BK Magazine 805 by BK Magazine

it's free! Good Story Bangkok creative agency 56th Studio puts story before form No Boundaries How one Thai cricketer is building the sport at home Hole In One Nine donut shops tipping the scales in favor of the fried treat Better Homes Splash out with chic Scandi design at Norse Republics

NO. 805 MAY 14, 2021. www.bkmagazine.com

Vaccines, please.

CAN THAILAND’S SERVICE INDUSTRIES BE SAVED?

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

Reach affluent urbanites through our trusted guide. To be featured, contact us at advetising@coconuts.co 02-041-5755

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“If you all would have blindly trusted the advice of experts like Chaiyo, we wouldn’t be in this mess now,” he said. “It’s as if no one wants to get back to normal, a time when down-and-out men can attend cockfighting matches again and our nation’s many fine celebrities can return to acting in TV commercials for a handful of mega brands by day and by night go on coke-fueled, club-hopping rampages across Thonglor-Ekkamai.” Many in Bangkok’s increasingly self-aware middle class were less than impressed with Chaiyo’s divinations.

shopping

the last word

Upgrade your decor

Natthakan “Jeans” Chantham

“I just lost my job because of this clown’s rules, and now he’s telling me I can’t have a beer with my bf and I have to spray myself with disinfectant after I go out on my balcony. Can someone wake me up when this is over?” a Twitter user who goes by the handle JaJa [cat emoji] [crown emoji] [twinkle emoji] posted on her account. At press time, a CCSA spokesperson told reporters that the agency’s faith in Chaiyo remained steadfast and they “looked forward to whatever life-saving guidelines he’ll come up with next.”

upfront

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

NUMEROLOGY

81,274

100

Number of Covid-19 cases Thailand has recorded at press time

Percent of people in Bangkok who have tested positive for needing a vacation

Average number of tabs Bangkok employees working from home currently have open

Percent of work hours those same employees currently spend refreshing Twitter and IG feeds

∞

Boredom level in Bangkok

D-

I OV

YOU SAID WHAT?

“and sadly more will follow” — Facebook user Frits Kuijper on news that stalwart fine dining restaurant Bo.lan is closing for good

“Yet worshipping a wooden dick is considered holy” — Facebook user Jira Vaisayasirikul on news that a Samut Songkhram sweet shop’s edible amulets were deemed “inappropriate”

“Hyperbole. Please fact-check.” — Instagram user _darkle on BK’s Open Door column highlighting Italian restaurant Contento

HOT OR NOT

FLOUR

LOCKDOWN TRAVEL

What we learned recently:“flour” has a remarkably high street value. It turns out that 3.2kg of “flour” was worth US$4.1 million (B128 million) in Australia in 1993. It also turns out that “flour,” which can be misconstrued for a Schedule 9 narcotic if you’re either a naif or a bald-faced liar, won’t disqualify you from serving in the Thai cabinet.

As it happens, lockdown isn’t so bad if you’re rich af. Just ask the growing number of Thai celebs pretending Covid-19 isn’t real. Like, say, jet-setting actress and Kolour attendee Ploy Chermarn. Ploy tested positive for Covid-19 following a very necessary pleasure trip in early May to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, where she visited a good dozen-plus destinations.

INTERNATIONAL LAW Drug-dealing is illegal and can result in the death penalty in Thailand, but if the crime didn’t occur in Thailand, did it ever really happen? The answer is maybe, depending on your political affiliation. You’re a well-connected member of the PPRP and your conviction occurred in Australia? The Thai constitutional court says you’re fine, at least until a different regime is in power.

NEIGHBORLINESS CCSA spokesman Dr. Thavee Visanuyothin has requested your assistance to inform on your neighbors. If you know of any migrant workers who may have crossed the border illegally, rat them out, because it might limit the spread of Covid-19. The spokesman did not clarify if we should hold businesses who traffic, employ, and exploit migrant workers accountable, too.

cover | an industry in crisis

Can the service industry be SAVED?

