Travel Talk
Updates from Southeast Asia’s vibrant tourism industry
Mud House Wines
Finds a Home with Siam Winery
photo Siam Winery
Several wine critics, gourmands and other
Thai media were treated recently to a lavish
dinner at District, the sleek upscale restaurant
on the 2nd floor of Bangkok’s Marriott Hotel
Sukhumvit. The celebratory event was the
launch of several new wine imports from the
prestigious New Zealand winery known as Mud
House. These reds and whites are now available
in select 4 and 5 star hotels and restaurants,
and to show how versatile they are, winemaker
M.J. Loza was on hand to guide diners through
a specially prepared 5-course wine and food
pairing feast.
The evening’s repast began with an appetizer
of Oyster with mango, watercress and pomelo, paired with the 2012 Mud House Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc, a dry crisp wine with refreshing mineral overtones. Next up, a small sampling
of rich Duck liver that was offset not only by the accompanying rhubarb spread, but also by
the expertly chosen 2011 Mud House South Island Pinot Gris. The 3rd course of Quail with
wild mushrooms, bacon, chestnut, and black truffle was paired with an uncomplicated 2012 Hay
Maker Hawkes Bay Merlot – ‘Hay Maker’ being a sister brand in the MH Group wine portfolio
– while the tantalizing 4th course of Venison with beetroot, chorizo, sweet corn and blackberry
was expertly paired with the dark fruit notes of the 2011 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir.
By the time the sinfully delicious Pavlova with strawberry, lavender and lime dessert arrived,
paired with 2011 Mud House Waipara Valley Riesling, it was clear that this “Mud House” has
found a welcome home in Thailand.
www.siamwinery.com
Venison Paired with Central Otago Pinot Noir
Phuket Tourism Plays Hosts to
photo TAT International Public Relations Division
Peranakan Style Wedding Party
16
The unique atmosphere of Thailand’s Phuket Baba
Wedding, a mass marital function hosted by the city’s
tourism and cultural units every year since 2009, makes
it a hugely popular annual event. The ceremony brings
10 pre-registered Thai and/or foreign couples, as well as
their friends and relatives, through the special one and a
half days of authentic and traditional Peranakan wedding
ceremonies. The term Peranakan, or Baba, refers to the
descendants of the late 19th century Chinese immigrants
who settled in Phuket around 200 years ago, creating a
new and unique culture that is a mixture of Thai, Hokkian
Chinese, Muslim, and European.
Starting on the afternoon of June 21st, after checking in
at the luxurious Sukko Spa & Resort, the 10 couples were
blessed at the Thai-Chinese Chalong Temple, followed
by a romantic sunset dinner cruise. On the following day,
the couples gathered at Hongyok House, and after some
traditional family ceremonies – including a tea offering
ritual in which the couples are properly introduced to
each other – the festive wedding procession took the
couples through the Thalang Road of Phuket’s old town,
to the lavish wedding reception held at the Blue Elephant
Cooking School & Restaurant. Once again these mass
nuptials were a splendid success, and hopeful couples
are no doubt gearing up to be chosen for next year’s event.