Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong poses
in January as he meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis before their talks in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Tran Van Minh / Associated Press
HANOI — Vietnam and India have agreed to boost their trade while expanding their cooperation in defense and security, among other areas.
Speaking to reporters at a joint press briefing in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said Tuesday that he believes the bilateral trade volume will reach USD$15 billion by 2020, up from $12.8 billion last year.
Kovind said he and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong also reviewed the implementation of an Indian credit line of $100 million to high-speed patrol vessels for Vietnam’s coast guard.
Trong said the two countries will find ways to boost their modest investment.
Kovind is on a three-day visit to Vietnam, where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc later Tuesday before departing.
Jacobo Astray poses with his pan of paella on Nov. 10 at an event in Thonglor.
Most nights find Jacobo Astray sawing off slices of jamon iberico and pouring sangria at Ekkamai tapas joint Broken Eggs.
There, the Galician native, a former cook at what was Spain’s most-decorated restaurant, has been tossing up share-friendly tapas for the past year in a surprisingly small kitchen with a tightly knit staff of four.
But despite his personal and professional history, Astray isn’t catering solely to other Spaniards.
While most other immigrant-run joints are opened to attract those of a like kind, Astray’s restaurant testifies to a professional calling to create innovative fusion dishes that invoke fine Iberian form while also satisfying Thai palates.
“I don’t like the concept of having a starter and then a main course. When you come to Broken Eggs, you have to order and share everything with your friends, so actually tapas is a very Thai concept,” the 36-year-old Galician said.
Broken Egg’s Thai-inspired dishes include jumbo prawns a la plancha served with a Thai seafood sauce, a mini pita filled with yellow curry and crab and what he says is his own version of Jay Fai’s famed crab omelettes.
“I designed the menu for the local tastes. Thai people like spices, sour and sweet,” Astray said. “Globalization gives you access to many recipes and products, which you can bring together to make good tapas.”
His first brush with Thailand was seven years ago while on a one-month holiday. Astray took a Spanish chef job for a one-night event and it led to hospitality jobs and consulting work before he launched Broken Eggs as a tapas stall at W District, which reopened at Ekkamai late last year as a full-blown gastro bar.
Tapas is a very Thai concept
“I already knew Western food. But Thailand and Asia is a new world [with] new produce, and it got me excited,” Astray said. “I think every chef would love to spend time in Thailand.”
Astray explains the gastro bar as European staple combining the contemporary fine dining eating experience with a casual bar where “you don’t have to be afraid you cannot make noise or laugh.” Broken Eggs is such a place, with a varied menu of fusion modern tapas made by a professional hand but still very relatable to any brunch-goer, especially Thai customers.
ElBulli No More
Astray was a cook at ElBulli, a famed cliffside restaurant in Catalonia, Spain, that held three Michelin stars before it closed seven years ago. Under the leadership of brothers Ferran Adria and Albert Adria, ElBulli became known for pioneering haute cuisine.
“They are like normal people,” Astray said of the brothers, “but with the knowledge and ambition.”
From them he learned the techniques and skills needed to hang his own shingle. But at Broken Eggs, he’s doing anything but making the kind of “spherified” olives that ElBulli was known for, in which natural foods’ physical shapes through chemical processes, called molecular gastronomy. One of the most visible is making liquid foods into spheres.
“There is no liquid nitrogen or spherification here. I cannot recreate dishes from ElBulli here,” Astray said. “That was a huge kitchen with 50 chefs. It also had a completely separate concept. The only thing that’s used is some techniques and preparations, like making foam or sous vide.”
After seven years in Thailand, he’s still adjusting to the sabai sabai culture that contrasts with the high-heat work environment back home.
“The culture here is very relaxing, very sabai sabai. But I can’t just let it be, let it go. It was different in Europe, when I had a lot of job stress,” he said.