Thailand’s bars and restaurants are at a crossroads: as a Covid-19 outbreak brought on by Thailand’s elite has spread across the country, its service industries have been left to bear the brunt of harsh restrictions. Calls to action have rung out from workers whose fates rest in the hands of a regime that seems to be shooting from the hip. By Megan Leon

As much of the western world begins to emerge from lockdowns and ease pandemic restrictions, Thailand finds itself going back to square one. The latest surge in Covid-19 infections has more than doubled Thailand’s total cases since last March. While it’s less than what much of the world has experienced, a delayed vaccination campaign, mired by a lack of transparency, and the arrival of more transmissible strains of the virus leave the country with few options but severe restrictions to limit the spread of the disease. The hospitality and food service industries have often borne the brunt of these restrictions. Since Songkran, when officials eschewed domestic travel bans in favor of keeping the economy open, public health measures aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19 have sparked controversy and yielded mixed results.

“...Why is it that restaurants are the ones [dealing with] this shit?”

Public parks were closed while shopping malls, restaurants, and food courts could operate as normal but with shorter hours. That left Bangkok residents scratching their heads, as the orders contradict top scientists who say the risk of outdoor transmission of Covid-19 is very low. Independent restaurants and bars have remained in limbo all the while. Official orders have limited operating hours and banned the sale of alcohol. Now, dining-in is not allowed at restaurants in six provinces, including Bangkok. This follows a year-plus of pandemic restrictions that have battered the hospitality and food service industries. Many restaurateurs are fed up with heavy-handed measures and unclear guidelines.

Toey Na Ranong, owner of Chu and Fowlmouth, says he has been in survival mode since early last year, faced with mounting rent and declining revenue. Recently, an employee tested positive for Covid-19. He says he took the responsibility to close restaurants, sanitize them, and get staff members tested, despite the lack of available tests in Bangkok. He says it was almost impossible to get the testing costs covered by social security. “I wouldn’t mind a lockdown if it meant we would get some assistance financially,” he says. “Why is it that restaurants are the ones [dealing with] this shit?” Calls for an official lockdown, which would guarantee social security compensation for workers, have echoed across the industry. But restaurant owners also argue that a total shutdown won’t work for businesses in the long run, as rising food costs, rent, delivery fees, and drained cash reserves have left many reeling.

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

cover | an industry in crisis

“...we need vaccines” No stranger to the limelight, chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn recently went on public television to urge government officials not to impose strict measures on restaurants. He also spoke to a frustration many people living in Thailand have felt. “Delivery won’t save us this time,” he said. “We need vaccines.” Although delivery is the most viable revenue-generating option for restaurants at the moment, it comes at a hefty price. According to the Bangkok Post, “Restaurants, large and small, have turned to home delivery services to sell their food online but the high fees charged by those services—as much as 35 percent of the bill—are eating away at their already low profits.” In the same article, author Penchan Charoensuthipan notes that the Thai cabinet has approved regulatory measures on food and delivery services that include price controls, but these do not come into effect until July 4.

As many restaurateurs explained to us, before the pandemic, the fees charged by delivery providers were more manageable, as it was easier to get visibility on the apps. When thousands of restaurants joined the platforms during the lockdown in April last year, their visibility decreased, leaving advertisement as the only way to regain it. With such high demand now, many delivery services like Grab and Lineman can’t supply enough drivers, leading to a heavier workload, canceled orders, and less trust. A new outbreak in Klong Toey, where many delivery drivers reside, is adding to the chaos. At the same time, many bars and restaurants continue to pay full rent, as landlords, who likewise do not receive government assistance, refuse to budge.

“... alcohol takeaway acts as the final nail in the coffin”

Despite shortened operating hours and a ban on dining-in, Toey says he is still paying full rent at Chu, and if the dine-in ban “lasts much longer, we will have to close Chu [in Asoke], because [the landlords] won’t reduce rent.” Bars, meanwhile, have faced stiff restrictions since early last year. Changing guidelines, curfews, and an on-again, off-again prohibition of alcohol sales have left behind a string of closures, damaging an industry that contributes more than B171 billion (US$5.5 billion) a year to the economy, according to an article published by insurance company Pacific Prime.

