A pairing of the palates

Hot newlyweds Chakrit Yamnam and Woonsen Virithipa and popular actors Nirut Sirichanya and Pol Tantasatien were among the guests toasting 150 years of Thai-German friendship at a “Feast for the Sensory Senses” on June 7.
Also on hand at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok on Rama I Road were German Ambassador Rolf Schulze and Honorary Consul Hagen Dirksen, Wanpen Sakdatorn, MR Malinee Chakrabandhu, Kamolsut Dabbaransi and of course hotel general manager Holger Schroth.
Chefs from both countries took turns in an onstage kitchen, preparing amazing dishes in full view of the guests in the Chadra Ballroom thanks to two massive screens.
ML Sirichalerm “Chef McDang” Svasti did Thailand proud, being our cuisine’s foremost ambassador on television, in books and on the lecture circuit. He worked modern wonders with traditional recipes, as did Reiner Calmund, who ran a German football club before also garnering fame on TV as a chef.
The two created a well-balanced series of delightful dishes that represented the culinary arts and traditions of both countries.
For the appetisers, McDang infused bite-size German-style pork schnitzel with coriander root and pepper, topping it with mango salsa and serving it alongside eggplant roasted with minced pork and shrimp.
Calmund countered with what was probably the most-talked-about dish of the night – grilled pike served with creamy sauerkraut and, on the side, a cup of smooth curry with lemongrass, banana and herbs. Guests enthusiastically tried to guess the ingredients.
The appetisers were accompanied by Prinz von Preussen, Rheingau, Reisling Trocken 2010.
Next came McDang’s superb kaeng nok mor – “out-of-the-pot soup” and Calmund’s juicy, tender seared Wagyu beef tenderloin, supported by Hans Wirsching, Iphofer Spatburgunder Trocken 2009.
The main dish was Thai – poached salmon in chu chee curry sauce with steamed rice, washed down with Schloss Reinhartshausen, Rheingau, Pinot Noir Trocken 2006.
And Calmund handled dessert with help from McDang – La Scodella “Dimitri” a la Angelo Conti Rossi.