www. mmtimes. com the pulse 49
www. mmtimes. com the pulse 49
BANGKOK
Adventures in dining: flying chickens and robot waiters who serve
FROM chickens catapulted across tables to meals dished up with a generous portion of sexual health advice, Bangkok is doing a roaring trade in unusual dining experiences.
The Thai capital, renowned as much for its commitment to fun as it is for fiery cuisine, has embraced the odd, amusing and bizarre in a bid to lure customers through the door.
In the city suburbs, staff at Ka Tron restaurant delight customers by loading cooked chickens into a catapult and firing them across a stage where they are caught on a spike by a waiter riding a unicycle.
Despite the pressure that comes with live performance, their catch rate is impressive.
“ We have been going 26 years and we have probably fired hundreds of thousands of chickens, but we have only dropped a few hundred,” said restaurant owner Nattaset Rattanapipob.
It may be far from an everyday restaurant job, but the waiters say the trick seems to be working for the punters.
“ The way we do things is better,” said waiter Sorasak Pomkalong.
Across town a Japanese restaurant has deployed its own gimmick- two large robots wheel up and down the tables delivering meals to diners.
Once the novelty wears off, customers at Hajime can then order the robots to dance.
But as with all things mechanical, robot waiters come with a risk of malfunction.
“ During the first few hours of the day if the robot is stuck we have the support teams standing by,” said Pimol Paitaku, marketing manager at Hajime restaurant.“ It works most of the time.”
Bangkok has plenty of unique dining experiences including Cabbages and Condoms – which serves sexual health and family planning advice alongside noodles – with the tagline‘ our food is guaranteed not
Inventive dining in Bangkok, as patrons are served by robot waiters in Hajime restaurant in Bangkok. Photo: AFP
to get you pregnant.’ To emphasise the point, once customers have paid they get their changed returned with a complimentary condom.
And while Thais are serious about their food, people in the City of Angels appear willing to try anything.
“ They are looking for unique experiences, whether that is something no-one else has eaten or some kind of performance, or something that attracts the eye,” said food blogger Dwight‘ Bkk Fatty’ Turner.
“ So I think all of those things combined makes Bangkok a very special city to eat in.” – AFP
Local rockers Bloodsugar Politik does Hanoi double-take
NUAM BAWI hknuambawi @ gmail. com
YANGON-BASED indie-punk band Bloodsugar Politik have been invited to play in Hanoi for a second round of their fast-paced, punchy tunes.
Front man of the band, Han Htue Lwin says he’ s thrilled but also a little mystified at the invitation from the American-owned Cargo Bar in Hanoi.
“ I’ m not sure if they even saw us the last time we played there, but maybe they heard our music and liked it,” said band front-man Han Htue Lwin.
“ It’ s a fantastic opportunity and we’ re way more confident this time.”
Talking about their debut in
Vietnam last year, he said they had no idea what to expect.
“ We just went with no previous experience to something like this,” he remarked.
“ But to be invited again perhaps suggest we didn’ t do too bad!”
‘ I’ m not sure if they even saw us the last time we played there but maybe thety heard our music and like it.’
Han Htue Lwin Bloodsugar Politik
The unique thing about Bloodsugar Politik is that they write their song lyrics in English, potentially reaching a wider audience in South East Asia, and certainly making them popular with the local and expat populations back home.
The tattooed trio that make up Bloodsugar Politik – actually a side project of the better known Big Bag – include vocalist and guitarist, Han Htue Lwin, bassist Ye Zaw Myo and drummer V No Tun. Bloodsugar Politik released their first album called One Second Sentence in 2012 and is available on the iTunes store.
Their next Vietnam concert will be held July 12 and 13. Tickets and pricing are available from www. asialifemagazine. com.
‘ Holy Grail’ producer wins royalties case against Pythons
IN PICTURES |
POLAND: Talk about a traffic stopper: three pole dancers in central Poland have been honing their skills out in the streets, throwing their legs around signposts to the surprise and delight of many a passerby. Photo: Janek Skarzynski |
THE producer of the cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail has won his battle in Britain’ s High Court to boost his share of the profits from the hit spin-off musical, Spamalot.
Mark Forstater welcomed the ruling, which he estimates will net him about quarter of million dollars, but said he was sad that his friendships with the comedy stars had ended.
Spamalot was created more than a decade ago by Eric Idle of Britain’ s Monty Python comedy troupe.
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Described on posters as being“ lovingly ripped off” from the 1975 Holy Grail movie, it has been a huge success in London and on Broadway.
While both sides agreed that Forstater was entitled to some of the merchandising and spin-off income from the original film, the dispute was over how much.
Michael Palin and Terry Jones, who formed Monty Python in the 1960s with John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and the late Graham
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Chapman, appeared in court to give evidence against their former producer.
“ I have always been adamant I was correct. I have been proved right – justice has prevailed,” Forstater, 69, said afterwards.
“ There is a sadness though about having to face people who were my friends in court.”
He added:“ The friendship has gone. Terry Gilliam and I used to share a flat. We go back 51 years.”
– AFP
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