Thai kingdom come at Rockwell

What better way to celebrate one of Thailand’s most important annual festivals than with a gala buffet dinner featuring six of Manila most popular Thai restaurants?

On April 13, the Philippine-Thai Cultural Organization, together with the Royal Thai Embassy, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and Rockwell Land Corporation, will play hosts to the Songkran Thai New Year Festival at the Rockwell Tent. The one-day evening event will showcase the culinary treasures of Azuthai, Benjarong, Celadon, Oody’s, People’s Palace and 8 Spices — each restaurant will serve up to two dishes each for a 12-course buffet dinner that is sure to please Thai food enthusiasts.

Songkran, as the Thai New Year is fondly called, dates back to 1888 AD during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, popularly known as Roma the Fifth.  It began as a Buddhist tradition symbolized by the pouring of Lustral water (blessed water with an infusion of jasmine and red rose petals) in reverence for Buddha. Based on the solar calendar, Songkran is a deeply imbedded Thai family tradition as well, a time when families get together and the young pour Lustral water on the hands of the old as a gesture of respect and love. During the festival, fish are set free into the rivers and birds into the air as a way of cleansing, of letting go of the past and looking forward to the future.

“The Songkran, together with the Loy Krathong or the Moon Festival, are two of the biggest festivals in Thailand,” explains Carmelita Villanueva, president of the Philippine-Thai Cultural Organization. A 25-year expatriate of Thailand, Villanueva, who spearheads this year’s unique celebration, worked for UNESCO and the United Nations Population Fund in Bangkok and was married to the Yugoslav ambassador to Thailand. She fell in love with Thai food almost immediately as it reminded her of the spicy Bicolano food her father used to prepare at home. It was “love at first spoonful” when she tried tom yum soup and she has since mastered Thai food cooking with lessons at the Blue Elephant cooking school, the Cordon Bleu of Thai cuisine.

The Philippine-Thai Cultural Organization was founded in 2009 and is composed of Filipinos and Thais alike with an affinity for Thailand. “Most of our Filipino members worked in Thailand; it was our friendship and bonding that led to the formulation of the organization,” explains Villanueva. The group raises funds for non-government organizations with their various projects. “When I retired in 2004, my mission shifted from being of service to many countries in the region to helping the Philippines and paying it forward; this year’s Songkran Food Festival will benefit the victims of calamities, particularly those hit by typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental,” Villanueva adds. She was very pleased with the support and participation of six of Manila’s best Thai restaurants, all recommended by The Royal Thai Embassy.

“The restaurants have Thai chefs so I can guarantee you that the flavors will be authentic,” she beams. For the upcoming dinner event Azuthai will prepare Poh Pia Paksot, fresh Thai spring rolls in rice paper with a special dipping sauce, together with Pad Pak Ruam, stir-fried mix vegetables.

Benjarong will whip up an appetizer called Satay Moo, a pork satay with peanut sauce and cucumber achara plus Haw Mok Talay, steamed seafood custard in banana leaf cups.

Celadon will create Tom Yum Talay, hot and sour soup with mixed seafood along with Pla Tubtim Sam Rod, fried fish fillet in three-flavored sauce.

People’s Palace will concoct Khaeng Panang Neva, Beef in Panang red curry and Khao Soi Kai, Chiangmai chicken curry yellow noodles.

Oody’s will make Yam Pla Dok Foo, crispy catfish with mango salad and Bua Loy or sweet balls in coconut milk.

Last but not least, 8 Spices will serve up Gaeng Kieo Waan Kai or green chicken curry and Khao Nieow Sung Kaya, sticky rice with Thai custard.

“This is the second year we are holding this kind of event; the first one was smaller but very successful so we decided to hold this one in a bigger venue, the Rockwell Tent. Rockwell is a cosmopolitan place where residents and visitors have an international and sophisticated palate, most of whom I am sure are also connoisseurs of Thai food,” Villanueva shares. Apart from the sumptuous dinner, there will be a raffle with exciting prizes courtesy of Thai Airways, Zen Institute and Belo Medical Group. “We are proud to say that this event has been nominated for the Friends of Thailand competition, an international community-based contest that promotes Thailand. It will be such an honor for our organization to win,” Villanueva adds.

I myself love Thai food and this harmony of flavors is one event I will definitely mark on my calendar. So see you on April 13 and, as they say in Thailand, taan hai aroi (enjoy your food)!

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The Thai Food Gala Buffet will be held on April 13, Saturday, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Rockwell Tent. Tickets are priced at P1,200 for Rockwell Club members and P1,300 for the general public. For more information call 0917-828-9451.