The Fare
It’s not surprising why the refreshing tuna tataki with guacamole, mango and ponzu sauce (260 baht) is popular with Thai customers. It’s a great cold starter to lead into things like the fried squid and avocado taco (240 baht), crunchy from both the batter and red cabbage, or the gambas al ajillo (260 baht), a very Spanish hot plate with several shrimp bubbling in hot but slightly bland garlic.
Tuna tataki with guacamole, mango and ponzu sauce (260 baht).
Don’t miss the black squid ink rice, also known as arroz negro (320 baht). To Thai palates, it’s a satisfyingly dark, fishy porridge, topped with fried calamari. One can’t believe it doesn’t have naam pla. At a recent foodie event, Astray made a black squid paella similar to the ink rice at Broken Eggs in a friendly battle against Quince’s Charlie Jones. Astray’s fishy flavors and calamari sprinkled liberally with roasted peppers won out over Jones’ more traditional seafood version.
Black squid ink rice (320 baht).
One of several vegetarian dishes available at Broken Eggs (there are enough for a meal, and many meat dishes can be asked for substitution) is the place of eggplant cubes with honey and miso (180 baht), a surprisingly filling, savory-sweet treat.
Available to drink are Galician as well as Thai craft beers (“I want to help support the Thai community, but unfortunately they cannot legally produce here.”), a variety of gins and, of course, fruity sangria.
Fried squid and avocado taco (two for 240 baht).
Eggplant cubes with honey and miso (180 baht).A glass of sangria (160 baht).
Astray’s black squid paella with calamari and roasted peppers.
Broken Eggs is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5pm to 11pm, and from noon to 4pm on Sundays. The tapas bar is located a short motorbike ride from BTS Ekkamai.
CHAI NAT — Beneath all its crust and saltiness, the internet proved it has a heart in recent days by helping a rural farmer to buy a beloved buffalo he was about to lose.
In under three days, online donors sent over 135,000 baht to Surat Phaeoket – a father of two who earns only 6,000 baht a month – to make Tongkum the buffalo his forever friend. The two went viral last week for smiling and cavorting together in selfies evoking pastoral bliss.
“I’m so inspired that there are so many good people. I’m also happy that people see me as a good person,” Surat said. “Even though we’re strangers, I want to say, thank you so much!”
Reached for comment Tuesday morning, Surat said he was at the provincial livestock department filing the necessary documents to register Tongkum as his buffalo.
After weeks of caring for the animal, Tongkum had been set to be sold to someone else by his owner unless Surat could come up with 100,000 baht. After learning of their pending separation, netizens decided to keep them together by donating that, and a bit more.
Donations ranged from 10 baht to 10,000 baht, Surat said. As for the extra 35,000 baht, he said he would use it to build more bathing ponds for Tongkum as well as a stable with a roof and mosquito nets. Surat is also currently caring for Kao Hom, who is pregnant thanks to the strapping bull Tongkum, and another buffalo called Permpoon.
Due to his fame, Surat said the state Buffalo Bank has agreed to lend him an additional four buffaloes.
Surat also said he will soon make a Facebook page for people to follow his and Tongkum’s adventures in sunny Chai Nat province.
BANGKOK — Park Hyatt Bangkok held its first Masters of Food & Wine on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Core to the Park Hyatt brand, every event offers a unique culinary journey to celebrate the brand’s passion for food and beverage.
Embracing culinary art and wine culture, Park Hyatt’s Masters of Food & Wine programme started in Carmel in 2003 to showcase the brand’s passion for food and beverage. The events offer immersive culinary and beverage experiences to differentiate the Park Hyatt brand globally. As the programme moves forward, its focus on its roots in exquisite and unique experiences provide a platform for highly talented culinary colleagues to share and celebrate their passions with like-minded guests.
“The program offers a calibre of F&B programming that is interactive and inspiring,” says Executive Chef Franck Detrait. “By offering these events at Park Hyatt Bangkok we will further highlight this point of distinction to our guests, to true connoisseurs.”
