Fah Thai Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

HAPPENINGS
LAOS
LUANG PRABANG
SPOTLIGHT
A Day In
A Farmer’s Life
More than 80 per cent of Lao
people engage in farming
activities, and “Living Land Lao”
organic farm just outside Luang
Prabang helps visitors experience
the traditional Lao farm life. This
arable farm prides itself on a
“hands-on” approach: visitors
are encouraged to experience
how rice is grown and cultivated.
A budding farmer can sign up
for a home-stay programme
for a night or two, and get a taste
of agricultural life. Plowing a rice
paddy involves negotiating with
the meek yet occasionally stubborn
water buffalo with a plough. Set
in the idyllic village and classic
countryside, Living Land Lao also
offers a half-day programme for
those who want to watch and try
to understand fun and educational
farm practices. Living Land Lao
is a must-do in Luang Prabang
since it offers a chance to integrate
in the life of the locals, and
providing fascinating insights into
rice growing in Laos. Ban Phong Van,
Luang Prabang, +85620 55199 208,
livinglandlao.org
RESURRECTING LOST RECIPES
Michelin star Chef Bongoch Satongun,
also known as “Chef Bee”, has reinvented
historical Lao cuisine into a fine dining
experience at “Paste Laos” – a newly-opened
restaurant in Luang Prabang. Chef Bee is
noted for her culinary art beyond “Paste”,
a one Michelin Star restaurant in Bangkok,
and “Paste Laos” is her culinary expansion
of Lao cuisine. Located inside The Apasara,
a small and beautiful hotel with a French
colonial accent, Paste Laos promises to
bring Luang Prabang’s long-lost recipes
to the modern and fine dining scene.
Some menus are inspired by the royal
cookery book of Phia Sing – a Lao chef who
served the royal family in Luang Prabang’s
Royal Palace in the mid 20th century. A
signature dish is Kalee Ped – Lao Duck
Curry – where the royal chef made it more
complex than the Thai version due to the
combination of French and Lao cooking
techniques. Chef Bee brings more than
just skill, creativity and experience to the
Paste Laos experience. Her family heritage
traces back across northern Thailand
and Laos, providing the very important
genetic connection required to decode and
represent these complex natural flavours.
Kingkitsarath Road, Ban Wat Sene, Luang
Prabang, pastelaos.com
TIME FOR CINEPHILES
The annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) returns to Laos’
ancient capital on December 7-12, transforming the fabled
riverside town into a fascinating open-air cinema. The festival,
which celebrates Southeast Asian cinema every December at
the UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a range of feature
film screenings, short film programmes, public discussions,
and events. This year’s Spotlight will focus on the Indonesian
film industry. Curated by KOLEKTIF Project Manager Gayatri
Nadya, the programme will offer audiences a full day of
programming and lively discussions from leading Indonesian
film experts and filmmakers. 7-12 December 2018, lpfilmfest.org
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