Many have had to improvise to stay afloat, sometimes to such an extent that they barely resemble the businesses they used to be. Teens of Thailand, for one, is now selling durian. After the reveal of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards in early May, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, a co-founder of the bar ranked no. 48 on the list—a list that struck many as arbitrary this year—took to social media to vent frustrations with the deck that has been stacked against top bars like his. “I always emphasize that [the] alcohol industry in Thailand is about the fight,” he wrote in an emotional post on Instagram. “The fight for what is right for people in this industry. The fight to change laws that oppress local alcohol producers. The fight for all business owners, bartenders and all the staff who pursue their careers while being condemned as immoral… No occupation is less important than another.” “For the past year, many were forced to close [their] bars for nearly 6 months, and this continues as I write,” he continued. “There has been neither any support nor relief funds for our industry. Moreover, the laws against online alcohol sale, alcohol advertising [and] alcohol takeaway acts as the final nail in the coffin. Our businesses have suffered while the people who carelessly started all the clusters make a clean getaway as if nothing ever happened.”

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

BY THE NUMBERS 635.35

“...WE DESERVE BETTER”

How much hospitality and food services contribute annually to GDP

“First to be shot, last to be tended to,” Chalee Kader, chef of restaurants such as 100 Mahaseth, Mickey’s Diner, and Holy Moly, wrote on Facebook. “As a chef and restaurateur, and a minuscule part of a 500 billion baht industry, throwing in close to 3 percent of Thailand’s GDP, providing 2 million odd jobs, and with over 300 thousand establishments nationwide, I am quite disappointed and frustrated with the blame, negligence, uncertainty and instability [of] the Thai government. The service industry has been an ambassador, providing the country monetarily, [boosting its] reputation and recognition.” He punctuated his post with a call to action that has echoed across the industry, the city, even the country: many consumers, service providers, and business owners alike seem to have reached their boiling point with corruption, condemnation, and, worse, silence in the face of it all. “This industry… does not deserve to be left to bleed to death like this. We need help, REAL HELP, and we need it now,” wrote Kader. “We deserve better.”

In this heated context, one of the most vocal calls for reform yet was proposed by the newly formed Kla Party, headed by former Democract Party deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij. On their Facebook page, the party has shared a list of five proposals aimed at assisting the F&B industry. These include government compensation for restaurant employees of 50 percent of their salaries as long as dining in is not permitted, as well as the rent reductions of 50 percent and tax deductions equaling the amount of rent foregone for landlords. The local food blogging community has likewise taken it upon themselves to assist venues. Influential food bloggers Kin-Kin and even traditional media outlets like Time Out Bangkok have asked any place that offers delivery to tag them on Instagram for a reshare to help spread awareness, and to encourage consumers to buy directly from restaurants. Still, the Restaurant Business Association told the Bangkok Post that the latest outbreak is expected to cost as many as 200,000 jobs. In the wake of the new measurements, restaurants have started permanently shutting their doors, most recently Tatsumi and Sundays in Thonglor. F&B professionals believe immediate action is necessary to stem the bleeding.

billion

200,000 Estimated number of jobs that will be lost because of restrictions on restaurants

35.2 Percentage that accommodation and food service activities declined year-on-year in Q4 2020

Financial assistance bars and restaurants have so far received from government stimulus programs in 2021

“If we want our economy to recover in a way that deals everyone in, then our restaurants need a seat at the table. Thanks to our new Restaurant Revitalization Fund, we’ll be able to help about 100,000 restaurants.” — US President Joe Biden on US$28 billion in grants the country is offering “restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments—bars, bakeries, food stands, food trucks, caterers” *Sources: Statista, the Restaurant Business Association, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council

feature | on brand

Form Follows Story Storytelling is flouted by design studios but often poorly understood by the public. Saran Yen Panya and 56th Studio are working to change that, reclaiming the term Thainess and reflecting society as they see it through works that put the story first. By Pimrapee Thungkasemvathana

