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BANGKOK’S LEADING FINANCIAL GUIDE
Back to the future of work
How the internet continues to transform office life
May 2009
New media,
new opportunities
Step on to the
Thai property
ladder
Eye can see
clearly now
BUSINESS REVIEW INVESTMENTS NETWORKING PROPERTY TRAVEL & LEISURE HEALTH

www.AngloINFO.com
Welcome
to Platform
Welcome to your new edition of Bangkok’s leading
financial and lifestyle magazine. In May, workers in Thailand
and around the world celebrate their economic and social
achievements with the Labour Day holiday and to mark this
special day we have put the spotlight on the changing face of
the world of work.
Computers and the World Wide Web are, of course, at the
forefront of this and on Pages 4-5 we look at the rise of the
Webinar and Web-based training. In addition, on Page 10-11
we meet a man who has come up with an innovative
marketing strategy to reach China’s upwardly - mobile
workforce. Plus there’s great news for property investors on
Page 7. In with the mix is a selection of travel, health and food
articles as well as your What’s On guide to May.
* Information contained herein remains the property of MBMG Group and is provided on the basis that no part hereof may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of MBMG Law Office. All rights
reserved.
*The information contained in this brochure has been prepared for your general information only and is not regarded as representing a professional opinion of MBMG
Group. In addition, MBMG Group does not accept any liability whatsoever for the consequences of any actions taken or not taken as a direct or indirect result of
reading this brochure.
contents
Cover Story 4
Property 7
Interview 10
Networking 12
What’s on 14
Health 17
Travel 18
Women 4 Women 21
Business Lunch 23
Published for:
by: BKK Metro Co., Ltd
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Editor: Graham Macdonald
Designer: Chittima Limrostip
Sub Editor: Jim Preen, Todd Guest
(todd@mbmg-international.com)
Marketing manager:
Heather Coley
(heather@mbmg-international.com)
Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly
Audited by: MBMG Printing by:
CD Media Co., Ltd

Changing
By Jim Preen
the way we work
As companies look to cut costs but widen their reach,
the internet is providing some new approaches
Paul Gambles delivers a seminar to AustCham
A
Paul Gambles delivers a Webinar
s the Managing Partner at MBMG Group,
Paul Gambles has many years of experience
delivering seminars and addressing live audiences.
But one of his most recent presentations was a
completely new experience – not least because
some of the delegates could, for all he knew, have
been sitting there in their pyjamas!
Paul felt entirely comfortable with the subject of
his talk (the current state of the Australian economy
and the countr y ’s effor ts to overcome the
financial downturn) it was the method of delivery
that was different. It was a webinar.
For those not in the know a webinar is a seminar
presented, delivered and attended entirely over the
internet.
An invisible audience
Paul recalls: ‘I had already delivered this seminar to
a live audience at an AustCham Thailand lunch event
so I could see the people listening to me and judging
their response. But at the webinar, the delegates could
see me but I couldn’t see them.’
With travel budgets slashed webinars are
becoming an increasingly popular business tool.
Presenters can interact with people without leaving
the office and delegates can attend from all over the
world.
Typically webinars are also recorded so people
unable to attend the event can view them later. For
Paul’s presentation, people logged on from across
region from as far afield as Singapore, Thailand,
Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.
To view the presentation now and find out what
the future may hold for the Australian economy,
currency, equities and property market, simply visit
the URL http://www.InstantPresenter.com /
AustChamThailand/EA59DF8782 where you just
have to key in your name and email address.
Interactive experience
Transmitted via a relatively fast broadband
connection, the web audience was able to see a
small live picture of Paul in the top left hand corner
of their screen. PowerPoint slides, which he
controlled, took centre stage.
At the bottom of the screen was the interactive
element – a chat box where delegates were able to
post questions or remarks. A device familiar to
anyone who uses Skype or MSN chat. This aspect of
the computer software came into its own at the end
of the talk when Paul invited questions.
The world of work has been revolutionised by the
computer and the webinar is just one example. For
many companies conducting in-house classroom
training is a thing of the past with Computer Based
Training (CBT) the way forward.
Training transformed
CBT has been around for over 10 years but
only recently have technological advances made it
affordable, accessible and easy to use.
