Feast for the eyes and senses

In celebration of Songkran, the Thai New Year, a Bahrain-based international hotel is hosting a 14-day festival showcasing the country’s rich culture, cuisine and hospitality proving it is ‘the land of a 1000 smiles’, writes Mai Al Khatib-Camille.

Traditionally, Songkran, in Thailand, is marked by the throwing and sprinkling of water or a water ceremony. It is used as a means to pay respect to people and create friendships.

Many friendships were surely created at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa in Zallaq, when official dignitaries including the Thai Ambassador Vichai Varasirikul, members of the media and invited guests were treated to a feast for the eyes and the senses.

The Songkran At Sofitel event, organised with the assistance of the Royal Thai Embassy and Oman Air, was launched in Saraya’s casual all-day dining area.

Richard Hatfield, Sofitel’s marketing and e-commerce executive, said: “We wanted to create a truly unique experience for our guests and as Songkran, the Thai New Year celebrations have just been completed in Thailand, we decided that this festival would be the perfect event to re-create in Sofitel Bahrain.

“This gives our guests in and around Bahrain the opportunity to experience Thailand and its wonderful Thai New Year, the food, the culture and heritage and the performing arts.

“We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to work closely with the Royal Thai Embassy, we’ve received a huge amount of support from both the Embassy and our partnership for this event with Oman Air.”

Upon arrival at the hotel, guests were greeted by hostesses dressed in customary Thai garbs, a friendly nod and a necklace of Jasmine flowers. They would then apply a cooling white powder to attendees’ faces as part of the Thai New Year tradition.

Afterwards guests were escorted to a bowl filled with water infused with jasmine flowers to cleanse their hands before being covered or wrapped in a Thai sash.

The night was filled with merriment as Thai music played in the background and a dancing troupe from the famous Bunditpatanasilp Institute, maintained by the Thai Ministry of Culture, entertained the crowd.

Also at the event were art demonstrations including hand-painting colourful Thai parasols and skillful fruit carving. Guests had their names written on bright parasols to keep as mementos of the event.

While people were mesmerised by the dance routines, it was the delicious food that stole the show. A team of top chefs from Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit prepared a scrumptious menu of Thai cuisine with favourites such as a spicy red paneang curry, gai-pad-med (chicken with cashew nuts), kheaw waan and the always tasty tom yum soup.

Other popular dishes at the buffet were green chicken curry, crab-fried rice and a live cooking station featuring pad-Thai (stir fried rice noodles).

As guests enjoyed their food and went back for seconds, dancers weaved around the tables.
The celebrations will continue at Sofitel’s South East Asian restaurant, Wok until Saturday from 7pm to 10.30pm with live entertainment.

This is one of the many events the hotel has staged for its guests.

Mr Hatfield said: “Throughout the year we plan and host festivals at the hotel, from our Mexican Festival of 2013 to our recent Settimana Italiana Italian week and now Songkran at Sofitel our Thai New Year Celebrations.

“We’re now working on plans for our next festival and look forward to welcoming our guests back to the hotel for another unique experience.”

For details, visit www.sofitel.com