Amari Pulse

Situated near the sea in Thailand’s royal beach town, Amari Hua Hin is scheduled to open on 1 July 2012.

Amari Hua Hin is close to both Khao Takiab and the town centre of Hua Hin – making it an ideal choice for families, friends and couples.

This property will feature all of the comforts expected from an Amari resort in addition to exciting new concepts designed to make guests’ experiences truly unforgettable.

Take a look at the latest photos and tell us what you think!

We asked the Executive Chef of Joe’s Restaurant in London to write about her recent experience at Amari Orchid Pattaya’s 2nd annual Gourmet Festival at Mantra Restaurant and Bar.

My name’s Maria Elia and I am a chef from the UK. Here’s a little bit about me…

I’m totally in love with cooking and have been since I was four years old (quite a few years ago!!). I used to finish nursery school and visit my parent’s restaurant where I’d sit and watch my dad cook. My love affair with cooking has blossomed ever since.

Last March, I travelled to Thailand to take part in the second Pattaya Gourmet Festival. I’d first been there fifteen years ago where I spent eight weeks travelling around the country. It was my first introduction to Asian food and I have been fascinated by their culinary offerings ever since.

This year’s event was a fantastic week-long celebration of great food and wines. It was such a great experience to meet the other chefs: Steven Snow from Australia, Chan Kam Yuen from Hong Kong and the very handsome Yannick Ollivier Cayrol from France! We shared a prep kitchen and got along famously.

Throughout the week, we each created dishes and canapes for various wine tasting dinners. I served seared scallops with soutzouki (a spiced Greek sausage) and watermelon with an oregano raisin dressing as a third course. It matched the Sauvignon Blanc beautifully.

The Grand Finale dinner was a great success. All four guest chefs along with Kai the Amari Orchid Pattaya’s Executive Chef cooking a course. I prepared the sixth course: Rabbit three ways with a Greek twist!

It was a perfect way to end a spectacular week and all of us were sad to say goodbye to our wonderful Thai chef assistants- who couldn’t have helped us more.

The service at the Amari Orchid Pattaya is second to none, we were so well looked after. My room was luxurious, modern and spacious- overlooking the beautiful garden and pools. One of most favourite thing about the hotel- the scent of fresh Jasmine flowers everywhere!

I had the most amazing adventure and was thrilled to be part of the festival. I learnt a lot and my taste buds were totally inspired!

Thank you Amari for being the most perfect hosts

Find out more about Mari Elia at www.thisismariaelia.com or follower her on Twitter at @thisismariaelia.com

In the second part of our two part series, our guest blogger shares his first impressions of Bangkok. Read on to find out where he visited and what impressed him most about the Land of Smiles.

Bustling Bangkok
Arriving at my home for the next three days, the Amari Watergate Bangkok, I couldn’t help but think that this place was perfect to experience bustling Bangkok. From its relaxing vibe to hospitable staff, I understood why this was a popular hotel amongst travelers.

After freshening up and a quick light snack, we headed off to the Chao Phraya to embark on a night cruise of the country’s largest river. This was a first for me and an experience I would always remember. Bangkok at night is simply stunning.

We ended our first day with a blast! I wouldn’t leave this city without a night on the town and I was not disappointed. After hours of partying to the beats of international D.Js, we headed back to the hotel in a TukTuk and called it a night.

Embracing the Culture
The next morning, we experienced the rich vein of culture that Bangkok is known for. A tour of the beautiful temples was a great cultural experience. A quick tip for ladies here is to make sure you wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees or else you’ll have to borrow before entering the temple – not something I would recommend.

We then went to the Arts of the Kingdom Museum. Here they showcase the finest Thai artistry and crafts and certainly an experience not to miss. It’s a shame that you can’t take photos inside but nevertheless, a great place to visit.

Dinner on the second day was at Red Skies, a stunning roof top restaurant with panoramic views of Bangkok. The food was delicious and for us, the perfect way to end our journey.

Heading Home
After so many years, my dream of visiting Thailand has come true. I had the opportunity to experience different foods, traditions and a rich culture. I return home with great memories and the determination to return.