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THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia, October 2018
Welcome to another edition of THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia!
This month, we take you to Luang Prabang, Laos, for our favorite “crop to bowl” farming and noodle-making experience and unveil an unforgettable private jet journey through Southeast Asia. We also meet Chef Ian Kittichai, a master chef making waves in international culinary circles and share our Top 5 Experiences in Hue, Vietnam. Plus, try healthy eating with insects and check out the latest news from around the region.
Taste a Farmer’s Life in Luang Prabang
Looking for a genuine “back to nature” experience? How about taking a stroll through the rice fields of rural Laos, picking organic vegetables directly from the garden and slurping a delicious bowl of freshly prepared noodles?
One of our favorite things to do is visit a local farm on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, where guests can reconnect with nature and embrace the simple life. Explore the farm with the local farmer, learning about the different crops and how they are harvested for everyday cooking. Then see how grains of glutinous rice, plucked from the field just moments ago, are transformed into long white strands of noodles and served in a mouth-watering broth - perhaps the best-tasting noodles you will ever have because they were made by your own two hands!
This authentic “crop to bowl” activity offers a genuine, hands-on Lao farm experience, where guests can get involved in as much, or as little, of the farming and cooking activities as they wish. Contact us now to make sure your guests don’t miss this unique experience in Laos.
The Definitive Southeast Asia Journey by Private Jet
Experience the best of Southeast Asia on an extravagant private jet journey through Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, in true Akorn style.
“We have a unique itinerary designed specifically for guests wishing to travel by private aircraft, which takes them to the best of the best in our region, enhanced, of course, by our signature VIP services all along the way”, says Sonja Stoerr, our Director of Sales for Southeast Asia, “we make all the arrangements for the guests' special journey, including private jet charter and permissions, private guides and tailored touring, so they can discover hidden charms and cultural wonders the Akorn way.”
Our recommended journey takes guests from the dazzling temples and bustling markets of Bangkok, Thailand, to the land of a thousand pagodas in Bagan, Myanmar, where they can learn traditional handicrafts and explore ancient temples before continuing to charming Luang Prabang, Laos, to learn about rice farming and traditional lifestyles in ethnic villages. Guests explore the ancient ruins of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and experience a melting pot of historical and contemporary influences in Hanoi, Vietnam. Then what better way to end this remarkable journey than to fly down to Bali, Indonesia for an exotic beach escape.
Contact us now for more details or find out how you can create a personalized private jet journey for your clients in Southeast Asia.
A Chat with Thailand’s Favorite Celebrity Chef
We sit down for a one-on-one with Chef Ian Kittichai, an award-winning chef, author and television personality, who rose from humble beginnings to bring us some of the world’s best dining including New York’s Spot Dessert Bar, Bangkok’s Issaya Siamese Club and the hip Namsaah Bottling Trust, housed in a chic, bright pink colonial house in central Bangkok. The talented chef has also appeared in television shows such as Iron Chef Thailand and MasterChef Thailand. In between his many commitments, Chef Kittichai found time to speak with us about his passion and inspiration.
Q: Please tell us a bit about your background and your inspiration as a chef.
A: My journey with food began when I was very young. My mother used to have a food cart, selling home-made dishes to passers-by. I remember driving with her at age 12 or 13 in our tuk tuk at 3am to select ingredients at Klong Toey market. After school, I would push the cart around our neighborhood to sell the food she had made.
After finishing high school, I went to London to study English. There, I got a job washing pots and serving coffee at the Waldorf Hotel. The chef at the hotel saw some potential in me and the hotel sponsored me to go to culinary school. After completing my training and an apprenticeship in Sydney, Australia. I started working as a Demi Chef at a hotel in Bangkok and worked my way up to Executive Chef. After 10 years, I had the opportunity to open my first stand-alone restaurant in New York City and have since opened several restaurants around the world, including Issaya Siamese Club and Spot Dessert Bar. I also enjoy the work I do at Cuisine Concept, my food and beverage consulting firm with a test kitchen and event space, and at my cooking school in Bangkok, Issaya Cooking Studio.