One of the key drivers has been the almost universal
adoption of broadband internet connections by the
business community, with Web-based training
quickly becoming the fastest-growing segment of
the CBT market.
The great thing about CBT is its flexibility. In the
past classroom training demanded a trainer, a room
in which to work, classroom materials and enough
delegates able to attend to make the event
worthwhile. That’s all changed. Now the delegates
call the shots and can access the training at their
convenience.
Accelerated pace
Computer training generally takes less time
than classroom training. Some studies have shown
it can reduce training time by between 40-60 per
cent.
Programmes can be targeted at particular
individuals. So instead of staff sitting through a
whole day’s training, a half-day focused on
employees specific needs will accelerate learning.
Another bonus is that it allows students to work at
their own pace.
Although there are many different types of CBT a
simple divide is between those courses that are
interactive and those that are not.
An interactive course has a lot going for it. It draws
delegates in and makes them feel part of the learning
process - work can be submitted and questions
asked throughout the training.
Nomadic learning
CBT that has no interactive element has its
advantages too. This is sometimes called ‘nomadic
learning’ as students typically transfer the course
onto their iPod or music player and are able to learn
on the move – in a taxi or on the train to work. The
ultimate example of training as a moveable feast.
CBT and webinars are exciting alternatives to the
more traditional forms of training and speaking. They
can save your company time and money, can be
very attractive to your staff and of course your
customers.
Technology traps
This owes a great deal to the level of preparation.
Shane Torr, the outgoing AustCham President and a
Consultant with ISM Technology Recruitment made
the point that 'For webinars and interactive training
it is essential that all things technical are tried and
tested and tested again. The technology has to be
understood, mastered and made to work. Because,
put simply, no matter how brilliant the speaker’s
thoughts or the trainer’s ideas – if they can’t be heard
they haven’t been made.’
4 P L A T F O R M P L A T F O R M 5

Buying a property back home?
Buying a property overseas?
Buying a property in Thailand?
Foreigners needing property solutions in Thailand
need to come to Hamptons for lease purchases of up
to 30 years, for condos, houses, townhouses and land.
For more information contact Todd Guest on 02 655 6044
or todd@hamptons-mortgages.com to request an information pack.
Step on to the
Thai property ladder
T
Trying to get finance for
property in Thailand is tricky.
Todd Guest from Hamptons
guides you through an
innovative solution
he unravelling of the sub-prime credit crisis and
the recession we are now enduring will
undoubtedly shape the regulation that surrounds
credit. Not only for bank-to-bank lending and
investment gearing but also for personal lending
including mortgages, loans and credit cards. The
banks have become far more cautious in their
lending in an effort to boost confidence in the
sector. The reality, of course, is that banks have very
little liquidity. These factors mean that for the average
person, acquiring a mortgage is far less easy than it
used to be.
Expatriates wanting to buy property in Thailand
have historically faced even bigger hurdles, with few,
if any, banks willing or able to lend to 'farangs' and
with property transactions here frequently attended
by a whole host of legal difficulties. However, since
2005 Hamptons International Mortgages Thailand or
HIMT as it's often known has been offering a
property purchase solution to resident expatriates
in Thailand under a lease purchase scheme.
How does the Hamptons solution work?
Hamptons offer a LeasePurchase solution where by
Hamptons will pay up to 70% of a property’s value on
the client’s behalf, with the client obligated to pay the
balance plus initial transfer and transaction fees. The
property is then effectively owned by HIMT and leased
back to the client, with a right for the client to purchase
the property or the property's individual owning
company at the end of the lease period.To provide the
amount needed to be able to complete the purchase at
the end of the lease period, the Hamptons solution also
includes a monthly payment into a capital repayment
plan. The total amount payable every month basically
equates to the capital and interest payments on a
mortgage. Overall, this solution is not only cost-effective
but also very flexible; clients can increase the
contributions into the repayment plan, allowing them to
reduce the term of the LeasePurchase and exercise the
option to take ownership sooner than had been
planned. Alternatively clients can also reduce the
LeasePurchase term and/or the monthly LeasePurchase
payments by making additional lump sum payments
from time to time.
What are the criteria for application?