Essential ingredients in each Masters of Food & Wine event start with highly engaging, thought-provoking partners and masters in their craft who relish sharing their passions with others. These events aim to expose guests to rare, noteworthy regional or local food and beverage offerings and immerse guests in unique themes through interactive experiences where knowledge is shared and stories told.
Programs tap into suppliers to tell stories alongside Park Hyatt hotel chefs, sommeliers and mixologists. An evening of surprising delights unfolded at Park Hyatt Bangkok’s first Masters of Food & Wine event which included a roundup of international Masters presenting and sharing knowledge about their products. Masters that participated in this launch event included:
Patrice Marchand – Cheese Maker and Founder of Les Freres Marchand
Ronald Brown – Wine Maker and Founder, Maverick Wines
Alexandre Bader – Champagne Master and Managing Director, Billecart Salmon
Jean Philippe – Craftman baker and Founder, Maison Jean Philippe
Thibault Spithakis – Founder, Chalong Bay
Ocean Piras – Master of Caviar, Caviar de Neuvic
Billy Marinelli – Founder, Marinelli Shellfish
Philip Bischoff – Bar Manager, Manhattan Bar Singapore
Terawat Teankaprasith – Winner of Designer of the Year Award
Vincent Goyat – Director/Patriarche, Grands Vinsde Bourgogne
Follow Park Hyatt Bangkok’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/parkhyattbangkok ) for more information as it unfolds as the next event is scheduled for early 2019.
Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong speaks at a November 2018 news conference for the Palang Pracharat Party in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — A leader of a pro-junta political party said Tuesday he didn’t really mean it when he predicted winning 70 percent of the lower house in the next election.
Palang Pracharat executive Sontirat Sontijirawong, who also doubles as finance minister in the junta’s cabinet, told reporters he was only trying to “boost the morale” of his supporters when he set a goal of snatching 350 seats – a claim ridiculed as preposterous by opponents.
“It was just a speech to boost morale for the members and [MP] candidates,” Sontirat said before attending today’s weekly cabinet meeting. “It didn’t mean we would carry 350 constituencies. Politically speaking, that’s already impossible.”
Sontirat, who has refused so far to resign from his cabinet post, made headlines with his bold Sunday claim while welcoming new Palang Pracharat members.
“This is a new chapter in history. It’s so incredible to see all of you assembled here as Palang Pracharat,” the minister thundered onstage. “With so many of you like this, how could we not win 350 seats?”
His critics and political opponents immediately raised doubts over the remark. The last politician to achieve such a supermajority in the parliament was former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who won 375 of 500 seats when he was reelected in 2005.
The same number of seats will be up for grabs in the next poll, now slated for late February.
Democrat Party chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested that he either misheard Sontirat’s speech or the 58 year old had misspoken.
Former Pheu Thai MP Navin Boonseth said Sontirat should hold his tongue until he sees the election results.
“It’s up to the voters what party they vote for. He should wait till election day first. Don’t brag now,” Navin said, adding that he believes Pheu Thai will win the majority.
At today’s news conference, Sontirat declined to say how many seats he’s really aiming for.
People queue up to give their votes at a polling station in May in Dili, East Timor. Photo: Kandhi Barnez / Associated Press
DILI, East Timor — Scores of people demonstrated in East Timor’s capital on Monday to protest the killing of three people at a party, allegedly by a drunken policeman.
East Timor police Chief Julio da Costa Hornay said the suspect, officer Jose Mina, has been apprehended. He said the party was hosted by Mina’s police colleague in the Kuluhun neighborhood of Dili city.
“Their attitude has damaged the reputation of the East Timor police institution,” Hornay said, “We will punish them.”
Survivors said the shooting began with a fight between two guests at the party held Saturday night to commemorate a year after the death of the host’s relative. Mina, who was in plain clothes, raised his gun to warn them to stop fighting when the electricity suddenly went out just after midnight.
Witnesses said Mina, apparently heavily drunk, stood on a bench and opened fire randomly in the dark. Three men died instantly and five other guests were hospitalized with gun wounds.