Q: We love the Issaya Siamese Club in Bangkok. What is the concept behind the restaurant and your most recommended signature dish?
A: At Issaya, I really want my guests to have a sensory and engaging experience of Thai cuisine – something for sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. My team and I thought of this not only for the food, but also the environment the guests sit in - the surrounding gardens, the old house, the furniture, the decoration, the music, etc. One of our signature dishes is yum hua plee (banana blossom salad). It is a traditional Thai dish, but I play with different textures of the blossom and the plating.
Q: Do you have a favorite story about your time as a judge on MasterChef Thailand?
A: The show is fun to film and I love learning about all of the different people who come onto the show to compete. Now I am in the middle of filming MasterChef Junior which is really different compared to working with the adults. To see an eight year old who gets excited about cooking, who knows how to fillet a fish and make a complicated sauce and plate beautifully – it really is so amazing, and to watch them surprise all the adults in the room and grow right before your eyes is inspiring.
Q: In your opinion, what makes Southeast Asian cuisine unique?
A: For me, I think it is the freshness, the spices, herbs and fresh produce that really make Southeast Asian cuisine shine. In general, Southeast Asian cuisines require a lot of preparation time – chopping and mixing ingredients for example, but the cooking times are usually very fast. We also famously have many flavors that work in harmony – salty, spicy, sweet and sour – a party of flavors all in one bite!
Q: Which restaurant in Southeast Asia is your personal favorite and why?
A: It is very hard for me to name just one. I do tend to be a loyal customer when I like something and I have been going to Hoy Todd Chao Lay (a street food restaurant in Bangkok) for many years. They have a great oyster pancake!
Q: How do you see the culinary scene in Southeast Asia evolving in the next few years?
A: I see it continuing to grow and expand. Southeast Asian cultures have always been food obsessed and with the younger generations of chefs and diners growing up watching food-centric television and social media, and with the proliferation of award lists and food events, the culinary scene in places like Bangkok are booming.
Q: If you had to choose one final meal, what would it be?
A: Again, it is hard to name just one dish. But I would say pad krapow moo (Thai spicy pork with basil), topped with a fried egg and served with rice. Or maybe I would go with Thai comfort food such as jok moo (pork congee).
Meet Chef Kittichai for a private chef’s table experience and cooking demonstration or book a table at one of his must-try restaurants in Bangkok. Contact us now to find out more!
Our Top 5: Experiences You Probably Didn’t Know About in Hue, Vietnam
Belinda Shillcock, our Regional Managing Director, shares her Top 5 off-the-beaten-track experiences from a recent trip to Hue, Vietnam, which made her see the ancient city in a whole new light and fall in love with Vietnam’s former imperial city all over again.
1. Learn the Art of Kite-Making with a Local Expert
Experience the 300-year-old tradition of making kites at the Royal Treasury in Hue. Flying kites is a popular pastime in Hue and families often gather in local parks to show off their colorful creations. With Akorn, guests discover the art and history of royal kites, which were used during the Nguyen dynasty as a way of telling stories in the sky. Meet a fourth-generation kite-maker who is a member of Hue’s Kite Flying Club and one of only two recognized kite artisans from his village, who demonstrates how to assemble the bamboo frame and decorate the self-made kite.
2. Discover Incense Making at a Village
One of our favorite spots is a small village on the outskirts of the city, which has been supplying the nation’s incense sticks for several generations. See the thin sticks of bamboo being dyed and laid out to dry in a mixture of sandalwood, cinnamon or pine-scented powder. Guests can take home some of the brightly colored sticks, which look like bouquets of flowers from a distance, and learn more about how they are used at family shrines to honor one’s ancestors.
3. Taste the Delights of Hue Cuisine
Small parcels of steamed rice flour topped with dried shrimps or crispy pork skin and served with fish sauce, banh beo is just one of the many culinary delights of Hue, which are not to be missed when visiting the imperial city. Hue is home to many specialty dishes, which are entirely different from the rest of Vietnam. Other must-try dishes include bun bo (noodles in an aromatic broth of lemongrass, lime, herbs and spicy chili oil), banh khoai (a crispy egg-based pancake with savory fillings) and nem lui (grilled pork on lemongrass skewers wrapped in rice paper).
