A Sretsis sister opens Minibar Royale
BANGKOK — I’ve been savoring the city’s eclectic food scene ever since I started traveling here regularly. From a bowl of chili noodle soup served by a street hawker, to popular patisseries like Lenôtre or Angelina — the city is never lacking in authentic haute cuisine or delightful layman staples.
One of the newer additions to the vast Bangkok foodscape is the Minibar Royale located on Sukhumvit 23 and partly owned by Sretsis fashion designer Pim Sukhahuta.
Modeled after a continental brasserie, the place evokes the romantic mood of a French bistro mixed with a bustling New York café.
The concept of Minibar Royale was born out of a Sretsis after-party in a hotel room in Australia, which had room service and mini-bar refreshments enjoyed amidst an iPod playlist.
Having lived in New York while studying at Parsons School of Design, Pim and her friends reminisced New York’s gastronomic offerings available at any time of day or night.
Pim and 10 of her friends decided to put up a chic yet cozy restaurant reminiscent of that scene.
Pim is in charge of the restaurant’s art direction and interiors, while her other partners, graduates of Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu, created the restaurant’s menu and bar list which offers items served at French bistros or New York City cafés.
This includes a rich French onion soup, chunky pork ribs, steak frites, and croque with petite burgers.
It offers brunch items such as Eggs Florentine served with spinach and crispy bacon topped with Mornay sauce; Eggs Benedict served on a baguette with homemade smoked salmon and Hollandaise sauce; and corned beef hash, plated with seasoned potatoes and topped with poached eggs.
A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are on the menu, including New- and Old-world wines expertly selected by in-house sommeliers.
Pim and I talked over dinner, which began with a Summer Ruby Salad and Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad, served with the house cocktail Minibar Royale — a playful mix of champagne and pomegranate.
As an appetizer, Pim chose the Bacon-wrapped Scallops with Corn Salsa.
For mains, we had the Ribs de Brooklyn and Roasted Lemon-Thyme Sea Bass with potato and cherry tomatoes, paired with the signature Pear and Elderflower Fizz drinks.
For dessert we had the Seared Pear with Mascarpone and Caramel Sauce to end a perfect meal.
* * *
Minibar Royale is located at Citadine’s Hotel, 37/ 7 Sukhumvit 23 Bangkok 10110. Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Brunch is served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on weekdays, and until 3 p.m. on weekends. For reservations call: +662-2615533.