For a few weeks now, Saran Yen Panya has been walking to work. As he weaves his way through Chinatown, he passes decades-old family restaurants, the towering Odeon Roundabout, and the renovated FooJohn building. He turns the corner before a shop selling oxygen tanks and walks past a crab fried-rice stall—“a permanent pop-up that sets up tables on the road so cars have to slowly creep by.” On his daily commute to 56th Studio, an eclectic creative agency he founded with his partner Napawan Tuangkitkul almost a decade ago, Saran traverses a metaphorical bridge between Bangkok’s old and new. It’s this kind of contrast he finds most compelling about Bangkok, and one that’s woven into his story-focused work for the award-winning agency. 56th Studio is built on one simple principle: storytelling. It’s a nebulous concept design firms use to sell themselves in a way that sounds profound. For Saran and Napawan, their entire practice hinges on translating it for clients and customers. Their website is riddled with storytelling references, like “form follows story” and “telling good stories with no restricted manners”—a reference to Saran’s unapologetic political art. “[Storytelling] is the surest way to connect to people,” Saran says. “To get someone to buy an idea or an object, [that object] should be able to speak for itself and the journey it’s taken.”

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

For 56th Studio and its four partner business units—four-month-old “story-retailing platform” The Continuum; the brand Citizen of Nowhere; textile company OneMoreThing; and Charmgang, the buzzing Thai restaurant where Saran says he serves as the “Mama-san”—Saran himself has gone on several journeys of his own. Three years ago, burned out from corporate work, Saran rented a van and went on a sort of “Beyonce Formation World Tour,” as he puts it. “I dropped pins on my map and hit up all the OTOPs [I could find].” Along the way he discovered “there’s a lot of politics” in selling local crafts and working with local tradesmen, and he saw that “local craftsmen made up the base of the social pyramid.” When Saran returned home, he did so with a sharper vision. For his breakthrough and most famous work, he sawed off the sides of cheap HDPE baskets and placed them on intricate wooden legs to make exquisite thrones. He had dragged these baskets to Bang Po, Bangkok’s wood market, in search of craftsmen to carve the legs for him. Like Maurizio Cattelan’s 18-karat gold toilet at the Guggenheim, the thrones poke fun at excessive wealth while making everyone, even the excessively wealthy, feel like they’re in on the joke. “The chairs spoke about Thainess in a different way,” he says. Now, the chairs are on mood boards worldwide. Saran says he’s interested in contrasts like how high and low co-exist. In a 2017 concept work for Siam Discovery, 56th Studio reimagined the Chinese zodiac rooster through objects like rooster bowls painted with caricatures winking and blowing kisses. For another project, showcased during Bangkok Design Week 2018, he reimagined stools commonly found outside noodle stalls, “high-jacking” a typically mundane object among Thai street food vendors. “For me, it’s all the same story. I believe in the power of the underdog,” he says. That’s why he works with people he describes as being “on the edge,” the people who still can’t quite strike it rich, “the uncles and the aunts,” the people he best identifies with (“I’m not rich and I’m gay”). Saran and his partners practice what they preach, too. They accept that they can’t fix Thailand’s rigged economic system, so they have created their own small system that works outside of the norm—an act of what Saran calls “yoo pen” (#อยู่เป็น).

“Our packaging is made by an auntie over here, an uncle over there. We make sure our profit trickles down to the bottom and that it’s always flowing and the business is long-term,” he declares. Above all, his work celebrates traditional Thai crafts but eschews the obvious, like wood carvings or Benjarong bowls. The studio instead plays with everyday things born of practicalities. Think seat cushions covered in plastic woven mats and lamps made of rattan and shaped like coconut trees. Now, 56th Studio is embarking on another sub-business, creating a “tearoom for the people” that fuses elitist high tea culture with the boba tea that draws endless lines in shopping malls and roadside cha and oliang stalls (tea and traditional Thai coffee). “Thailand doesn’t have a rich tea culture, but we have the geography to make very good tea that’s packaged by international brands like Mariage Freres and sold elsewhere,” says Saran. For his shop, the tea leaves will, of course, be roasted by a local from the south of Thailand. *This story originally appeared in Optimise, a magazine produced by Coconuts Media

food & drink | hole in one

Put a Ring on It Bangkok has come a long way since Krispy Kreme debuted a decade ago. Natural yeast dough, plant-based rings, sugar-dusted Berliners, Polish paczki, Italian bombolinis: here are nine great places to grab the classic, sugary fried treat in Bangkok. By Alisha Pawa

