During our trip to Thailand, we had a chance to stay at the gorgeous InterContinental Bangkok. There, we spoke to InterContinental Bangkok’s executive chef Rolando Manesco about what makes his restaurants successful, what inspires him, and some insider tips about Bangkok. Here are his thoughts:
Note: the interview has been edited for brevity.
Q&A with Executive Chef Rolando Manesco:
Maria: What makes your restaurant successful?
Chef Manesco: In Asia, you need to follow what most of your guests like to eat and find the ingredients from the region that pair with those recipes. We need to adjust the dishes to the local culture, which inspires me to design a menu based on our client’s expectations.
Maria: Why did you choose Bangkok?
Chef Manesco: The job chose me. You need to find the right opportunity and time to be there, and sometimes it’s up to destiny with chefs. In Asia, chefs are moving all the time, so we try to change often to get more experience, learn about other ingredients and cultures. So far, I am with InterContinental Bangkok for two years. Prior to this appointment, I already experienced different Asian cuisines and worked in several countries in Europe, starting at a very young age in my native Italy followed by other countries.
Maria: Can you tell us about your favorite creation on the menu?
Chef Manesco: In our Italian restaurant “Theo Mio” we introduced truffles originating from Europe and the reception has been great. We have different restaurants with different cuisines, from curry with noodles to pasta. The most popular Italian dish is called “parppadelle al tartufo”, which is served a Theo Mio.
Maria: What would you like for your guests to remember from the dining experience?
Chef Manesco: We want guests to remember the full journey-from the moment they enter the hotel, the culture of Thailand, our restaurants at InterContinental Bangkok, the style of the restaurant, the freshness of our ingredients, and the simplicity of cooking.
Maria: Tell me about the process of pairing wine and food?
Chef Manesco: We want guests to remember the full journey-from the moment they enter the hotel, the culture of Thailand, our restaurants at InterContinental Bangkok, the style of the restaurant, the freshness of our ingredients, and the simplicity of cooking.
Maria: How do you see your chances to be awarded a Michelin Star?
Chef Manesco: We are doing very good in some of our restaurants such as Summer Palace, Fireplace Grill and Bar, and Theo Mio. We are already in the Michelin guide. We are working hard to reach that goal, especially with Fireplace Grill and Bar, where the focus on ingredients, service, and quality is very high. Our goal is to surprise our guests. We hope to get a star!
Maria: Our readers enjoy local tips from chefs. What three places do you recommend for visitors to see?
Chef Manesco: Discover Thai cuisine and taste original food and flavors. Here are some other tips:
- Enjoy the food at Chinatown Bangkok.
- Visit many of the parks and large green areas throughout the city.
- Visit the many of the beautiful monuments, recommend visiting Erawan Shrine, featuring a gilded statue of the god Brahma located just in front the hotel where many people come to pray. It’s often the site of rituals and traditional dances.
About Our Dining Experience:
We had the pleasure to enjoy and eat at three of the different restaurants at the property: Espresso, Summer Palace and Theo Mio and below you can find some of our favorites dishes and wines at Theo Mio, Italian Kitchen by renowned chef Theo Randall:
- Pulpo alla griglia.
- Gnocchi con crema al tartufo.
- Barramundi alla griglia.
- White Wine: Dipinti la Vis, Chardonnay, Trentino-Ato-Adige, Italy.
- White Wine: Bottega, Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy.
It was a real pleasure to meet Executive Chef Rolando Manesco, Executive Chinese Chef Han Long Hua, and rest of the diverse team at InterContinental Bangkok. The experience truly made us feel at home. Everyone we met represented the kindness that Thai culture is known for.
InterContinental Bangkok, 973 Phloen Chit Road, Lumpini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Website
