Everything was coming up pink as we walked into Brasserie Europa on a recent Sunday afternoon. The city’s bon vivants of all ages and backgrounds were decked out in rosy hues as they sipped endless glasses of pink wine.
We were at Rosé Brunch, the newly rebranded and relaunched brunch at at Siam Kempinski Hotel, which bills itself as “the longest champagne brunch in Bangkok” and pours the bubbly stuff from 12:30-4pm every Sunday.
The hotel encourages attendees to come decked out in pink in order to get an upgrade from standard golden bubbly to all-the-rage rosé at the all-you-can-eat-and-drink event.
For those that forget but still want the upgrade, don’t fear. The staff will get you pinked up in a hurry via a tray of free pink accessories that you can wear to get the rosé. The collection includes flowers that can be worn in the hair or on the lapel.
When we looked around, most people had taken the challenge, decked out in carnation shades and sipping stems of pink drink.
Just moments later, through the buzz already provided by the bubbles, we were impressed by the high-quality of the food and drinks.
The standard brunch includes water, soft drinks, and juice for THB2,400. Upgrade to the standard free-flow package for an extra THB999. This gets you not only free-flow Italian prosecco but four choices of imported white wines, five kinds of imported red wines, whisky, beer, and endless signature cocktails. You can also don cotton candy color to get upgraded to rosé, and if you’re going all out, you can spring for free-flow Louis Roederer Brut for THB2,100.
Kempinksi’s take on a bloody mary, the Lobster Mary, is a feast on its own, and one of five cocktails included in the free-flow package, making it an excellent value if you can hold your liquor.
The signature cocktail menu wowed us, seeming to offer something for everyone. The lobster mary is your gold-standard buzzy brunch cocktail, featuring an entire large, sweet lobster claw made spicy, dense, and moorish by using the restaurant’s signature lobster bisque as its base. Deeply savory and very satisfying with a nice texture, it leaves “a good burn in your mouth and exists in the space between soup and booze,” according to one diner.
Another perfect daytime drink is the brunch’s signature G&T, which went down far too easy for 1pm on a Sunday. Served on-trend in a massive balloon glass, the Gin Mare tonic featured the eponymous gin, a singed orange slice, lemon peel, rosemary, and Fentimans tonic.
Rounding out a trio of classics was the Niche Negroni made with Beefeater 24 gin, Campari, Antica Formula vermouth, and finished off with Solerno blood orange.
For your friend who loves a fruity cocktail, order the Berry Mule, an Absolut Berri Acai vodka drink softened with lime, blackberry, thyme and ginger beer.
And for those that like it old-world, try the Hugo, a mixture of sparkling wine, elderflower, fresh mint, lime, and soda.
Don’t get too buzzed too early though. There’s lots of eating to do. This brunch features all your standard fare plus a foie gras station, sushi bar, fresh chilled seafood lane, charcuterie corner and the most extra pink dessert room we’ve ever seen. They even offer a pink chocolate fountain.
There are also several to-order options included in the brunch. We had a pasta created tableside for us in a massive parmesan wheel, making the earthy Truffle Orecchiette creamier and cheesier with each stir it got. The pasta was al dente and the truffle present but not overwhelming.
Executive Sous Chef Carlo Valenziano explained to us that the massive parmesan wheels last about a week since they use them for pasta dishes at each evening’s dinner service as well as for Sunday brunch.
The brunch also includes six signature dishes that can be “cooked to order at your convenience.” These arrive in small portions so you can try them all — or just keep ordering your favorite.
Valenziano told us that the a la carte dishes are one of the new additions to the brunch. They cut down on waste, ensuring that the signature dishes are fresh and hot instead of sitting around on chafing dishes and — perhaps most importantly — they lend a premium vibe to the food since you are having something specially prepared for you.
The to-order menu includes Norwegian Salmon Fillet with white asparagus casserole and hollandaise sauce; Hokkaido Scallops with braised leeks and bacon; Murray Land Lamb Cutlet with peppermint ricotta sauce and lemon jam; and Slow Braised Jack Creek Beef with pumpkin mustard and red wine jus.
We were especially impressed, however, by two dishes. The Snow Fish with lemon olive oil potato cream and sundried tomato breadcrumbs managed to be super soft yet not falling apart with a pleasant crisp crust and delightful unusual breadcrumbs.
The fish had a meaty flavor and the sauce lent a soft lemony creamy end creating a delicate yet memorable dish.
The Wagyu Beef Medallion was served Rossini-style with foie gras, sauteed spinach, and mushroom sauce. It was a lovely juxtaposition of tastes with the foie gras and beef. It could have benefitted from a bit more foie gras but, thankfully, the brunch has a dedicated foie gras station so you can easily help yourself to more and doctor up your own dish of perfection.
When we asked Chef Valenziano about his favorite dish at the brunch, he had a surprising answer. He said that one of his most-loved — yet underappreciated — dishes at the brunch is the quiche, of which they had two varieties, Bacon & Goat’s Cheese and Salmon & Spinach, on the day we visited. On his recommendation, we tried it and found it rich and satisfying with a delightful flaky crust.
We chatted with Valenziano about diners’ strategies when they come to all-you-can eat-events. As we glanced around the dining room, it was apparent that people try to get their money’s worth, tables were steeped with the detritus from lobster tails, giant prawns, lamb, Wagyu, sushi, and foie gras — all the high-ticket items. It’s due to this that a humble, yet truly delicious, dish like the quiche can be forgotten.
We moved onto desserts, which are as good for photographing as eating. From traditional Thai sweets, to rose-colored cakes worthy of Marie Antoinette, to fun entries like rice krispy treats, pink soft serve, and caramel corn; these final courses are sure to tickle anyone with a sweet tooth. Not to be missed is the pink chocolate fountain surrounded by pink macaroons, strawberries, homemade marshmallows, and more.
FIND IT:
Rosé Brunch
Sundays, 12:30-4pm
Brasserie Europa
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Rama I Road
BTS Siam
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