Bangkok Brunch at So Sofitel Red Oven Restaurant
So Sofitel’s Red Oven Restaurant offers one of the most extensive and lavish weekend brunch locales in the city, one where tables encircle its signature Molteni (red oven) and guests revel in panoramic views of green Lumpini Park.
The sights themselves are enough to feast on, but the focal point of the Red Oven is an abundant buffet, with a spread varied enough to satisfy palates from the hard-to-please-child all the way to the true gourmet. The restaurant also takes a modern twist on traditional street food by boasting nine live-cooking stations.
Start your brunch with fresh veggies, cold cuts, imported cheeses, olives, hummus and French breads at the organic salad bar, then move on to the sushi and sashimi counter or indulge in oysters, prawns, and Alaskan King crab from the succulent seafood spread.
For hot entrees, visit the carving station for beef and lamb shank, or help yourself to pastas, quiche, pizza, stews and soups, as well as rice dishes, steamed vegetables and grilled fish.
More traditional breakfast fare is available in the form of waffles and crepes. Load up on the accoutrements: syrups, honey, jams, chocolate spreads and the like.
Just be sure to save some space for sweets, because the star of the show is undoubtedly Red Oven’s dessert bar. Here, the chocolate fountain mesmerizes children, while miniature desserts tempt the more sophisticated adult palates. Recommend are the tiramisu, lemon meringue tarts, panna cotta and rich bites of dark chocolate brownie. The portions are so small (and irresistible) that you’ll definitely enjoy more than one.
The homemade ice cream counter is another crowd-pleaser, showcasing berry sorbets and rich, creamy concoctions. Guests can even handcraft frozen treats by tossing mix-ins onto their ice creams on a cold-stone slab.
A kids’ club gives the littlest luncheon attendees an outlet for the energy gained after dipping marshmallows in the chocolate fountain. Once the kids are occupied, adults can finish off their afternoons in peace and quiet over one of many gourmet teas or coffees.
Saturday and Sunday brunches start at noon. Free-flow wine catered by The Wine Connection allows guests to have their pick of red, white or sparkling wine.
So Sofitel will host various holiday-themed celebration dinners, brunches and parties for Christmas and New Year, giving expats who live far from home a wonderful way to create lasting memories this holiday season.
PRICES
Brunch is 1,950 ++ per person, including juices and hot teas.
Upgrade to 2,350 ++ for soft drinks and free flow wine.
Children ages 5-12 years are half price, and kids under five eat for free.
http://www.so-sofitel-bangkok. com/
(published first in Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style Magazine)
by Mandy Smith
