Sparkling evening of Italian wines & dinner at Mantra

Guests peruse the menu to see what exciting food
and wine will be presented next.
Sue K.
It was indeed an interesting wine and food evening at
Mantra Restaurant on Friday the 17th of February where a selection of
premium quality Italian estate wines, was paired with a special menu,
tailored on the characteristics of the wines, by the executive chef of the
Amari Hotel.
The dinner was hosted by Giovanni Oliva, sales &
marketing director for Asia of Grandi Vini d’Italia Group, and the Thai
importer I.W.S. that represents these wineries in Thailand. Grandi Vini is a
group established in 1987, by 8 different families of grape growers and wine
makers from 6 regions of Italy.
The evening started with a refreshing and fruity
sparkling wine: Prosecco “Jeio Bisol”, the most classic aperitif wine from
Italy that the guests could enjoy with a tasty selection of canap้s. It was
just perfect for the lightness of the Prosecco.
The appetizer, a tart of turbot, avocado and tuna, spiced
up with wasabi, was pleasantly matched to the mineral and floral Gavi di
Gavi “Rovereto” 2010 of Michele Chiarlo, one of the top producers from the
well known Piemonte Region.

(L to R) Salvatore Campinone,
Horeca key account executive manager IWS; Michel Conrad, commercial wine
director - IWS; Chef Kai Uwe Klenz; Giovani Oliva, Asia sales and marketing
director for Grandi Vini D’ Italia; and Max Sieracki, resident manager of
the Amari Orchid Pattaya.
A pan fried breast of baby chicken on thyme was the first
course, and it was paired to the Verdicchio “Podium” 2009, produced by the
Garofoli family. This white wine, made with 100% of the eponymous grape
variety, Verdicchio, grown only on the Central Italian Region Marche, is a
full bodied white wine. It has a remarkable complexity, structure and
longevity, and therefore it can be easily consumed with either poultry or
pork, especially if prepared in a Mediterranean style, like in the case of
the baby chicken with thyme.
The main course was a fillet of French deer glazed with
morel crust, apple, rosemary and mash red cabbage. This was a very rich
dish, and therefore the red wine to stand by this course should have had an
intense nose, a great body and a firm tannic structure. It was the case of
the Umberto Cesari “Liano” 2008: a red wine made in the Region Emilia
Romagna, in the North East of Italy, blending the Sangiovese and the
Cabernet Sauvignon. “Liano” has a nose of mature red fruits and sweet
spices, a smooth and soft flavor, that combined very well with the food.
The French deer was paired with two red wines, so the
second was a Tuscan wine: the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2005,
produced by Carpineto. This wine is made mainly with the Sangiovese Grape
and it is aged for more than 2 years in large oak barrels, consequently it
has an earthy and spicy nose, rather strong tannins, that combined perfectly
with the texture and the protein of the deer’s meet.
A selection of cheeses followed the main course, in
combination with the Amarone “Villa Girardi”, 2007. Amarone is one of the
best known full bodied red wines from Italy, and it is traditionally
produced in the North East of Italy, in the Veneto Region, in a very special
way. It’s a blend of 3 indigenous grape varieties, dried for 5-6 months, and
then pressed. All the sugar contained in the juice of these dried grapes is
fermented and turned into alcohol; that’s the reason why Amarone has
normally an alcohol content of 15-16%.
Generally Amarone is a great wine for aged or strong
flavor cheeses, given its intense bouquet and opulent taste of dried fruits,
jam of berries and sweet spices.
This delightful dining experience terminated with the
dessert: a mousse of cantaloupe melon, served with chocolate ice cream &
marinated strawberries, that found a nice companion in the Michele Chiarlo
Moscato d’Asti “Nivole” 2010.”
The seven course dinner went well into the night and some
guests were seen finishing up the last drop around midnight.
Keep informed of the next wine dinner with Pattaya
Mail.
Burapa Bike Week revs up 7,000 fans

Club leaders and local
politicians stand shoulder to shoulder during the opening ceremonies.
Manoon Makpol
More than 7,000 Thai and foreign bikers rolled into Pattaya
for the 15th Burapa Bike Week last month.
Motorcycle enthusiasts enjoyed music, shows and shopping at
the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium on Soi Chaiyapruek during the two-day
“week” Feb. 11-12. Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and former area politicians kicked
off festivities with the annual “Drive for Peace” through the city.
Thai rock legends Lam Morrison and Ad Carabao along with
musician Pongpat Wajirabanjong entertained while crowds flocked to booths
selling goods for cars, bikes and bodies.

Akarapol Yaram, head of the
Buriram Bike Club, once again brought his charges to Pattaya for the event.
The highlight of the event were 10 weddings between
motorcycle club members, including Prasan Nikaji, president of the Burapa
Motorcycle Club. Sonthaya Kunplome, former Minister of Sports and Tourism
presented flowers and Burapha flags to all the married couples.
Prasan said the annual festival draws bike fans from
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and other countries.
Among them is Akarapol Yaram, head of the Buriram Bike Club.
Each year he leads his 65 members and 45 custom bikes to Pattaya, raising funds
for charity along the way. To get here, members have been stuck in traffic,
broken down and faced a public that sees only noisy motorcycles and scruffy
bikers instead of the goals behind their journey.
Akarapol urges his members - and all drivers - to not drink
and drive. In the case of his club, he reminds the bikers they have to set a
good example. Doing otherwise would only damage the reputation of bike clubs and
events such as Burapa Bike Week, he said.

