Basil Celebrates 30 Years with Blue Elephant Royal Heritage
Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / To mark three decades of culinary excellence, basil at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, presents an extraordinary one-night dinner titled “Bangkok: A Timeless Culinary Voyage – From Royal Heritage to Modern Bangkok.” Created in collaboration with Blue Elephant, the event takes place on 27 March 2026 and is priced at THB 2,800++ per person.
For this milestone occasion, basil is honored to welcome Master Chef Nooror Somany Steppe, founder of Blue Elephant and one of Thailand’s most celebrated culinary figures, alongside Executive Chef Manachai Konkangplu. Together, they bring to the table two distinct but deeply complementary visions of Thai cuisine — one shaped by four decades of championing royal traditions on the world stage, the other by a commitment to innovation rooted firmly in heritage.
Together, their chefs have crafted a tasting menu that moves through the historical eras shaping Bangkok’s culinary identity — from the royal kitchens of early Rattanakosin through to the flavors defining the city today. Each course is a chapter; together, they tell the story of how Bangkok became one of the world’s great food cities.
The journey opens with two amuse-bouches rooted in the royal court tradition of early Bangkok: Blue Elephant’s Crispy Catfish Prawn Salad — pairs seared “Ratchaburi” GI freshwater prawn with the bright sweetness of “Nakhonnayok” GI Marian plum, combined with crunchy catfish, Thai herbs, and a delicate “Phetchaburi” GI tamarind dressing — alongside basil’s Mhee Krob Rajawong, the classic crispy vermicelli brightened with bitter orange and citrus. To open the evening, the Allegrini Soave DOC Oasi San Giacomo 2023 sets a graceful tone — its delicate floral notes and crisp minerality a gentle, luminous companion to the brightness of Marian plum and the subtle richness of river prawn.
As the story moves forward into the River Trade Era, the tasting menu takes inspiration from the movement of people and ingredients that once shaped life along Bangkok’s waterways. Blue Elephant’s Blue Crab Hor Mok is crafted from sweet “Surat Thani” blue swimmer crab, gently folded with betel leaves and southern curry paste, enriched with “Chiang Rai” organic hill tribe egg, and served with a lively dip of “Phuket” GI pineapple — a reminder of the maritime connections that defined the city’s cultural and culinary exchange. The Collavini Il Grigio “Royal” Rosé NV mirrors this sense of cultural confluence — its lively effervescence and fruit-forward elegance dancing effortlessly alongside the aromatic complexity of southern curry and the sweetness of Phuket pineapple.
The soup course pays tribute to Thailand’s royal culinary revival: basil’s Royal Consommé Siam is a refined reinterpretation of Tom Yum, built from river prawn essence and aromatic herbs, enriched with young coconut and Yamabushitake (Lion’s Mane) mushroom. Few wines navigate the vivid tension of Tom Yum with as much poise as the Selbach Saar Riesling Kabinett “Tradition” 2023 — its signature off-dry freshness and electric acidity bridging the heat of the chili and the richness of prawn fat in perfect equilibrium.
The main course embodies the bright, expressive flavors of contemporary Bangkok. Blue Elephant’s “Manao” Snow Fish is steamed with Thai herbs and topped with pickled “Sri Saket” GI garlic, lime‑chili dressing, and bursts of “Saraburi” lime caviar — a dish that speaks to the city’s present‑day clarity, freshness, and bold character. A refreshing Bengal Currant Sorbet follows, offering a sweet‑tart pause in color and brightness — finds a uniquely fitting companion in the Cuvée Siamoise Blue Elephant Label 2024, a wine born of the same culinary vision as the dish itself, its character shaped by the same Thai spirit that defines this era.
The journey then deepens with basil’s Choo Chee See Krong Nua — 48-hour braised Wagyu beef short ribs bathed in a luxuriously creamy choo chee curry sauce, with sticky brown rice finished in gold leaf. The Condado de Haza Crianza Ribera del Duero D.O. 2020 rises to the occasion — its structured tannins and dark fruit intensity a powerful yet graceful counterpart to the deep, aromatic richness of the curry.
The journey concludes in the creative present of New Bangkok. A Jasmine Pistachio Cake brings together dates and the crisp richness of “Chiang Rai” organic hill tribe egg, echoing familiar textures while elevating them into a contemporary dessert form. Alongside it, a silky lemongrass panna cotta is served with pomelo, chili‑lime caramel, and crispy basil — a final harmony of aroma, sweetness, and gentle spice that closes the evening with a distinctly modern Thai signature. To close, the Mouton Cadet “Reserve” Sauternes AOC 2019 — one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated dessert wines — brings the evening to a golden finale. Its honeyed richness and notes of apricot and vanilla embrace the warmth of pistachio and the aromatic sweetness of lemongrass, lingering long after the last spoonful.
Event Details
Bangkok: A Timeless Culinary Voyage – From Royal Heritage to Modern Bangkok
Date: Friday, 27 March 2026
Time: From 6:30 PM onwards
Venue: basil, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok
Price:
Food Only: THB 2,800++ per person
Wine Pairing: THB 4,600++ per person (6 tasting portions)
Reservations: 02 649 8888
Recommended. Limited seating available.