There is no minimum or maximum amount that HIMT
will contribute to the property purchase. Clients
have to produce evidence that they can support the
required payments into the repayment plan and the
lease payment. Other than that the specifications
are very flexible. Client income can be assessed not
only on employment income but also on income
from rental properties or investments. The repayment
term can be between 5 and 30 years, which is
entirely down to preference. Clients living in Thailand
have to produce a work permit but the package is
not restricted to clients residing in Thailand only. It
is available to all expatriates who wish to apply
and who need assistance in buying a property in
Thailand. The solution was recently under the
spotlight in Tropical Living magazine where an
independent legal adviser welcomed it as ‘a creative
financing option’.
P L A T F O R M
7

New media
new opportunities
E
ric Rosenkranz has lived and breathed the world
of advertising for more than 30 years working
with a huge array of clients – Procter & Gamble,
Mars, Wrigley, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Danone,
Bristol-Myers, 3M, Oracle and Unisys – to name but a
few.
Until 2004 he was President of Grey Global Group
Asia Pacific. The following year, as Vice-Chairman of
Focus Media China, he was instrumental in leading
the company to a highly successful NASDAQ listing.
In 2007 he assisted in selling an outdoor media
company to NEWS Corp. The following year he
co-founded mStream.
Eric says that media, Asia, IPOs and venture
capital are all in his blood!
Platform spoke to Eric to get the inside track on
mStream.
Q: mStream is in the digital media signage business
in China. What exactly does that mean?
A: Television in China is mass market, which makes it
expensive to reach certain key demographic
audiences. Companies have become quite
successful in targeting, for example, businessmen by
placing adverts on screens in office towers, or
reaching high disposable income travelers via
signage in airports.
Q: What does mStream do?
A: We place digital TV screens in hair and beauty
salons and coffee shops throughout China, and sell
advertising to companies wishing to reach the key
demographic of upwardly mobile young women.
Q: So what’s different about your company?
A: Our key difference is that we have acquired an
existing Chinese company, which already has 5,000
racks distributing magazines throughout Shanghai.
We are converting their current traditional racks into
Digital Magazine Racks (DMR) with an LCD screen,
which generates far higher revenues and margins
via TV ads. This idea of combining high - end
magazines and LCD screens is a first in China.
We have already deployed more than 100 DMRs
in premium outlets in Shanghai’s central business
district, including all Coffee Beans and other high-
end chain outlets. Having free access to these sites
Eric Rosenkranz
(left)
mStream display
(far left)
is allowing us to expand at an extraordinary rate.
Q: Isn’t this the worst time in the world to be starting
up a new company.
A: Not at all! Firstly, we are not a start-up – we already
have $1.5m in revenue and are profitable.
But most importantly, everything is cheaper now
than 12 months ago. We can purchase equipment
for less, and the companies we have targeted for our
expansion into other cities are looking for much
lower valuations now than they were six months
ago.
Q: What is your relationship with MBMG?
A: Actually, we have several. First, Paul Gambles is
advising our company on the some of the legal and
financial aspects of running our business. Second,
we need money for further expansion. MBMG has
launched a new Venture Capital, Peak XV, and
mStream is honoured to have been chosen as the
fund’s first investment.
Q: What is the potential reward for a prospective
investor?
A: The sky’s the limit! (I hope I can say that legally).
I took another Chinese digital media company
public on NASDAQ recently and it achieved a top
valuation of $7billion. The initial investors in that
company received a return of over 100 times.
Q: Thank you. Anything else?
A: Venture Capital is good to have in every portfolio
…at appropriate amounts, say 5-10%. Peak XV
spreads the risk by investing, not only in mStream,
but in a range of investments, some endorsed by the
MAI (The Stock Exchange of Thailand’s Market for
Alternative Investment).
P L A T F O R M
11

MBMG Group sponsored the monthly AustCham
Sundowners event. The wine flowed at a brilliant
evening, under the stars, beside the pool at The Four
Seasons Hotel. A bottle of champagne to the first
reader to tell us who ended up in the pool and who
dived in to save them.