Drop by Dough Nestled in Udom Suk and Ari at the Josh Hotel, these donut shops from bloggers Oats X Somewhere draw crowds for drool-worthy classic vanilla rings (B95) loaded with rich, not-too-sweet Madagascar vanilla cream and more exotic options like the creme brûlée (B95) and bacon cheddar cheese (B115). 28/12 Sathorn Soi 10, 084-079-8830

Brassica Singaporean chef Cong Wen’s shop in Nanglinchee serves perfectly soft donuts, with shiny glazed sugar coatings that come in a variety of cream-filled flavors. The highlights are undeniably the vanilla custard donuts (B80), but options with unusual fillings like palm sugar butterscotch (B80) and coffee and walnut praline (B100) are not to be missed, either. R.I.P. that fried chicken, though. 76/10 Nanglinchee Rd., 093-596-2465. Open Tue-Sun 11am-6pm.

The Donut Cafe Chiang Mai’s award-winning vegan donut shop arrives in Bangkok, serving plant-based treats that do not compromise in taste at all. Go for the Krispy Kreme-like original glazed donuts (B65) or classic cinnamon (B65). For extra punch, the lemon poppy (B75) and raspberry chocolate (B75) will satisfy your cravings. 99/290 Soi Phrom Mit (Sukhumvit Soi 39), 098-002-0156. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm.

Huus of Bread

La Dotta

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

Huus of Bread

Kinu

This new bakery has brought “sho-nuts” to Bangkok—a cross between Japanese milk bread (shokupan) and donuts, identical to your classic sugar-coated donuts, but softer and super-dense in texture. Popular options include the lemon curd (B85) with its citrus-filled kick and the bittersweet matcha sho-nuts (B95).

Looking for something simple? Ari’s staple donut shop serves puffy, unglazed melt-inyour-mouth donuts. The shop makes only a few flavors, including a highly questionable salted egg version, as well as cinnamon and original (B120/8pcs).

4107 Rama 4 Rd., 083-003-4926. Open Tue-Sun 10am-5:30pm.

Holy Donut Paczkarnia This Polish bakery specializing in paczki will officially open on Jun 1, but they are already taking online orders for their filled sweet treats. Flip to p12 to read more. 2/F, 515 Victory, Phayathai Rd., Bangkok. 080-113-5453. Open daily 10am-8pm.

Ari Soi 5, 087-462-6666. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm.

Cream by Flour Flour Chiang Mai’s creative Flour Flour bakery brought bombolonis to Bangkok. These buttery, sourdough-based donuts bear some resemblance in texture to jiggly pancakes. Opt for their best-selling vanilla cream donut (B69) or switch things up with flavors like lemon meringue, salted caramel creme brûlée, or, their latest creation, hazelnut cream brownie. 399/4 Silom Soi 7, 095-695-8594. Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm.

La Dotta

Cream by Flour Flour

The artisanal pasta bar in Thonglor, now with a Silom branch, likewise serves bomboloni donuts (B120) with classic fillings like nutella, strawberry, and tiramisu. Grab some to-go with their “Box Boloni” boxes (B98/box; includes two donuts and water). Don’t like it sweet? You can have them savory, with flavors like carbonara and crab meat.

Drop by Dough

10/15 Soi Convent, 02-236-5558. Open Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 5-9pm.

Holey Artisan Bakery Brassica

Look past the sourdough at this uber-popular bakery for sweet treats like their traditional Berliner. The secret lies within the gently fried homemade brioche, which gives it an extremely soft texture contrasted with a crunchy exterior from a quick dip in the fryer. Try it plain (B70) or with fancier flavors like jam (B75) or butterscotch (B90). 245/12 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-101-1427. Open daily 7am-7pm.

