Page 34 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 3 | February - March 2024

DRINKING AND DINING

For a 5-star establishment, certain expectations and standards need
to be met. A more meaningful approach would be to provide guests
with the inner workings of a sophisticated kitchen, stewing and
brewing some of the most mouth-watering dishes you can find in
town. That is exactly what the hotel had to offer. Our first proper
meal at the hotel was at the brilliant The Ping Cuisine and Bar
restaurant, dishing out Thai cuisine, spearheaded by Northern
Thai influence.
The hotel wanted us to see the entire process from farm to table,
empowering us to grab our own fresh produce from the local
Plernjit Rimtan Organic Farm & Café. In turn, with the same
chosen ingredients, we were directed by The Ping’s executive chef
to create our own Chiangmai Wrapped Organic Salad Rolls with
sausages and spiced wild honey aioli. Yes, it was as delicious as it
sounds. They take pride in partnering with local businesses and
advancing their sustainability movement while giving back to the
community they collaborate with. I believe it goes without saying
but the cooking class was a success. I just wish I had an organic
farm as my source of sustenance.
The restaurant also delivers on the high-quality standards of Chiang
Mai’s khao soi. Personally, I find that the best-tasting and brilliantly
executed bowls of khao soi are in Chiang Mai. Call me biased.
Among the many other delicious items on
the menu, yet again, the khao soi stood out
as the best. It should also be noted that The
Ping also has great options during breakfast
hours. The restaurant not only keeps up
appearances but also maintains consistency
with each and every meal. It’s fine dining all
day, in the lap of its luxurious interior décor.

Our second dining experience came in
the form of Favola, an Italian restaurant
that, according to the staff, happens to be
a favourite among the locals. This dinner
had us properly stuffed, from staple pasta
dishes to wonderfully cooked salmon and
lamb shanks. Fortunately, they provided us
with an exquisite, medium-body bottle of
red wine to wash things down.

In our third and final dining foray, we received an exclusive visit and SPACES
taste of HAN Chinese Cuisine restaurant before its grand opening.
Listed in the Michelin Guide 2024 and as the name suggests, HAN One of the more enticing features of Chiang Mai Marriott is its
serves up authentic Chinese dishes that are wonderfully plated and top-of-the-line fitness centre, which isn’t exclusive to hotel guests.
taste even better. We were pleasantly surprised by the beautifully If you’re looking for something less intense, there’s always the
braised pork spare ribs, balanced flavours from the jellyfish, and hotel pool right next door, conveniently accompanied by the Pool
a stewed fish maw soup with crab meat that was heavenly. Not a House bar. This might be the ideal time to wind down with one
single dish felt out of place; one simply elevated the next. of their delicious cocktails and a poolside sunset; an experience
you don’t want to miss. To turn things down a little further, you
can always indulge in more rest and relaxation in the hotel’s
exquisite Quan Spa.
Aside from wellness and activities, the hotel also possesses an
impressive 1,717 square meters of total event space, with the largest
space holding a capacity of 1,050. Celebrating and putting together
wedding events can be both intimate and grand throughout the 10
event rooms. Be it a wedding or more of a professional gathering,
the hotel makes sure your event goes without a hitch, from their
dedicated catering team to their personised planning crew, they’ve
got you covered from conception to completion.