The women conjuring the culinary arts

Food is culture and comfort.

But it is also power, defiance, innovation, and a committed sharpening of both skills and knives.

The Kingdom of Thailand is a kingdom of cuisine, and its capital, Bangkok, is where it all converges: traditional flavours revisited for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, scroll-stopping street snacks, and mixology magic brewed in skyscrapers.

To mark International Women’s Day and to honour the female chefs, mixologists, and winemakers carving new paths in the culinary scene, Banyan Tree Bangkok — in partnership with S.Pellegrino — presented HERitage Week, transforming into a gastronomic playground to celebrate its 4th annual Women in Gastronomy 2026 event.

A multi-sensory, culturally-layered affair, celebrated and awarded female chefs and mixologists unveiled exclusive menus, cocktails, and dining experiences that played out like stories on land, on river, and high above Bangkok’s city lights.

Net proceeds from the Women in Gastronomy 2026 event were donated to the Half Way Home for Protection and Development of Mental Disabilities for women in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand.

ON THE RIVER OF KINGS

Royal Thai dinner aboard the Apsara Cruise

Flowing through Bangkok, the Chao Phraya is Thailand’s vital life-giving river, making its serene waters a meaningful setting for a six-course royal Thai dinner with curated wines. Chef Chophet of Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Apsara Cruise was joined by Master Chef Nooror Somany Steppe, founder of Blue Elephant, in bringing the elegant dining experience to life. An ambassador of Thai culinary heritage, Chef Nooror Somany Steppe was awarded the Officer of the Order of Leopold by King Philippe of Belgium for her promotion of Thai cuisine abroad.

HERitage of Taste - A Grand Culinary Gala aboard the Saffron Cruise

Chef Vicky Sevilla, chef-owner of the one-MICHELIN-starred Restaurant Arrels in Valencia, Spain, unveiled a Mediterranean-inspired six-course dinner aboard Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Saffron Cruise. As Spain’s youngest female recipient of a MICHELIN star, Chef Vicky Sevilla embodies both astonishing skill and a grounded-ness in heritage (Arrels means “roots” in the Valencian language).

LAND AND MEMORY

Timeless Traditions at Bai Yun

At Bai Yun, Banyan Tree Bangkok’s acclaimed Chinese restaurant, Chef Beh Gaik Lean told the autobiographical and intertwining stories of Peranakan flavour and Chinese heritage, which guests enjoyed in a family-style setting. Chef Beh is the first Malaysian woman to be awarded a MICHELIN star.

Flame Meets Fine Dining at Saffron Grill

Chef Jakkrit of Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Saffron Grill was joined by Chef Naree Boonyakiat of EBBE Bangkok (and winner of the Best Chef Influence Award at the Japan Expo Influencer Awards 2025). Together, they presented a six-course degustation menu — a masterful hybrid of Thai heritage and Japanese precision.

Wine Not and Cheese Night at Vertigo TOO

Thai-made goat cheeses and tropical wines more likely to feature notes of guava and mango than of blackcurrants and peaches.

These were some of the surprises at Vertigo TOO’s Wine Not event, which featured curated wines by GrandMonte, Thailand’s leading boutique winery, using grapes from Thailand’s wine region of Khao Yai. Complementing the wines were Thai-made artisanal goat cheeses from Little Goat Farm, an ethical farm-to-table project dedicated to sustainable goat farming.

Drinks flowed from Moon Bar, where Fang-Wannaporn Jumpa from Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar and Tangmo-Nattarika Pho-ong from Bar Scofflaws conjured inventive cocktails.

IN THE SKY

Sky-High Thai Tapas Night at Vertigo and Moon Bar

Towering over Bangkok’s bright lights are Vertigo and Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok’s sophisticated rooftop escapes, and the settings for a contemporary Thai tapas night by Chef Tipaporn. A celebrated contestant of Top Chef Thailand and Head Chef at Banyan Tree Phuket’s Saffron Restaurant, traditional Thai flavours were expressed through contemporary elegance and modern techniques, with panoramic city views serving as a backdrop.

Havana Club Brand Ambassador Ploy-Thanchanok Rinthorn and Gift-Klinchan Visansava of Yào Rooftop Bar commanded the Moon Bar, pouring exceptional cocktails late into the evening.

Pizz A Zip Party at Saffron Sky Garden

Rustic flavours and a relaxed rooftop setting defined the easy atmosphere at Saffron Sky Garden’s Pizz A Zip Party. Chef Anna Borrasi of iO Italian Osteria showcased wholesome, time-honoured Italian flavours and techniques through her specialty pizzas.

The pizzas were complemented with signature cocktails by Saipan-Sornswan from Aether Bangkok, while the nearby Moon Bar revealed more original tipples from Ploy-Siriwan Sinpan from O.S.S. Bar, and Ploy-Nattaporn Nonthapand from The Pickwicks Chronicles.