The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be on Sunday, January 21st. The Club meets every Sunday morning at Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant on the north end of Beach Road in the grounds of the Amari Orchid Resort. The program starts as usual at 10:30 a.m. with a buffet breakfast available from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Everyone is warmly welcome. Each week, a guest speaker will provide an informal but interesting talk on a wide range of topics. This will be followed by the lively Open Forum and update on happenings in and around Pattaya. A full report appears each week in Pattaya Mail. For more information about the Sunday meeting and the other weekday activities of the PCEC, see the club’s website at www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com and learn more about the many and varied activities on offer.

The Asian Business Club is holding a ‘Networking Night’ on January 23 at the Woodlands Resort on Naklua Road in Pattaya. All members of any of the many clubs, their families, business partners, guests and friends are welcome as are any other persons from any country who are interested in meeting with other business minded people. The event starts at 7 p.m. and there will be a delicious buffet for 400 baht and drinks at a discounted rate - and of course plenty of time for small talk as well as serious business conversations.

The Thai Down Under Club, Pattaya is now forming: The soon to form club’s aim is to bring all Aussie’s, Kiwi’s and Pacific Islander’s and their families together in order to foster better relationships, family environments and business in Thailand. Membership is free, but is limited to Australians, New Zealanders, Pacific Islanders and their families and spouses. Shortly, the Thai Down Under Club, Pattaya will be holding regular meetings and social activities in Pattaya and eventually other areas of Thailand. We invite you to register yourself on-line at www.thaidownunder.net

The Charity Club of Pattaya meets most Sundays at the Queen Victoria Inn, Soi 6. Contact Malcolm on 09 7441040 or Christina on 095 454 185; charityclubofpattaya @yahoo.com

Pattaya’s world-class Steakhouse, Manhattans: upcoming events in 2007 include exclusive wine tasting and mixer nights; open 7 nights a week, a la carte menu; Eddy Profette on piano 6 nights a week; complimentary limousine service and valet parking for your convenience. For reservations please call 038 259 790, www.manhattans-pattaya.com

Dusit Resort is holding a month-long celebration of Italian cuisine at The Bay Restaurant: From 2nd - 30th January, Dusit’s Italian chef highlights a mouth-watering antipasti buffet every night except Wednesday and Saturday. Also on Wednesdays, Dusit has an Italian Night featuring a buffet selection of all time favorite Italian food: antipasti, salads, pizza, pasta, dessert. Feasts Italian food lovers should not miss! Antipasti buffet 586++ baht for the complete meal, or 382++ baht for starters only, and separate orders from a la carte. Half price for children under 12 years. Wednesday night buffet 676++ baht per person and half price for children 5-12 years old. For reservations, please call 0 3842 5611-7 ext. 2270.

Henry J. Bean’s Bar & Grill invites you to kick off the New Year with mouthwatering steak! In January, Hank’s will serve you famous steaks, prepared and grilled to perfection by skilled chefs. For reservation please contact guest relations at 038 428 323 ext. 763.

The Amari Orchid Resort & Tower, Pattaya presents a January Pizza & Pasta Festival: An Italian evening in the unique setting of a lush tropical garden. Amari’s chef has created a wonderful buffet of Italian home style cooking. Enjoy the antipasto or create your own pasta dish. Full dessert buffet is also available, plus live music from the resident band: Every Friday from 7 - 10 p.m., 490++ baht per person (subject to service charge and VAT). For reservation please contact guest relations at 038 428 323 ext. 763.

Ace Cafe BBQ Night in Jomtien. Every Monday is BBQ party night! Come and enjoy a platter of grill steak, sausages, baked potato, corn on the cob and mixed salad, all for only 159 baht! Tickets on sale all week with one lucky winner eating free! Grill fires up at 6.30 p.m. Don’t be late! Ace Cafe, Hanuman Corner, 089 990 9342.

Eat to the Beat at Starz Diner, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya. The freshest seafood cooked to your liking, international specialties, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya’s award-winning dishes with free-flow of wines, beer and soft drinks. Plus every Saturday, a whole spit-roasted pig is added to the wide selection of sumptuous dishes on the buffet. Eat to the Beat is available Sunday to Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 590++ baht per person and on Saturdays from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at 690++ baht per person. Call (66) 038 428755 - 9 for reservations.

