Page 74 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 7 | October - November 2024

food journalist Matt Goulding
once said, “Italian cuisine is the most famous and
beloved cuisine in the world for a reason. Accessible,
comforting, seemingly simple but endlessly delicious,
it never disappoints, just as it seems to never change.”
Italian food has evoked passion and comforted me
for as long as I can remember. For us desis, there is a
familiarity with the way Italians celebrate their meals.
In Italy, food is an expression of love through the way it
is prepared, cooked, served and eaten. They take their
time, savour every bite of food and sip of wine, and
re ect on life’s little pleasures, cherishing every moment.

Calling the process a true art cannot justify the pure joy

and grati cation it provides.
Ciao Terrazza at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
embraces this particular culinary culture and Italy’s
age-old traditions. Sitting prettily next to the Chao
Phraya River, the restaurant warmly welcomes guests
on a seasonal basis to taste modern re-interpretations
of alfresco Italian and Mediterranean dishes. The
authenticity of its creations, straight from its impeccably-
run kitchen, had me closing my eyes, arching my
eyebrows, and giving a ‘chef’s kiss’ – or as the Italians
call it, the perfetto gesture – each time I took a bite. Each
dish had such a quintessential homemade quality that
I could almost hear someone’s nonna (grandmother)
in the background passionately shouting, “Mangia!
Mangia!” Although reality painted a slightly different,
albeit still enjoyable picture, the Thai-Italian Chef
Dario Busnelli continues to awlessly blend the

authenticity of an Italian kitchen and Asian delicacies.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It is only appropriate for an Italian restaurant that infuses
the essence of the Mediterranean to be situated next to
a body of water like the River of Kings. It enhances the
romance and seduces every one of our senses. Ciao
Terrazza’s sophisticated ambience, décor, and spectacular

views capture the elegance of a re ned dining experience.
My colleague and I were fortunate enough to be seated
a couple of feet from the river; the surroundings were
beautifully lit, framing the stunning views in nearly
every direction. To our left was the glow and glamour
of riverside properties, and to the right was The Authors’
Lounge of the hotel, highlighting the old-world charm
and architectural design reminiscent of the late 1800s.

Ciao Terrazza at the Mandarin Oriental,
Bangkok brings back Italian-Mediterranean
flavours to the River of Kings.

B Y MAHMOOD HO S S AIN

VIEW VIDEO:

| MASALA MAGAZINE OCT NOV