4. Bike through the Backstreets of Hue
Cycle through the backstreets of the city to discover quiet corners and peaceful villages that reveal hidden gems at every turn. Pass through rice fields and bamboo-lined streets to discover a Japanese bridge which is much quieter and far less frequented than the bridge of similar construction in Hoi An. See local mushroom farms and observe the simple lifestyle of the people, observing how each house features its own temple for ancestral worship.
5. Experience a Private Martial Arts Session with a Master
Discover a little-known martial arts technique called Vo Kinh Van An. The tradition, which is rarely practiced outside the imperial city of Hue, was developed over 200 years ago by mandarins of the Nguyen dynasty. We recommend a private session at a local studio where guests can observe masters demonstrate the precise and deliberate movements and learn more about this unique aspect of Hue culture.
Healthy Eating with a Twist in Southeast Asia
Tender grasshoppers, crispy fried ants and succulent beehives are now being served at some of Southeast Asia’s best restaurants. While it may sound incredible, insects have been part of the Asian diet for many centuries, often enjoyed as a deep-fried snack. The tiny critters not only make a great meal, they are also considered a super food and provide a rich source of nutrition. Crickets, for example, contain almost double the amount of protein as beef, and 20 percent more calcium than milk.
Yes, bugs on the plate are actually good for you! And restaurants around the region are adding a refined twist to this age-old eating tradition, giving guests a chance to taste small creatures and enjoy the health benefits, in a clean and comfortable environment.
While exploring the treasures of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, stop by Pou Restaurant & Bar, which serves a range of simple, fresh dishes with a sprinkling of adventure. Alongside an innovative menu of wholesome Cambodian dishes, Pou serves an interesting beehive vegetable pancake and grilled chicken with red ants.
For a more refined experience, head to Bangkok and taste the wonderfully unique creations of Insects in the Backyard, which include grass fed beef tortellini with creamy tomato sauce and white cricket or nachos with silkworm cherry tomato salsa and sour cream.
Contact us now to add these unique dining experiences to your client’s next journey, or discover more healthy eating options in Southeast Asia!
More Insider News from Around the Region
• Offering great value for solo travelers, Aqua Mekong is waiving the single person supplement on its November 2018 departures, a great way to explore the Mekong between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Phnom Penh.
• Air Italy has introduced new direct flights between Milan and Bangkok, flying four days a week with up to 24 fully reclining seats in business class.
• Bangkok is gearing up for its first Art Biennale, celebrating arts in the city at various venues from 19 October 2018 until 3 February 2019.
• The new expressway between Ha Long Bay and Hanoi opened in September, cutting transfer times to the bay to just 2.5 hours.
A word from our guest:
“We had a fantastic time on our trip through Vietnam, Cambodia & Bangkok Thailand and thank you for the flowers and bottle of wine for our anniversary. The rest of the trip was equally amazing. All our guides were friendly, informative and gave us a varied and personal view of these vibrant and changing countries that I don't think would come across in a large group, which is what we hoped for. Thank you again for making it work out so easily”.
- Joshua L. of the United States
For more information about anything you have seen in this newsletter, contact us now:
Thailand | Cambodia | Laos | Myanmar | Vietnam
Check out our archive for more Insider news, ideas and travel information:
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia August 2018: Meet ethical artisans in Cambodia, discover the Myeik archipelago, last minute getaways you cannot miss in 2018, our exclusive interview with a U.S. veteran in Vietnam, philanthropy update and more news from the region
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia July 2018: Where to go during Southeast Asia’s Green Season, Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, Favorite Eats, Cultural Festivals, an Insider Interview with the Founders of Laos Buffalo Dairy, plus News from the Region
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia June 2018: Family Fun Experiences, a New Chartered Cruise on the Mekong, our Top 5 Shopping in Southeast Asia, an Exclusive Interview about Art & the Secretariat in Yangon, A Traveler's Tale and News from the Region
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