The big bike parade turns heads
down Beach Road.

Motorcycles parade down Pratamnak
Hill.

Sonthaya Kunplome, former
Minister of Sports and Tourism, presents Burapha flags to “just married”
couples.
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Growing old can be a pain in the back
Degenerative spine problems can happen when you grow older.
This was the topic at the February 19 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club.
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital International Executive Gavin Waddell announced that
a nurse was set up in the back alcove to provide free blood pressure checks and
then introduced Dr. Montien Sirisuntornlak, M.D. to speak about degenerative
spine cascade, which is the process by which the human spine changes and
degenerates over time. It is a continuous process that can begin at any age and
often takes 40-50 years or more to run its course and will affect 90% of the
population to some degree during their lifetime.

Dr. Montien Sirisuntornlak, M.D.,
of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, speaks about degenerative spine cascade, the
process by which the human spine changes and degenerates over time.
With diagrams and pictures, including pictures from MRI
scans, Dr. Montien described the causes, symptoms, and treatment for this
condition; also known as spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal
column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings
where spinal nerves leave the spinal column. Initially, he said, there may be no
symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they often start gradually and worsen over
time. The most common parts of the spine affected are the neck and lower back.
Symptoms vary, depending on the location.
If it is spinal stenosis in the neck, symptoms will be
numbness or weakness or tingling in a leg, foot, arm or hand. You may drop
things more often or have a tendency to fall. You can also feel neck or shoulder
pain. In severe cases, nerves to the bladder or bowel may be affected, leading
to incontinence. Compressed nerves in your lower (lumbar) spine can cause pain
or cramping in your legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you
walk. The discomfort usually eases when you bend forward or sit down.

PCEC Board Member David Meador
updates fellow members and guests on upcoming events in Pattaya and the ‘Land of
Smiles’.
There are many different types of problems that can reduce
the amount of space within the spinal canal. The most common of these problems
are related to degeneration and the aging process. He described the age related
causes, which can be osteoarthritis, disk degeneration, or thickened ligaments.
Other causes are Paget’s disease of the bone, achondroplasia (congenital),
spinal tumors, and spinal injuries.
Dr. Montien then explained the diagnostic tests that can be
performed. These include x-ray, CT scan, and MRI scan with the MRI being the
test of choice. Risk factors are primarily age or inherited conditions.
Treatment most likely will start with medications such as antidepressants to
ease pain, anti-seizure drugs to reduce pain caused by damaged nerves, and
opioids. Physical therapy may also help. Also, your nerve roots may become
irritated and swollen at the spots where they are being pinched. In such cases,
injecting a corticosteroid into the space around that constriction can help
reduce the inflammation and relieve some of the pressure.
Dr. Montien said that surgery may be considered if more
conservative treatments haven’t helped, you are disabled by your symptoms and
you are in otherwise good health. However, he pointed out that spinal surgery is
complicated and strongly recommended that you seek out a second opinion if your
doctor is recommending surgery.

Phyathai Sriracha Hospital
International Executive Gavin Waddell (left), Dr. Montien Sirisuntornlak, M.D.
(right) and Nurse Wanvisa pose for a photo following Dr Montien’s very
interesting presentation.
He also mentioned that there are some lifestyle and home
remedies that can be done to alleviate the symptoms. For cervical (neck)
stenosis, you can apply heat or cold packs to the neck and to take great care in
avoiding injuries to your head and neck as they can worsen your symptoms. For
lumbar stenosis, you can use canes or walkers as they provide stability and can
also help relieve pain by allowing you to bend forward while walking. Also,
losing excess weight can help because extra weight puts additional stress on
joints and bones, particularly the lower back.
After Dr. Montien answered several questions, Master of
Ceremonies Richard Silverberg called on Al Serrato to conduct the always
informative Open Forum where questions are answered about expat living in
Thailand, recommendations made about movies and restaurants, and occasionally
the telling of a joke or two.
The Pattaya City Expats Club meets every Sunday at the Amari
Orchid’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant. Read more about the Club’s activities on
their website at www .pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Mint of Norway visits Royal Thai Mint

(L to R) Jan Olav Aamlid, senior
adviser to the Mint of Norway; Jan-Eirik Hansen, CEO of the Mint of Norway; Dr.
Naris Chaiyasoot, Director General of the Treasure Department and Kjell Wessel,
manager of sales and marketing of Mint of Norway.
Jan Olav Aamlid
CEO of the Mint of Norway, Jan-Eirik Hansen and manager of
sales and marketing, Kjell Wessel, paid a visit to Director-General Naris
Chaiyasoot of the Treasury Department of Thailand to discuss mutual ideas how
they could work together.
Later in the afternoon, Jan-Eirik Hansen, Kjell Wessel and
Jan Olav Aamlid, senior adviser to the Mint of Norway, paid a visit to the Royal
Thai Mint. They had meetings with the management of the Royal Thai Mint and
discussions of what the Royal Thai Mint could supply for the Mint of Norway, and
what the Mint of Norway could supply for The Royal Thai Mint. It looks like both
parties had mutual interests.

