PHUKET: We’ve all heard about those elegant and unique, more than 5 star little boutique resort properties hidden away around Phuket however few of us ever get the chance to go to one.
Child’s play was my good fortune to be invited by Publisher Michael Earle to attend the fortieth THINK Design art dinner at Iniala Beach House, tucked away on a quiet highway close to Natai Beach in Phang Nga.
Iniala is the former residence of Mark Weingard, an English derivatives trader, who has a fantastic eye for art and design. He’s invited some of the rock stars of worldwide inside design to create stylish, verging on the unbelievable, interiors within the three villas and penthouse that comprise Iniala.
Seemingly no expense has been spared to make this boutique property a hideaway for a select clique of friends who recognize the most recent in design and luxury.
Weingard has recruited Graham Lamb of Glam inside structure as his design director and Steven Pettifour, who co-curated the Thai pavilion at the 2011 Venice Bienniale, as Iniala’s artwork director.
Weingard also invited three Michelin star chef Eneko Atxa, at 36, the youngest chef to receive such recognition, to open Aziamendi, the resort’s restaurant together with his Basque impressed delicacies.
Chef Eneko created his own signature restaurant, Azurmendi, close to Bilbao, Spain, the place he presents a menu using recent, locally– sourced merchandise elevated by his research into how to extract ultimate flavors. His goal is to provoke intense emotions in visitors who experience his delicacies.
Aziamendi is a 3 dimensional art box featuring brass sculptures by Entang Wiharso sourced in Indonesia and a ceiling created by the Spanish design group, A-cero, that is an homage to the Andaman Sea.
When Michael Earle produces an artwork dinner as a half of the mission of his THINK Design journal, he all the time brings pieces of artwork to the eye of a famous chef who then creates a dinner impressed by the visible language of the art.
Not so within the case of Chef Eneko who determined as an alternative to create a six course menu dedicated to the celebration of six of the classical arts. Set to the soothing music of Daniel Figueras who played classical Spanish guitar, the first course was a foie gras building dedicated to the artwork of sculpture. His balancing of round foie gras tastes set on glass was made in honor of Chef Eneko’s fondness for the Anish Kapoor’s sculpture, Tall Tree and The Eye, at the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.
The second course, dedicated to music, was intriguing, with dry ice creating an atmospheric cloud over tastes of the ocean. The third offering was a vivid green, locally sourced, pak mieng with slow cooked egg, an ode to literature.
Each course was thoughtfully paired by a unique wine chosen by Head Sommelier Fabien Etienne, who blended the tastes from Italy, Germany, New Zealand and a Late Harvest Chenin Blanc from Hua Hin Hills right here in Thailand.
Chef Eneko’s fourth course was a dramatic tribute to the black paintings of Francisco Goya’s later life with a black rice and clam paste accented with calligraphic black strokes.
Dance was celebrated within the fifth offering with the falling of chestnut leaves over the frolic of pigeons in flight. It was my first taste of the bird that haunts so many public places and I will look to them with renewed interest in the future.
The final providing was an architectural salute to the Sydney Opera home with elegant white chocolate triangles balanced over a sea of Blue Curacao.
With a 5,500 baht price ticket this THINK Design artwork dinner was a bought out success. All guests had been invited on an art tour of the three villas and the one penthouse. There had been delightful surprises to be present in each pavilion.
At the entrance, Steven Pettifor explained he found a Thai glass artist, Maitree Siriborn, working from a studio in rural Northeast Thailand. Using glass mosaics most frequently encountered in Buddhist temples, he was commissioned to make installations at the entrance to the resort property.
The fitness studio has Andy Warhol authentic prints of Muhammed Ali staring down from the walls and the pool table is about in tens of thousands Swarovski crystals. There’s a metallic wale diving into the rooftop pool of one villa and hundreds of celadon ceramics set in the walls of one other.
Iniala is an thrilling visual adventure and Chef Eneko’s restaurant, Aziamendi, is the place the select visitors at Iniala Beach House can get pleasure from an award winning menu..