ENJOY A TASTE OF THAILAND IN THE LAKE DISTRICT THIS AUTUMN

The Tongsai Bay and Linthwaite House Hotel to host culinary extravaganza

In early October 2010, visitors enjoying the autumn colours of the Lake District will find themselves transported to the Far East as Linthwaite House, the award-winning luxury hotel overlooking Windermere opens up its kitchen to a team of experts in southern Thai cuisine, from Koh Samui’s original boutique hotel, The Tongsai Bay.

For a two week period from the beginning of October, Tongsai Bay’s culinary team comprising executive chef Alvin Tan Kian Chee and sous chef Jaturan Ounnahasuwan, will visit the Lake District to join forces with Richard Kearsley, head chef at Linthwaite House Hotel and his experienced team.  Together they will fuse the exotic flavours of southern Thailand with the highest quality produce from Cumbria, creating exclusive menus and sharing their knowledge of their respective cuisines.

Both hotels have a long tradition of culinary excellence.  At Tongsai Bay, the cuisine was overseen for many years by chef Piengchom Darbanand (known as ‘Chom’), a former chef to the Thai Royal household, now almost retired. Whilst new dishes are introduced regularly, her exacting standards are still strictly maintained and her occasional visits to the hotel are much anticipated.  Linthwaite House is renowned for imaginative cuisine, using the best local produce; previously of The Waterside Inn, Mallory Court and Lords of the Manor, Richard Kearsley learnt his trade alongside stars of the culinary world.  Both hotels also have a strong connection to the late Keith Floyd, who worked on his legendary ‘Far Flung Floyd’ series with the team at Tongsai Bay, and more recently hosted cookery theatres at Linthwaite House.

In addition to hosting mouth-watering dinners at Linthwaite House, the Thai chefs will share their knowledge with the students at the nearby Kendal College, the region’s leading destination for hospitality and catering training.  The chefs will work with the College’s culinary team in first class facilities, to provide an introduction to Thai cuisine, and prepare a special dinner for guests from the local area.

Taking time out from their visit to the Lake District, the chefs will also head north to Scotland to host a series of exclusive cookery classes at the renowned Cook School at Braehead Foods, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.  Here they will work alongside chef director Steven Doherty, who began his career at The Savoy in London before working with the legendary Roux brothers at Le Gavroche. 

The chefs’ visit will culminate in a series of events at Linthwaite House Hotel, at which the chefs will present their dishes through cookery demonstrations and exclusive menus. Guests will be able to purchase a special two night dinner, bed and breakfast package on 13 and 14 October, priced from £256 per person (including VAT), this will include a special afternoon tea including a demonstration of traditional Thai fruit carving.  For more information and reservations contact Linthwaite House Hotel on +44 (0)1539 488600, e-mail stay@linthwaite.com or visit www.linthwaite.com . 

The events are sponsored by EVA Air in conjunction with Bangkok Airways.  EVA Air offers a daily direct service from London to Bangkok and a choice of three classes of cabin service: Premium Laurel (business class), award winning Elite Class (premium economy) and Economy class www.evaair.com.  Bangkok Airways, Asia’s Boutique Airline, offers over a hundred flights per day from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.  Bangkok Airways flies travellers from around the world to more than 20 destinations across Thailand and Asia, with up to 20 daily services from Bangkok to Koh Samui. www.bangkokair.com.