sophisticated methods. We will bring these methods in while preserving the flavours.” As with any artistic creation, the audience rarely receives exactly the vision of its creator, bringing their own assumptions and interpretations. But in creating according to an authentic personal version, the artist can often convey something of the universal, and therein lies success. Chef Tiw's collaborator in Mekong, Dr Quek, shares this ambitious approach. "Food and drinks are an art form and I am someone who loves art. So I want to combine these creative mediums so that each dish delivered to the table is artistic in flavour and presentation.” Dr Quek's intention is to make a significant contribution the Chiang Mai food scene, leveraging its incredible ecosystem of fresh produce for something truly innovative. The chili, the ginger, the galangal, the herbs and the spices –the kitchens of Spice Garden promise to enlist these special ingredients for something not seen before in the city. Attached to Mekong, and blending with its refined interior style, is the Brasserie. By day the Brasserie softens its décor to become a venue for a genteel lunch, or for partaking of exquisite cakes and high tea. In the evening, the flowers and fine crockery disappear as the brasserie shifts mode to become a stylish bar, gaining a more masculine feel with its premium whiskies and superior spirits. 44 l 24 LIFE M a g a z i n e
Situated in the beautiful garden, Spice Bar will feature exotic tropical cocktails and mocktails, employing spices and herbs for that something extra, along with a selection of quality local beers, providing a laid-back and affordable alternative to the sophistications of the Brasserie bar. The more relaxed approach continues here with The Kitchen @ Spice Garden, a casual al fresco dining experience where diners are served outside, or beneath a covered area dripping with hanging plants to maintain that floral feel. Multiple food stations offer a variety of options, including Malaysian, Thai, Singaporean, Japanese and western cuisines, along with hawker-style eateries that line Spice Alley. Live music maintains the chilled atmosphere for the garden's diners and drinkers. Spice Garden's mantra of Eat-Drink-Play-Stay is a call to action to all, or perhaps that should be a call to relaxation. And it's a place not just to stay for the day or evening, but for the night, too, with a beautiful boutique 16-room hotel on site. Spice Garden is not just a new development but a cultural project, too, with plans to become a vital new quarter for hosting and driving ongoing community initiatives, such as markets, festivals, exhibitions, and improving the local environs for local businesses, residents and visitors. Early December saw this begin in fine style with Chiang Mai's first ever Nai Soi (street festival) to mark its grand opening, with festivities including a jazz parade, live music, DJs, and street art.
SPICE GARDEN 17 Moonmuang Soi 5, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200 Open daily: 7am – 11:30pm Tel: 063-462-3888 E-mail: contact@spicegarden.co.th Website: www.spicegarden.co.th/
