A Cultural Exchange Through Food
Episode 6 of Siri Sala’s Travelling Chef Series brings together powerful and transcendental female voices for a unique dining event on 10-12 May 2024. This collaboration brings to the dining table an immersive experience celebrating chef Aisha Ibrahim and artist Pinaree Sanpitak’s respective practices.
The Chef
Chef Aisha Ibrahim’s journey starts in the Muslim Southern island of Mindanao, Philippines and later as an immigrant to the USA. Initially having dreams to become a basketball player, she changed course when she enrolled in a culinary course at the Cordon Bleu. She has since worked in some of the most distinguished kitchens in the world and in 2021 was appointed the very first female chef at Canlis in its 70+ year esteemed history. In 2023, she was named one of the 11 best new chefs in the USA by Food and Wine Magazine. Her distinct background and cultural heritage inform her process and practices as a chef. She works not only with seasonality but micro-seasonality, and embraces the distinct biodiversity that exists with each season and terroir. Chef Aisha focuses on working with small local producers that are community-driven and maintain heritage practices.
Breast Stupa Cookery
Over the last three decades, Pinaree Sanpitak’s multidisciplinary art practice has forged her place as one of the most renown and influential female artists from Southeast Asia. Her practice spans across painting, sculpture, immersive environment, sound and cookery. Most recently, Sanpitak participated in Venice Biennale 2022 Milk of Dreams curated by Cecilia Alemani as well as Chaos: Calm at the Bangkok Art Biennale 2022. The Breast Stupa defies any singular description or definition as it is continuously evolving from the breast which symbolizes birth, life, the female body, milk & nurturing. The stupa existed pre-Buddhism and in Sanskrit refers to a mound of Earth used in burial rituals. When turned upside down the stupas become vessels that can be filled with water and food, nurturing and transcending the body and the female form, becoming a universal invitation to come together. Breast Stupa Cookery is a communal manifestation of these ideas, starting in 2005 and continuing to evolve with each collaboration – becoming a platform to cook and dine together. Adding to the spatial aspect of this edition of Breast Stupa Cookery, the outdoor courtyard of Siri Sala will exhibit Sanpitak’s breast cloud vessels and her malais that drape from the sky.
The Fundraiser
As Pinaree Sanpitak’s Breast Stupa Cookery brings the conversation very naturally to the female form, we are proud to direct that interest to raise funds for Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation (QSCBC). A portion of the proceeds from every dinner sold will be donated to QSCBC to support the efforts of its founders Dr Kris Chatamra and Khunying Finola Chatamra.
In addition to this, Kad Kokoa will be working with both the artist and the chef to produce a limited edition box of chocolates which will be available only during this event. The bonbons will showcase Pinaree Sanpitak’s iconic breast stupa shape and the tastes of the season through 5 special flavors. Kad Kokoa are Thai craft chocolate makers whose chocolates highlight the natural and true taste of local cacao beans with as little intervention as possible. Each box of chocolates sold will raise enough money to sponsor a health check at QSCBC that includes a mammogram, ultrasound and papsmear.
Travelling Chefs Series
Siri Sala founded the Travelling Chef Series in 2020 to explore a cultural and community-driven discussion around food. The series offers residencies to chefs to travel to Bangkok to enjoy life on the klong whilst bringing to Bangkok world class cuisine and concepts in the intimate setting of a villa by the river. This episode is the first one to create a space for both an artist and chef to collaborate across continents and disciplines.
Event Details
Dates: 10-12 May 2024
Venue: Siri Sala Private Thai Villa
PROGRAM:
6.00 PM Sunset Boat Ride from Si Phraya Pier 6:30 PM Arrival at Siri Sala
7:00 PM Talk with Chef & Artist 7:30 PM Dinner
DINNER
THB 7,500 net, all inclusive experience
4 snacks, 6 courses – chef’s choice, celebrating seasonality through a Seafood or Vegetarian option beverage pairing included – chef’s choice, alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic pairings
ART EXHIBIT
Guests will be able to interact with both small & large-scale artwork by Pinaree Sanpitak throughout the evening.
PROMOTION
Guests who can show a Philippine Airlines boarding pass from any date in 2024 can receive a 10% discount on up to two seats per booking.
For reservations: call 098 608-1999, Line ID sirisala.official or via www.sirisala.com/offers Hashtag: #sirisalatravellingchefs
Kad Kokoa Limited Edition Chocolates
The limited edition box of 15 Breast Stupa Cookery bonbons will be sold at the event for THB 3,600 per box. Each box sold will cover the costs to sponsor a health check for the underprivileged at QSCBC Bangkok.
