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Thais are crazy about spicy food. Proof: the upcoming Chilli Fest food festival, which makes its debut later this month.
Langsuan hotel and lifestyle hub Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok is set to launch Chilli Fest food festival, the first festival of its kind, on 27 May. It’s all about “spiking your dopamine levels to new heights” through fiery food created by Michelin-recognized chefs and popular restaurants, fun-filled activities, and performances by some of the city’s hottest entertainers.
On 27 May (from 14:00 to 21:00), the festival will focus on mouth-watering street fare by Bangkok’s culinary crowd pleasers. Leading the bill is sustainable fine-dining restaurant Haoma by Chef Deepanker Khosla, who will be serving spicy Indian food like Lahori Chicken Ribs and Tiger Prawn Madras Curry with Dried Shrimp Pulao. Meanwhile, Mexican chefs Megan Leon and Gaby Espinosa Real will be showcasing their passion for fiery dishes like Aguachile with Shrimp and Chorizo.
Those who want to test their palate with tongue-burning Thai food should prepare for the khao ka prao nua (stir-fried beef with basil) and khao soi gai (Northern-style curry noodles) of Baan, the casual venture of Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, who’s also behind the award-winning Le Du and Nusara. Heat-packing dishes like khao mun som tum (chicken rice and papaya salad) and gung pad prik ki nu suan (stir-fried prawn with bird’s eye chili) by one-Michelin-starred Saneh Jaan are also worth trying—if you dare.
Some exciting Chinese-inspired delicacies will also be on hand, such as Charcoal-Grilled Cuttlefish and Mango Burnt Chilli Shaved Ice by Restaurant Coda’s Chef Supasit “Tap” Kokpol, and Steamed Shrimp Wontons with Red Oil by Hong Bao. And do not forget to calm down the burning tongue with gourmet ice cream from Two to Tipsy by Roast.
You’ll get to meet more international chefs from the IHG Hotels and Resorts, including Mexican chef Jaime Rojas from Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road who will join hands with Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok’s Executive Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara, Chef ‘Golf’ Phukvarun Watchmon, Top Chef Thailand 2023 contestant from Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok, Vignette Collection who will present Thai recipes with modern twists, and Chefs Rodrigo Martinez from InterContinental Saigon, Vietnam, and Chef Rangga Perdana Putra from InterContinental Bandung Dago Pakar, Indonesia, who will fly all the way in to bring the heat in Bangkok.
And to spice up things even more, the festival is hosting a chilli-eating competition! Daredevils can win a grand cash prize of B10,000, but only if they’re willing to gobble down chilies that are rated up to 2,200,000 Scoville heat units, the heat level of some of the world’s hottest chilis (for reference, Thai chilies are rated at 50,000 to 100,000 heat units).
There will also be a hot sauce market, free chilli tattoos by California Ink Bangkok, a fire show, and live DJ sets to look forward to.
Tickets are priced at B150 (including one complimentary drink), though you can avail of early bird tickets for B100 if you purchase now.
If nibbling on spicy food under the summer heat sounds too much for you, you can always cool off at Stock.Room and indulge in the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch. On 28 May (from 12:00 to 15:00), the grocerant will be hosting a more low-key Chilli Fest by serving freshly cooked spice-tastic dishes from its live cooking stations. Brunch is priced at B2,550++ per person (including soft drinks), or B3,500++ per person for a booze-inclusive package. Children aged 6 to 12 can enjoy the fête for B888++ while children under 6 dine for free.
For more information and reservations, call 0 2056 9999 or click on this link.