Sundowners
Southern
Hemisphere Chambers
Sundowners
Southern
The New Zealand, Australian, and South African
Chambers joined forces to host a barbecue in the
delightful setting of the gardens at Bangkok’s
Sukhothai Hotel. More than 300 people turned
out for the glittering event, which was hosted by
MBMG Group and their strategic alliance partners
RSM Advisory.
12 P L A T F O R M P L A T F O R M 13
Hemisphere Chambers

What’s on
Information provided by AngloINFO.com
Piano Duo - The Thailand
Philharmonic Orchestra
When: Friday, May 29th at
19:00 & May 30th at 16:00
The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra,
with conductor Gudni A Emilsson and
piano duo Anna and Ines Walachowski,
present music by Poulenc and Debussy.
Where: The Music Auditorium, Mahidol
University Salaya, 25/25 Phutthamonthon
Sai 4, Nakhonpathom. Tel: 02 800 2525
ext 154.
Black and White
When: Friday,
May 15th from 19:00.
A glittering evening on a ‘Black
and White’ theme. A fine buffet of
charcuterie, cheeses and wine,
with live music and DJ till late.
Where: The Alliance Française de
Bangkok. 29 Sathorn Tai Road. Tel:
02 670 4231.
More Info...
http://en.alliance-francaise.or.th
Watercolour Workshops
with Louise Truslow
When: Saturday, May 23
Watercolour workshops for all levels led
by one of Bangkok’s best loved artists.
Where: The British Club - Silom Soi 18.
More info... email louise@louisetruslow.com
Miss Tiffany's
Universe 2009
When: Friday,
May 15 at 21:00
Miss Tiffany presents her Universe
beauty pageant for transvestites.
Where: Tiffany's Show Theatre
Pattaya
More Info...
www.thaiticketmajor.com
The Fabbagirls
When: Friday,
May 15th at 20:00
See them live with the Bangkok
Symphony Orchestra.
Where: Thailand Cultural Center
Ratchadepisek Rd, Huay Kwang.
More Info...
http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/c
oncert/great09_abba_eng.php
Paradorn’s Tennis Camp - Concordian
International School
When: Every Tue, Wed, Thu
From Tuesday April 21st until Tuesday June 30th
Improve your game with Thailand’s most popular player.
Where: Concordian International School (CIS)
918 Moo 8 Bangna-Trad KM 7 (opposite Lotus), Bangkok.
More Info... www.paradorntennisacademy.com
Horse Racing
- Royal Bangkok
Sports Club
When: Sunday from
12:30 until 18:00.
Enjoy the sport of kings at the Royal
Bangkok Sports Club. Usually every
other Sunday, but check the
website for exact schedule. Ticket
Thailand Travel &
Dive Expo 2009
When: Thursday,
May 14th until
Sunday, May 17th
If you like diving and travel don’t
miss this exhibition.
Where: The Queen Sirik it
National Convention Center, 60
New Rachadapisek Road. Tel: 02
203 4221-5
More Info...
www.thailanddiveexpo.com
price THB 50, 100 or 500.
Where: 1 Henri Dunant Street, Pathumwan. Tel: 02 652 5000.
More Info... www.rbsc.org/ClubInfoRacing.aspx
Veterans
League 2009
When: Sunday, May 3rd
Friendly and informal football
league for youngsters over-35. All
nationalities welcome.
Where: Usually at Harrow School
– check website for up to date
information.
More Info... www.vetsleague.com
Furniture and Wedding Expo 2009
When: Saturday May 23rd
until Sunday May 31st from 10:30 to 21:00
Huge selection of furniture, decorative, household and
wedding items.
Where: The Impact Exhibition and Convention Center,
Muang Thong Thani. Tel: 02 314 0855.
More Info… www.impact.co.th/event.php#may
14 P L A T F O R M P L A T F O R M 15

Global
Health
Insurance
Comprehensive health insurance protection against medical treatment and evacuation costs
● Valuable maternity, dental and well-being benefits
● Cover for chronic conditions and psychiatric treatment
● 24 hour multi-lingual helpline
● Fast and efficient claims settlement
● Friendly and professional customer service
● Preferential rates for Platform readers
For further information please contact MBMG:
Tel: 02 655 6044
email: info@mbmg-international.com
www.mbmg-international.com
HEALTH, LIFE & INCOME PROTECTION INSURANCE
Eye can see
clearly now
More and more people are turning
to laser eye surgery to improve
their vision. So how does it work?