Holy Donut

Holey Artisan Bakery

food & drink | new & noted

Holy Donut

TABLE TALK

JHOL Coastal Indian Cuisine 7/2 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-004-7174. Open daily 12pm-10.30pm. A contemporary southern coastal Indian restaurant in the heart of Sukhumvit, Jhol specializes in the likes of bhel puri (puffed rice and vegetable chaat; B290) served in a wooden som tam khrok and ghee (Indian clarified butter) roast chicken with crispy cone dosa (B520). You’ll also find exotic, Thai-leaning cocktails like Mekhong whiskey with torched bite-size kanom jak (B380), as well as mocktails like a refreshing mix of lychee, elderflower, lime, cucumber topped with champa flower-scented foam (B180).

Exclusively for Citi Credit Card members Get 30% discount for Citi ULTIMA, Citi Prestige, Citi Mercedes, Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred and Select Or Get 20% discount for other Citi Credit Cards (On food a la carte menu only)

1 Feb - 31 Jul ’21

NEW AND NOTED

Montreal-style bagels land in Bangkok courtesy of the Roast family

Forget about glazed, go for Polish donuts at Bangkok’s paczkarnia

This plant-based delivery specialist puts TLC into fast food staples

Thanks to Monty’s, the bar for Bangkok’s bagel game has been raised. The Roast family sub-brand is delivery-only, specializing in Montreal’s answer to the New York bagel. Unlike its counterpart, these bagels are a touch smaller and use a sourdough base. They’re all made by hand before being poached in honey water, which gives them a golden sheen after they’re baked. Pick from four types—classic, onion, sesame, or everything (B60 each; add B20 for cream cheese)—or opt for an open-faced sandwich like The Monty’s (B250), topped with smoked salmon, heirloom tomato, cream cheese, capers, red onion, and dill. Facebook, Instagram, Line @montysbkk

Holy Donut might be Bangkok’s first shop specializing in Polish paczki (pronounced “pon-chkee”), the sweeter, richer, fluffier cousins to your cream-filled guilty pleasure. They make them the traditional way, with sweet yeast dough, eggs, milk, butter, and a splash of the Polish vodka. They’re not short on fillings. Options range from strawberry glazed (B45) and Bostonski (filled with hand-turned cream and dipped in European chocolate; B65) to the classic Polish krem mleczny (Polish-style vanilla milk cream, dusted with sugar; B55). Holy Donut officially opens Jun 1, but the bakery is taking online orders for delivery and pick-up. 2/F, 515 Victory, Phaya Thai Rd., 080-113-5453

Delivery-only, family-run Bunslinger is making Bangkok’s plant-based crowd very happy with its veganfriendly spin on fast-food staples. All sandwiches come on locally made buns, and the plant-based “meat” comes from local provider Fry’s Family Thailand. Think Bunslinger burgers (B289) with marinated plantbased patties topped with Swees dairy-free cheese from Chiang Mai, flavor-packed house-made mayo, and veggies, plus veggie bacon if you so desire, or the juicy Chick’n Fiction—a vegan fried chicken sandwich (B289) that might make you forget about meat. Fries on the side, of course (B49). Orders can be made Thu-Sun, from noon-8pm, on Instagram or Line (bunslingerbkk).

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

Monty’s

Bunslinger

TABLE TALK

Ong Tong Khao Soi Vegan cafe fare and fabrics combine in Klong San

This Talad Noi cafe has a lot more to offer than just coffee

A fine dining power couple launches an awesome sandwich delivery service

Meaning fabric in Hindi, vegan cafe Kappra goes beyond your average soy milk lattes. The Klong San cafe doubles as a textile studio, highlighting the founders’ history in the trade. On the second floor, you’ll find a gorgeous fabric studio draped in luxurious vegan fabrics like satin crepe, where you can browse and buy your favorites. Standout drinks like their Latte En Rose (B125), which tastes like a Turkish delight in a cup, and the vegan dirty (B150). Pair these with vegan fare like luscious sea salt brownies (B85) and savory bites like tofu teriyaki (B185). 437/22 Tha Din Daeng Rd., 080-080-4061

