Aman Brings a Bit of Thailand to Beijing

For the next 2 weeks (Jul 26-Aug 8), the Aman at the Summer Palace is bringing a bit of Thailand to Beijing. The chef from their Phuket resort, Naree Wantaro, has brought her 20 years of Thai cooking experience to Aman's The Grill restaurant.

I got to see her expertise firsthand. Chef Naree did a demonstration of Thai cooking techniques, and I got to sample some of her creations, including a full-textured and perfectly done grilled beef salad (Yaam Nuea Yan). Afterwards, I also got to taste some of the menu items that diners at The Grill will get to experience during her stay. This includes classic Thai favorites such as Tom Yum Goomg (Spicy hot and sour shrimp soup), Tom Kha Gai (Chicken with coconut milk, galangal and lemongrass) and Gaeng Pet Ped Yang(Creamy red curry with roasted duck). At night and on the weekends, there will be cultural events to enjoy with your food, such as dancing and carving demonstrations.

This simple but well-executed Thai food made for a wonderful lunch but was somewhat pricey for what is basically home-style Thai cooking. However, the beauty of the setting, as well as the peace of mind and tranquil atmosphere makes the price and the trip out to the Aman for Chef Naree's guest appearance a justifiable expense.

For more information, contact The Grill, Aman at Summer Palace (5987 9999).