T
im Williams is feeling a little nervous and has to
ask the nurse for a sedative before the man in the
white coat begins his work. Just 24 hours later, Tim’s
fears are in the dim and distant past as he begins to
see the world through new eyes – quite literally.
Tim, a Vice President at a major Thai company, is
one of the growing number of people to have
undergone laser eye surgery.
It is a fast-evolving field of medicine and new
technology is being devised all the time that makes
the process safer, quicker and more effective.
Bangkok hospitals offer some of the most
technologically advanced LASIK laser eye treatment
systems in the world and can be used to correct
near and far sightedness.
In simple terms, the laser peels away a flap from
the cornea (rather like slicing the top off a boiled
egg but leaving it hinged on one side) and then
moves in to reshape the eye. Up to seven beams
polish the cornea to produce an exceptionally
smooth surface. The flap is then replaced.
Research shows that this method encourages
quick healing and better eyesight.
Other specialist treatments are also available. PRK
uses an excimer laser to remove microscopic
amounts of tissue directly from the surface of the
eye. This technique is more than 20 years old and is
popular with patients suffering from astigmatism or
who cannot have LASIK.
It is possible to have just one eye done at a time
but Tim, who was near sighted, opted for both. ‘I
can’t deny I was pretty scared. I was terrified it would
be agony,’ he says. The surgery took around four
minutes for each eye and despite mild discomfort
Tim says it really DIDN’T hurt!
Once the surgery was complete, see-through
plastic shells were taped over his eyes to protect
them while they healed. The next day Tim was back
at the clinic, and as he says, ‘the minute the eye
coverings were removed I could see properly for the
first time in years.’ Tim paid 80,000 THB, which
included the surgery and all pre and post surgery
consultations. He subsequently needed some
further treatment to complete the healing process
and this too was included in the price.
Tim no longer needs his specs, but instead of
throwing them away, he donated them to a charity
that reconditions glasses, which are then given to
the poor. As Tim says: ‘It’s possible that somewhere
outside Chiang Mai there is a farmer in a very cool
pair of prescription TAG Heuers.’
Jim Preen
For more information contact the Samitivej
Hospital at www.samitivejhospitals.com
F A Q
We asked Dr. Apiwat Pothikamjohn from Samitivej
Hospital about the various procedures available.
Q: Many people, as they get older, require reading
glasses and often need a different prescription for
each eye. Can surgery replicate this?
A: Yes, it can. This is sometimes know n as
monovision when one eye is corrected for distance
and one for near vision. However, this is not suitable
for everyone – our experts would need to assess
patients on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Can laser surgery help with the condition known
as ‘lazy eye’?
A: Laser surgery can currently achieve the same
results as wearing glasses or contact lenses. If you
have poor vision in one eye, even with glasses on, it
is unlikely that laser surgery will improve on that.
Q: How long will I need to take off work?
A: For Lasik treatment we always recommend at
least the next day off work. If you opt for PRK
treatment, we advise at least a week off.
PLATFORM
17

The Travel Bishop
DON’T MISS THE BOAT
ven for those of us who don’t choose to invest all our
E spare time, energy and money in owning a boat,
messing about on the river takes on a new meaning in
South East Asia where the mighty Mekong and the
Chao Phraya in Bangkok offer extraordinary travel
experiences.
Apart from the well-publicised Sunday excursion
boat services from Bangkok to both Samut Prakarn
and Muang Boran, operated by The Chao Phraya
Express Company, there is now an array of boat trips
throughout the Kingdom to suit all tastes.
Daily trips to Ayutthaya are complemented by
the overnight Manhora and Mekhala rice barge
cruises. These include a candlelit dinner and an
overnight stop taken at Wat Kai Tia. The barges look
and feel antique, but have been converted to
include all modern cabin facilities. Beat the Bangkok
stress and take a leisurely trip along the river.