Named after the owner’s dogs and decked out in artwork from apr/s, Timo & Tintin is drawing coffee snobs and Instagram crowds alike. Currently, they’re coming for the high-quality coffee, a nutty house blend made with beans from Ethiopia, Chiang Mai, and Lampang (americano B80, latte B110, dirty coffee B130); the awesome almond croissants (B95); or the Brookie, a brownie-chocolate chip cookie hybrid (B85). But the cafe has big ambitions. The third and fourth floors of the building function as gallery space featuring work from Thai artists like Suntur, Gongkan, and Dilok Lak. Above them, the alfresco rooftop is set to become a bar. 674 Wanit Soi 2, Instagram @ timoandtintin

The couple behind Italian powerhouse Clara are adapting to restrictionbattered Bangkok with La Bomba, an Italian sandwich delivery brand that upends your average midday meal. La Bomba’s sandwiches see homemade focaccia generously filled with top-ofthe-line ingredients. Feast on the Porca (B360), filled with 48-hour porchetta, salsa verde, pickled romaine, lettuce, crunchy pork skin, and parsley mayo; go for the Rossa (B380), loaded with spicy nduja, peppermint sausage, loquat confit, fried bell peppers, and smoked tomato; or skip the meat with the Pura (B340), a harmonious blend of piennolo tomatoes, rocket, chargrilled eggplant, melted buffalo mozzarella, and basil pesto. Instagram, Line @bombabkk

21 Phahon Yothin Soi 7, 02-003-5254. Open daily 9:30am-7:30pm. Ong Tong Khao Soi brings northern recipes belonging to the owner’s grandmother to Ari in a warm, light-yellow setting. The highlight khao soi gai comes with a creamy yet spicy soup and a tender chicken drumstick, while the khao soi haeng sai oua is a stir-fried version starring homemade northernstyle sausages and a slightly burnt aroma. Do also try the deliciously moist poo ong (a mash of grilled rice-field crab's eggs and egg), prepared in Chiang Mai and flown down in ready-to-serve little shells.

Exclusively for Citi Credit Card members Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 300 or more /sales slip

1 Mar ’21 – 30 Apr ’22

hit list | shopping

Scandi furniture importer Norse Republics launches Hay’s spring collection

FURNITURE

Danish design label Hay has revealed its spring collection, including furniture, lighting, and accessories. Bangkok’s home to high-priced Scandi furniture and decor, Norse Republics, is the place to get it. The full collection sees Hay partner with a list of well-known designers like Naoto Fukasawa, the Parisian-based Bouroullec brothers, and Norwegian designers Daniel Rybakken and Andreas Engesvik. Highlights include the new Pao lights (B14,500), two-seater versions of the Arbour Eco Sofa (B226,500), and the curved Palissade chaise longue (B30,000). The collection branches out of home goods with smart fashion accessories like its hand-beaded, crossbody phone holder sling for carrying your smartphone, credit card, or cash. Looking to stay hydrated sustainably? Hay has also released a reusable water bottle in two sizes and multiple color options. All items from the collection are available at Norse Republics. 145 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-062-1211.

[CLEANING HOUSE]

5 robot vacuums you can buy for less than B20,000 Autobot Storm 3 B18,500 Available at Shopee

LG VR6680TMAR B14,254 Available at Powerbuy branches

iRobot Roomba 605 B10,900 Available at SB Design Square branches

Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum B8,990 Available at kingpower.com

Philips SmartPro Easy FC8792/01 B8,790 Available at jd.co.th

GADGETS

MUSIC

WATCHES

The Instax Mini 40 is a This all-in-one record player stylish spin off the lo-fi classic bridges the gap between analog and digital

Keep it classy with this vintage-looking pocketwatch

If you’re getting back into film photography, check out Fujifilm’s retro-looking, all-black Instax Mini 40 (B3,290), a toy camera that takes Polaroid shots to the next level. The Instax Mini 40 is pumped with “fast to action” features, like a built-in, pull-out selfie lens with a mirror for easy framing; auto brightness, which adjusts to your surroundings and ensures a high-quality shot no matter the environment; and auto exposure to help you nail your instant shots. It also comes with an attractive, all-black contact sheet (B310). Available at Big Camera and Instax Thailand.