The killings sparked protests throughout the city on Monday, with demonstrators shouting “Police are murderers” and demanding justice.
“The government and police should clarify why police officers can use weapons freely to kill people,” Alberto Sequeira, the father of one of the victims, told a news conference.
“This is not the first time,” he said. “Armed policemen have threatened other families repeatedly but the government has not taken serious measures and now civilians become victims.”
Hornay said police are still investigating the shooting, and are questioning the host and another officer who attended the party.
He said police have clear rules about how use their weapons and there are tough punishments for those who violate them.
“The Kuluhun shooting has devastated our heart,” East Timor President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo said in a statement. “To see a police officer acting against the law, wearing plain clothes and going to party with a gun and shooting young people, it’s painful to us.”
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was occupied by Indonesia for a quarter century. It gained independence after a U.N.-sponsored referendum in 1999 but reprisals by the Indonesian military devastated the country.
Today, its 1.3 million people still face extreme poverty.
Sophida ‘Ning’ Kanchanarin unveils her national costume Monday evening at Ancient City.
SAMUT PRAKAN — The chiseled beauty walked out in a bejeweled, Thai evening dress with a white-veiled contraption on her back. Soon, after she sashayed to stage center, a hood extended over her crowned coiffure and an appendage dropped down to form the head of a white elephant.
Sophida “Ning” Kanchanarin, this year’s Miss Universe Thailand, took to the stage Monday evening at Ancient Siam to present her national costume, a mechanical affair that transforms to resemble a white elephant.
“When Ning walked out wearing it, I was about to cry,” said designer Theer Phasuk. “I was worried about the mechanics of it. I want to improve it so that the trunk is smoother.”
The costume, called “Chang the Icon of Siam” weighs 20 kilograms.
“Now I’m 100 percent ready,” Sophida said. “I’ve been exercising every day and eating clean.”
The Miss Universe pageant will go ahead next month in Bangkok after its fate was briefly thrown into doubt. National costume competitions are an injection of national cultural politics that lend to particularly creative and unusual ideas. In recent years, Thailand has sent a tuk-tuk, an ogrefrom literary folklore, durian fruit and even a bowl of tom yum kung to represent the nation at major pageants.
That part of the pageant will occur Dec. 10 with finals to follow Dec. 17, both at Impact Muang Thong Thani.
SYDNEY — A homeless Australian man who shot to fame after using a shopping trolley to help police thwart last week’s militant attack in Melbourne has been charged over a series of burglaries.
Michael Rogers was hailed as a hero and dubbed “Trolleyman” on social media after emerging from a crowd with a trolley to try to ram a knife-wielding man who killed one person and wounded two others, as two police officers tried to subdue him.
The man, Somali-born Australian Hassain Khalif Shire Ali, was fatally shot in the chest by one officer, with police later saying his actions were terrorism-inspired.
Rogers, 46, became a media celebrity after the attack, his sudden fame also leading to 140,000 Australian dollars (USD$100,000) being raised for him in an online funding drive.
But now his time in the spotlight has been extended for the wrong reasons.
After media reports the police were seeking to question him, Rogers turned himself in on Friday night and was served with five charges relating to recent burglaries in the central Melbourne area.
He was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Rogers made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court, and is expected to appear again later this weekend to apply for bail.
Donna Stolzenberg, director of the National Homeless Collective charity, which set up the online fundraiser for Rogers, said he was keen to do the right thing and hand himself in to police.
She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. the money raised for him will be held in a trust fund for him, and that an accountancy firm had offered to oversee it and give financial advice.
Armin Van Buuren in 2012 in Managua, Nicaragua. Photo: Jorge Mejía Peralta / Flickr
BANGKOK — Rave and dance next month when a top Dutch DJ hosts his trademark radio show at an annual Bangkok music festival for the first time.
Armin Van Buuren will present “A State of Trance” for the first time in Thailand next month as part of the two-day 808 Festival, which will also feature the likes of American dubstep DJ Skrillex.