Two similar period boats operating out of Phuket
are the June Bathra and the Suwan Macaha. The
latter is an oriental junk; fully restored and updated, it
includes five luxury cabins. The three-night itinerary
has full onboard service and sports facilities
including sea kayaks, fishing and snorkel gear. It’s a
fine way to take advantage of the low season (May
18 P L A T F O R M
through October) with the cost being little more
than three nights in a good hotel. Onboard you get
the stunning scenery of Phang Nga bay.
The Mekong region hosts two quality excursions
namely the Luangsay and the Vat Phou river jaunts.
The former offers both one and two-night trips from
Chiang Khong on the Chiang Rai border with Laos,
downriver to Luang Prabang. The extra night allows
a longer stay at the Luangsuay Lodge, a purpose-
built travellers' hotel overlooking the river at
Pakbeng.
The lower stretches of the Mekong are served by
the meticulously restored Vat Phou riverboat, a
converted hull barge with 12 air-conditioned state
rooms and private bathrooms. The three-night
itinerary includes important Khmer sites such as
Champassak and Vat Phou itself plus a trip to the
roaring river falls at Phapheng.
This only scratches the surface of boat excursion
possibilities with no mention of River Kwai trips and
Kaeng Kracharn overnight cruises. However, the
aforementioned should be enough to whet the
appetite of even the most committed landlubber.
For more information, contact DTC Travel on (+66) 02
259 45 35 or see www.dtctravel.com

W
hen parents get together
it’s almost inevitable that
the subject of their children’s
education will be raised. In the
expat community, when someone
new arrives the scramble is on
to find the right school with
the family’s housing choice quite
often dictated by the school’s
location. But what is the right
school and what is the right form
of education? There’s a lot on offer
these days.
The t wo recent Women for
Women (W4W) discussion forums
at the Grand Millennium Hotel
Bangkok heard advice from
education experts from both NIST
and KIS International Schools.
They set out the costs and the value
of an international education.
Adrian Watts, Deputy Head and
Director of Academic Studies of
NIST, revealed there are now over
700,000 students at 2,591 schools
in 134 countries enjoying the
benefits of The International
Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
Linda Belonje of KIS emphasised
By Paul Gambles
Learning
the big school lesson
that parents in Bangkok have a
bewildering array of excellent
schools to choose from to prepare
their kids for university and life
beyond. It was important for parents
to set a side time to visit several
schools to allow them to make an
informed choice.
NIST's Director of Development,
Jaemi Hodgson picked up on that
theme and made the point that
schools are very individual and
that it's important to find the one
that best suits a child's requirements.
Jaemi said: ‘Some children
might only be in Thailand for two
or three years and may then return
to school in their home countries
whereas other families may stay in
Thailand or move on to another
Parents need to do their
homework when it
comes to choosing a
school for their child
country and remain expats for
much longer’.
The forum also looked at higher
education, which is becoming
increasingly international as people
travel widely to further their
education. The most popular
destinations being:
• USA
• UK
• Australia
• Canada
MBMG Group's Todd Guest
pointed out that published
college prices have risen rapidly in
all sectors since the early 1980s,
even after adjusting for inflation.
Recognised as an education
fee-planning expert, Todd outlined
the relative costs of international
education.
He said on top of tuition fees,
parents need to budget for university
accommodation, which can be
very expensive and will vary
from country to country. He went
on to talk about the cost of
incidentals such as computers,
books and general living expenses.
These can quickly mount up and
are an expense that is often
overlooked.
The event was wonderfully
moderated by the dynamic Donna
Murphy, one of Asia's leading
occupational therapist and
educational support experts.
PLATFORM
21

of the Month
Jirachai Sethisakko, 32, is the Wine Guru at Anantara
Phuket Resort & Spa
Where were you born?
In Chantaburi on the East Coast of Thailand.
Where did you train?
I have never undertaken any formal training. I am
completely self-taught. I started studying wine four
years ago when I was working at Anantara Koh
Samui Resort & Spa.
What do you like about your job?
By day, I am the Food & Beverage Manager, by night
I put on my Wine Guru hat. I really enjoy helping
guests choose a wine they may not have tried before –
particularly something that complements what they
plan to eat.
Which country produces your favourite wine?
France and Italy. They have a unique history of wine
production and strict quality control. But above all I
love the variety of tastes.
Do you have a favourite winery?
My favourite is Castellare di Castellina in Tuscany.