Time passes, but some styles stay the same. If you’re a fan of pocketwatches, this Davinci Gold Pocket Watch (B2,850) is a rare find from the European vintage look collection. It features a selfwinding clock with a transparent gold case that makes it perfect to latch onto your handbag or jacket. The analog hand-winding doesn’t require a battery for a lifetime—old is gold, as they say. A perfect special gift for your loved ones to remind them that time is valuable. Available at The Roseman Club.

Shop Talk How to spend your hardearned baht.

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the last word | pitch perfect

This promising cricketer is putting Thailand on the world map Cricket isn’t well-known in Thailand. Batswoman Natthakan “Jeans” Chantham, 25, is trying to change that. A member of the Thai national team and the first Thai cricketer to play internationally in a professional Twenty20 franchise league, Jeans tells us all about batting, her viral boundary save, and building up the sport in Thailand. By Veerabhatr Sriyananda

ow and when did you get into cricket? Most Thai people barely know anything about it. In the third grade, everyone at school had to join a club. I initially wanted to join the movie club, but luckily for me, it was full. The cricket club was the only club that was vacant because people had no clue [about the sport], but my friends and I were the curious type, so we joined, just like that. A team sport like cricket seemed to be the best choice back then. What was it like to play in Australia during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020? As professional cricketers, we always dream of playing at the best venues. We were beyond happy when we made it to the World Cup in Australia for the very first time. There is a strong cricket culture in Australia, so the facilities were top-notch. There were cricket grounds everywhere, and it was really easy to find all the gear. It felt like we were finally in the world of cricket. We were so excited to compete with teams like England, South Africa, Pakistan, and West Indies, who we’ve always watched. It was one the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Tell us about playing for the India Premier League’s Trailblazers at the women’s T20 Challenge. It was my first time ever to play outside of the Thai cricket team. At first, I was really nervous. Everything was new to me, and I was on a team with world-class players. I had to get out of my comfort zone. I was playing positions that I’ve never played before (I’m usually a batswoman). But I got to play with some great Indian players, and they taught me a lot of new ideas and tactics. I experienced so many new things in the space of only a few days. You went viral for an incredible diving boundary save. How did that feel? During the game, I didn’t get many opportunities to bat, so I was a fielder… Every cricketer has to know how to field, even if that isn’t their usual duty. Before that game, we had lost to another team by only a few runs, so I felt responsible for every ball. “If I don’t make the catch, the team will lose, and it will be all on me.” I just wanted to help the team win. After the game ended and the video went viral, I felt strange. I didn’t know how to act or carry myself in public. I wasn’t used to all the new-found attention. I asked myself, “Can I still be the same Jeans I was before?” What does it mean to be a rising star not just in Thailand but around the world, too? In the 14 years I’ve played for the Thai national team, we’ve grown accustomed to people here not knowing who we are, or what cricket is. Some people even mistake it for hockey, so we just tell them that we use a bat to hit a ball. So, of course, we’re happy when people understand what it is we do and support us, but I have to admit that I’m not used to having fans around the world following me or the team. But we play cricket because we love to play, not because we want to be famous. All the money and exposure are made possible because of our love for the sport, competition, and camaraderie, and the desire to improve. What does Thailand need to do for cricket to grow here? If it’s right now, then Covid is really affecting things for the worse, because practices and competitions have to be postponed because they usually happen abroad. Skill-wise, our team needs to improve our batting, and we need to have more mental strength. For the sport to grow, we need a stronger cricket culture to get people engaged with it. What do you expect Thailand cricket to achieve in the coming years? We have a bright future ahead of us. In the near future, we want our team to achieve ODI status (a form of international ranking for cricket teams) to compete with world-class teams in the World Tour, and we’ll keep working to help the sport be more well-known here.

Sunshine Court

Kannikar Court

BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020