Van Buuren will inaugurate the event with supporting performances by his radio co-host Ruben De Ronde, Norwegian trance DJ Orjan Nilsen, American DJ Estiva, Dutch electro duo NWYR and their Israeli counterparts Vini Vici.
Skrillex will take the decks the day after, featuring supporting acts by Canadian New Beat DJ Rezz, British electro DJ Troyboi and teenage future bass DJ Whethan.
“A State of Trance” is a weekly trance radio show that first aired in 2001. Claiming to reach a weekly audience of about 40 million, it has produced almost 900 episodes and hit the road to host festivals.
The 808 Festival will start at 3pm on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 at Live Park Rama 9. Get there by taxi from Airport Rail Link Ramkhamhaeng. Tickets are 3,199 baht and can be bought online.
Smirnoff Midnight 100, a brand that stands for having fun to the max, provided a whole new experience for Thailand’s partygoers with “Smirnoff Midnight 100 OMG – OH MYGHOST”, Thailand’s first biggest Halloween party. It was an impressive day of frights and great music from a glamorous line-up of internationally acclaimed DJs. “Smirnoff Midnight 100 OMG – OH MYGHOST” took place on the evening of October 27, 2018 at Live Park Rama 9.
For two decades Smirnoff has been active in promoting music culture by supporting artists and music festivals and forming collaborations with artists worldwide to create festivals of art and lifestyle. The brand aims to bring together like-minded individuals who share the same passions for and attitudes towards art and music for entertainment programs where they get to socialize, connect and have a good time together. These activities also offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy new experiences.
As a brand that promotes connection and freedom of expression, Smirnoff strives to create innovations for consumers through a variety of activities. On this occasion, Smirnoff Midnight 100 was once again mounting a Halloween party in Thailand titled “Smirnoff Midnight 100 Presents OMG – OH MY GHOST”, that was packed with spookiness and fun, at Live Park Rama 9. The venue was transformed into a deserted amusement park that comes alive once again on the night of Halloween.
Upon arrival, partygoers were in for a range of bizarre, mysterious incidents and stories. Revelers would be delighted by a huge selection of drinks blended with Smirnoff Vodka including black-canned Midnight 100, a familiar drink with its special Halloween-themed packaging design to mark this occasion. Specially designed ice buckets from Smirnoff Midnight Max also provided added ambience. Partygoers also had fun with a string of entertaining activities including Halloween-style make-up and Shockphoto Booth Scare Challenge designed for fearless partygoers.
World-renowned DJs took to the stage pumping out tons of electronic dance music. These include R3hab, Ghastly, Breathe Carolina, SURA, and Miss KB. The promotion of the planned Halloween blowout has been a great success online with lots of fans posting their photos on social media with the hashtags #SmirnoffOMG #SmirnoffOhMyGhost #ปาร์ตี้ป๋องดำ และ #ป๋องดำ.
Smirnoff Midnight 100 made its debut in Thailand in 2015. Ever since, it has consistently met with a warm reception from Thai consumers as one of the drinks for festive occasions that everyone can enjoy.
Smirnoff commits to provide positive energies to consumers through quality fun-filled activities. Those with a passion for music and revelry are invited to take part in the Halloween party. The drink is ideal for every joyous occasion.
Diageo Moët Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd (DMHT) is the leading importer and distributor of premium wines and spirits in Thailand. Responsible corporate citizenship is a key element of DMHT’s business philosophy. DMHT strives to ensure its business and products appropriately balance the company’s commitment to act responsibly and the right to trade freely. This commitment is reflected in its corporate ethics and governance, relations with employees, customers, consumers, suppliers and communities, as well as health and safety policies and environmental policies. DMHT is committed to good corporate citizenship and responsible alcohol consumption. DMHT’s global corporate citizenship report and Asia Pacific citizenship report can be found and downloaded atwww.diageo.com.
Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) is the leading importer and distributor of world-leading premium alcohol products. You can visit www.DIAGEO.com for more info. Being part of good corporate governance, DMHT takes responsible drinking seriously.