Patrick’s Belgian Restaurant presents: Monday: "Osso Bucco" with mashed potatoes. Tuesday: Australian lamb chops (400g) with béarnaise-and mint sauce, veggies and fries. Wednesday: Côte a’l Os or Prime Rib (800g) (2 persons) with beurre Maitre d’Hotel and potato croquets. Thursday: "Ostrich" filet steak, "Archiduc" veggies and potato croquets. Friday: Moules-Frites (Mussels Belgian Style). Saturday: "Cocq au Vin" (chicken casserole) with fries or potato croquets. For reservation call Patrick 08/16872410 or e-mail [email protected]

Café New Orleans, a culinary landmark for over 9 years on eclectic Pattayaland Soi 2, has expanded its Fiesta Filipina menu and added an Additional Special Menu including imported black Angus tenderloin steak, succulent lamb tenderloin, scallops, assorted dinner crepes and chocolate soufflé for dessert. You can order anything from its famous rack of baby back ribs and imported steaks to special gourmet entrées, side dishes and deserts. Chefs coming from some of the top restaurants in Manila prepare Filipino dishes such as sinigang, adobo, pancit, crispy pata, bangus, tinolang manok, bistek, dinuguan, lechon kawali, menudo, lumpia. Café New Orleans means "Fine Food at Affordable Prices" … with the emphasis on "Affordable". For more information or to make a reservation call 038 710 805, fax 038 710 784.

The Premiership Football Restaurant in Naklua serves delicious English, European, Mexican and Thai food: 200 menu items to choose from in Pattaya’s theatre of sports - with 3 huge projection screens. Located on Naklua Road (opposite Woodlands Resort), 2mins from Dolphin roundabout. Tel. 038 416 670-1 (Open 24hrs).

The Queen Victoria Inn’s Sundays just get better and better! Not only can you tuck into the Sunday Carvery, 3 courses for 320 baht, but you can also be entertained by The Copy Cats band live from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Come and have a great Sunday at the Queen Victoria Inn Soi 6, Tel. 038 425 418.

Shenanigans Irish Pub nightly specials: 12 noon – 11 p.m. Monday Spaghetti Night (160 baht); Tuesday Chop Night (150 baht); Wednesday Steak Night (195 baht); Thursday Curry Night 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. (250 baht); Friday Schnitzel Night (195) 12 noon – 11 p.m.; Saturday Carvery (395 baht) 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday Carvery (395 baht) 12 noon – 11 p.m.: The famous Shenanigans Carvery, a choice of 6 different joints, 9 vegetables & potatoes, prawn salad & home made soup, as much as you can eat. Shenanigans the Irish Pub 218/2-4 Moo 10, Royal Garden Resort, Pattaya 2nd Road. Email: shenang @ptty2.loxinfo.co.th, Phone: 038 710 641, www. shenanigans-pattaya.com

And Now For Something Completely Different: For those of you who like Pattaya Mail’s " Life in Fun City" and great tasting Thai food pop along to the Salt and Pepper Restaurant next door to the Flamingo Hotel behind Tuk-Com City on South Pattaya Road. (Opens Mondays to Saturday from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m.) You will see a new exhibition by Pattaya Mail’s cartoonist M.J.B. which you can buy (every baht goes to the Pattaya Orphanage), plus each person who eats a meal and tells the management they have read about this restaurant in the Pattaya Mail can pick up one cheeky cartoon postcard free of charge.

Theme Buffet Evenings at the Montien Hotel, Pattaya: Tuesdays - Verandah Coffee Shop, Reef & Beef International BBQ Buffet Dinner, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., adults 650++ baht / children 350++ baht; Wednesdays - La Mer Restaurant, Mediterranean Buffet Dinner 6.30 p.m. - 10 p.m., adults 550++ baht / children 300++ baht; Friday - Verandah Coffee Shop, BBQ & Seafood Buffet Dinner 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., adults 650++ baht / children 350++ baht; Saturday - Verandah Coffee Shop, International Buffet Dinner 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., adults 550++ baht / children 300++ baht. Bring your family and friends. Sit back, relax and enjoy. For reservations please call 038-428155 ext 1620, 1621, email [email protected]