Kjell Wessel and Jan-Eirik Hansen
had a look at News to Remember and House of Coins, Thappraya Rood, with its
impressive collection of old newspapers.
The visitors were given a tour of the Royal Thai Mint and
they were very impressed with the quality of their work. They also had the
pleasure of meeting some of the 700 employees of the Mint.
The Royal Thai Mint produces circulating coins, commemorative
coins, medals and Royal Decorations. Mint of Norway produces blanks, circulating
and commemorative coins and medals for Norway and other countries. One very well
known medal, the Peace Price Medal, is produced by the Mint of Norway.
Jan-Eirik Hansen and Kjell Wessel also took time to visit
their senior adviser, Jan Olav Aamlid in Pattaya before leaving for Hong Kong.
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Father Ray Foundation puts final touches on St. Patrick’s Day parade
Manoon Makpol
More than 1,000 people are expected to join in a St.
Patrick’s Day parade being organized by the Father Ray Foundation and area Irish
clubs.

Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri will
direct this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Foundation Acting President Rev. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul
and Vice President Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri met with Pattaya Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh Feb. 21 to work out the final details of the March 17 march,
which could see as many as 40 floats and 100 flag bearers, Jaiseri said.
This year’s parade would follow a new route, abandoning Beach
Road for a single traffic lane on Second Road from Pattaya School No. 8 at South
Road to the Alcazar Theatre near Soi 5. Exact time for start of the green march
has not been set, but will kick off no later than 2 p.m., Jaiseri said.
The charity’s involvement in the parade to celebrate a
holiday so closely associated with green beer is due to the saint’s
establishment of many churches and schools in Ireland, foundation officials
said.
While organizers are hoping for a good turnout for the
parade, they will have to compete with the Pattaya Music Festival, which takes
over the city from Feb. 16-18.
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Culinary delights at The 2nd Pattaya Gourmet Festival

From left back row: Kai-Uwe
Klenz, executive chef at Amari Orchid Pattaya, David Cummings, general manager
of Amari Orchid Pattaya, and Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh join with
other Amari staff at a press conference held Feb. 28 to announce the 2nd Pattaya
Gourmet Festival.
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2011, Amari
Orchid Pattaya is proud to present the 2nd Pattaya Gourmet Festival at Mantra
Restaurant and Bar from 17-22 March 2012. The event promises to be a prestigious
week-long celebration of ambrosial dishes, superb wines and liquor, and
fascinating Gala dinners.
At this year’s festival, guests will experience the Opening
Night Gala Dinner with Stonefish wines, Australian wines, Perrin & Fils wine
dinner, and Australian barbeque night. Guests will also be impressed by the
Grand Finale Gala Dinner, with all four guest Chefs - plus the Amari Orchid
Pattaya Executive Chef – producing their own creative course on the evening of
Thursday, March.
The four visiting chefs are:
Maria Elia from JOE’s Restaurant in London.
The only female master chef for this festival took positions
in various restaurants in the UK and other countries, including the legendary El
Bulli and Arzak restaurants in Spain, as well as The Oriental Cooking School in
Bangkok. She was also a Head Chef at London’s Delfina restaurant for 10 years
and opened her own renowned Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room, not to mention that
she is also a food writer and chef in a television programme. At present, Maria
is an Executive Chef at JOE’s Restaurant in London, where she enjoys playing
with people’s palates and creating deceptively simple, multi-layored dishes.
Steven Snow from Fins Restaurant and Bar, Australia.
Celebrity chef Steven Snow is the owner and chef of Fins,
Australia’s most awarded regional restaurant. The author of the current best
seller “Byron Cooking and Eating”, Steven is also feature chef on Australia’s
lifestyle television programme Guide to the Good Life. His experience also
grants him opportunities to showcase his talent on ABC National Radio as a
regular guest speaker. Recently he opened his second Fins restaurant, Fins Club
by Quinta Magnolia in a small seaside village near Lisbon, Portugal.
Yannick Ollivier Cayrol.
This connoisseur of French food has 8-year experience in
various hospitality industries. His creativity in food and pastry elaboration
comes from his wide range of cooking experience, including Thai, Indian, and
Spanish cuisine.
Chan Kam Yuen from Hong Kong.
A to-be owner of Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong and
Bangkok, Chan Kam Yuen brings to the festival his 3-decade long experience in
cooking. He is not only talented in creating exciting dishes, but also inspires
tastes that are unique in their very own right. His own created cuisine is
brought to a different level by his unique skill.
Note: As seats are limited at the festival advance
reservations are highly recommended. For more information, please contact 038
429 591.
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