They produce one of the great so-called ‘Super
Tuscan’ wines called I Sodi di San Niccolo 1999. I
went there just over two years ago and loved the
wine and the place.
When it comes to bubbles,
does it have to be champagne?
A glass of real Champagne before a meal is the best
aperitif, but Bellavista Franciacorta from Northern
Italy can stand up to the finest Champagnes.
Is there a wine that goes with a classic Thai meal?
For Thai food, I’d recommend a Thai wine - Monsoon
Valley Colombard 2008.
What do you drink on your day off?
Right now I’m drinking a refreshing glass of
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
www.anantara.com
Sukhumvit 33 Tel: 02 662 2323
www.basilicopizzeria.com Sukhumvit 20 Tel: 02 663 6633
Business
Lunch
Fuzio
MINI Cooper Bldg 6th Floor.
99/99 Sukhumvit 63 (Ekkamai) Tel: (66-2) 711 6999
Strange sights are common in Bangkok – elephants cluttering the
streets and Katoeys tottering along the sois on high heels. What you
might not expect is a Mini Cooper in full Union Jack livery directing you
to a stylish Italian eatery – Fuzio.
Yes, the Italian Job has come to Bangkok, because this restaurant is on
the 6th floor above the Mini garage. But don’t worry it isn’t all oily rags
and monkey wrenches – this is about as up market as Thailand’s capital
has to offer. It’s much more Noel Coward than Michael Caine.
A lift takes diners to a large restaurant set out in minimalist style, all
gleaming silver and crisp white table linens. If you are on unlimited
expenses or a rich friend is paying by all means work your way through
the impressive a la carte menu. At Business Lunch we like a little more
bang for our Baht, which is where Fuzio’s Quick Fix Lunch comes in.
The all-you-can-eat Antipasto Buffet, which includes a selection of
hams, salamis, crisp fresh salads, cheeses and roasted asparagus, is yours
for the extremely modest price of THB 250++. The small dishes that make
up the buffet are regularly replaced as the emphasis here is on keeping it
fresh. Salads are not left to wilt or cheeses to molder.
The other option is to go for the Pasta/Pizza Set (THB 350++) or the
Meat Set (THB 420++). Whichever set you go for, antipasto, dessert and
tea/coffee are included. Portions are not enormous, don’t expect
American super-size, but are perfectly acceptable.
On cooler days diners can sit outside on the wine terrace and
enjoy uninterrupted views over Bangkok. This is a fine, not to say
expensive, restaurant that suddenly becomes very affordable in the
middle of the day. Ladies who lunch and business tycoons alike should
climb into their Mini Coopers and head to Fuzio – it’s a steal.
Jim Preen
Basilico Pizzeria
Sukhumvit 33 (0 2662 2323)
This extremely popular Italian
restaurant has become a well-
known landmark in Soi 33, it’s
bright and airy conservatory is
dominated by a huge pizza
oven, where chefs can be seen
giving displays of pizza twirling,
to the delight of an audience
largely consisting of children.
Particular menu favourites
include Insalata Di Rucola,
Salsiccia & Pomodori (Rocket
Salad with Italian Sausage and
Tomato), Penne al Gorgonzola e
Mascarpone con Tartufo e Porcini
(Pe n n e w i t h G o rg o n zo l a &
Mascarpone with Truffle and
Porcini Mushroom.) and
outstanding meat and fish dishes.
Sukhumvit 20 (0 2663 6633)
The second branch of Bangkok’s
Best Restaurant (2005) has won
awards in its own right as BK
Magazine’s 2007 Reader’s Choice
favourite pizzeria. No wonder as
Basilico Pizza with its topping of
Parma Ham, Mascarpone Cheese
& Rocket can lay very good claim
to being Bangkok’s best pizza.
Limoncello
19/1 Sukhumvit Soi 11
(0 2651 0707)
At a time when Italian restaurants
were getting progressively
fancier, Limoncello instantly
won acclaim for it’s excellent
no - nonsense approach. It
dishes up some of the best
pizzas and pastas in town in
a fresh cafeteria style. The
open pizza oven, checkerboard
tiles on the floor, and the adobe
finish give a rustic air to this
charming old villa.
PLATFORM
23

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