Jameson’s the Irish Pub has a host of daily specials including on Mondays fillet steak special: a fillet steak served on a sizzling metal tray with french-fries and vegetables for 175 baht. On Tuesday it is the turn of breast of poached chicken covered in a white wine sauce with fried rice, sweet corn, grilled tomato & green peas, 175 baht. Wednesday’s special is bangers ‘n’ mash: Cumberland sausages, mashed potato with onion, gravy & English mustard 165 baht. Thursdays is two kebabs loaded up with beef steak, pork, liver and bacon, chicken, kidneys, pineapple, green pepper, tomato, onion and mushrooms served with fried rice on a chopping board for 175 baht. Friday is fish and chips for 165 baht. All the specials are served with starter & dessert (except on Thursday). From 12 noon until 11 p.m. From now on, Jameson’s has a special promotion: Heineken combo set every Monday & Friday: Monday Steak + 2 bottles of Heineken only 275 baht. Friday fish & chips + 2 bottles of Heineken only 265 baht. As always Jameson’s serves its all day and night carvery at the weekends, as much as you can eat for 350 baht. Jameson’s Irish Pub, 80/164 Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR), Pattaya, Tel. 038-361-873-4, email [email protected]

The Kilkenny Irish Pub & Restaurant - under new management but still situated in the heart of Pattaya’s vibrant nightlife on Walking Street. Daily promotions include - Monday: Heineken bottle 79b, fish & chips 199b. Tuesday: Tiger bottle 79b, beef & Guinness pie 199b. Wednesday: Chang bottle 79b, cottage pie 199b. Thursday: San Miguel bottle 79b, Cornish pastie & chips 199b. Friday: Heineken bottle 79b, pork chops & chips 199b. Saturday: Singha bottle 79b, roast chicken, chips & veg 199b. Sunday: Vodka Sunday 69b + mixer, roast pork & apple sauce 249b with a complimentary glass of wine. Also you can’t go past Kilkenny breakfast 99b before 2 p.m., a great way to cure your hangover. Live music Monday to Saturday with popular resident band Metropolis plus live English league football on the big screen. Kilkenny Privilege Card holders are entitled to Guinness & Kilkenny Pints 165b & local bottled beer 79b all day every day. Sign up by emailing Stewart at website www.kilkennypubpattaya.com

Sunday at Tropical Bert’s - ‘Horses for Courses’ is how the saying goes and you get 3 of them along with 3 choices! Home made soup, your choice of beef, pork or ham along with all the bits and pieces, plus home made desert, all for only 250 baht, and if you like that little bit extra just ask! During the week Bert’s has Bubble and Squeak with roast beef on Monday, your choice of meat pie on Tues, midweek roast on Wed, home baked ham on Thurs, cod and chips Fri and Bert’s favorite on Sat, Bert’s cottage pie. All at great prices. Tropical Bert’s, 2nd Rd., Soi Yodsak/1, Opp Bangkok Bank, tel. 09 8072335.

Red Hot Chinese New Year at Mantra Restaurant: Mantra is dressed all year round for Chinese New Year with its fabulous red, and could not be more fitting for a festive Chinese New Year celebration! You don’t have to be Chinese to enjoy welcoming in the lucky Year of the Pig. So trot down to Mantra this February 18 for a fantastic unconventionally traditional 8-course feast! Team Mantra welcomes Chinese and non-Chinese alike for a delicious dinner, with family and friends, for a long, healthy, happy and fortune-filled life! Gung Hei Fat Choi - Mantra style! For more information, please contact tel: +66 (0) 3842 9591 or email: email @mantra-pattaya.com and be sure to visit www.mantra-pattaya.com. Mantra Restaurant, next to Amari Resort & Hotel, Beach Road, Pattaya.

Join Mabuhay Divers on a monthly underwater clean-up of Pattaya Bay. Minimal fees apply for boat & equipment rental. Log on to www.divers thailand.com for details or email [email protected]

Other Gallery Opium art exhibitions in Pattaya include: Showcase at Sheraton Pattaya, 437 Pratamnak Road, Pattaya. Exhibition last throughout 2006/07 and features both international & Thai artists. Contact: Pawarnluck Prisajanan, tel. 038 259 888. Showcase at A-One The Royal Cruise Hotel, 499 North Pattaya Beach Road. A group exhibition of selected works from Gallery Opium’s resident & international artists. Lasts throughout 2006/07. Contact: Wipada Thanajungdawong, tel. 038 259 555. All artworks on display at both exhibitions are for sale. Email info@ galleryopium.com url: www. galleryopium.com

The Moon River Pub continues their draft beer promotion. For every liter of draft beer ordered, receive one stamp in your "Beer Card". Collect nine stamps and get one liter of beer free. In front of the Thai Garden Resort, North Pattaya Road.