star hotel to greasy pimps to horny rabbits orgy to Thai food promotion?!!
hi Frat! a great write up and excellent shots.. but what? u mean the promo is over..?! chis …
gfad: I guess I just write badly… no other excuse available at present moment.
ciki: Ya lah! Was for 2 weeks only and I completely missed the boat. I didn’t realise it was 2 weeks only… I thought 2 months. My bad really. I feel horrible.