Archive for November, 2010

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How to Position Carrefour in Thailand: Meld Them Into Big C or Keep Them as They Are? – Bangkok

Thursday, November 18th, 2010
How to Position Carrefour in Thailand: Meld Them Into Big C or Keep Them as They Are?
Groupe Casino of France, the largest market chain in France has acquisitioned Carrefour’s 42 outlets in Thailand and it is now similar in size to Tesco Lotus. Carrefour had positioned itself a bit higher than Tesco Lotus, while Big C targeted a lower-priced market than either Carrefour or Tesco Lotus.
It seems simple to me although I am not a marketing manager. There are so many chains competing for the lower-end market as does Carrefour, with only a small segment of their retail outlets offering higher-priced premium cheeses, wines and other quality items in areas where these items are in demand, why not keep the status quo within these stores and let the rest compete as they always have.

Carrefour Logo

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Groupe Casino, france

Groupe Casino of France, the oldest and one of the largest market chains in the world, and owner of Big C in Thailand has acquisitioned Carrefour’s 42 outlets in Thailand and it is now similar in size to Tesco Lotus in the Kingdom.  Carrefour positioned itself a bit higher than Tesco Lotus, while Big C targeted a lower-priced market than either Carrefour or Tesco Lotus.

It seems simple enough to me,  although I am not a hypermarket strategic analyst.  There are many chains competing for the lower-end market as does Carrefour, with only a small segment of Carrefour’s retail outlets offering higher-priced premium cheeses, wines and other quality items in areas where these items are in demand, why not keep the status quo within these stores, and let the rest compete as they always have.  In other words, many of us, especially the French community, would be upset to see the few premium items that these few stores stock vaporize into another “product for the masses” Big C.

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Akasaka Prince Hotel, Awaits Demolition – Tokyo

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Akasaka Prince Hotel, TokyoAkasaka Prince Hotel, Tokyo (image ©2010 restaurantdiningcritiques.com)

The Akasaka Prince Hotel with its entire exterior faced with white Carrera marble was designed by award-winning architect Kenzo Tange, and is located in the heart of downtown Akasaka, one of the most important districts in metropolitan Tokyo. Guests staying at what is now named Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka, formerly Akasaka Prince Hotel Tokyo, are offered the outstanding benefits of an unbeatable location, combined with impeccable accommodations inclusive of a wide range of amenities and facilities and an uncompromisingly high level of service. Unfortunately, the same fate that befell another beautiful Tokyo landmark, the Capital Tokyu a couple of years ago, will now strike the Akasaka Prince Hotel, and it will be another victim of so-called “urban improvement”.

In a city that is particularly known for its lack of available space, the 761 rooms of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka, are all the more remarkable for the amount of space afforded, with the smallest room offering 252 square feet, larger than many studio apartments in this crowded city. Each room has been deliberately designed to be a corner room, and offers a spectacular view of downtown Tokyo.

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Lake House, Enjoy a Glass of Wine by the Lake – Bangkok

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Lake House 1Lake House 2

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Spanish Wine Tasting at Wine Connection, Silom Road Branch – Bangkok

Monday, November 15th, 2010

image001

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Disciples Escoffier China Dinner November – Shanghai

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Escoffier 1-1

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Seasonal Mushrooms & Piedmont Specialties at Rossini Restaurant – Bangkok

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

WinedinnerPiedmont19Nov2010Seasonal Mushroom Cuisine & Piedmont Specialties at Rossini’s at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

From November 15th – 24th , Rossini’s Chef Stefano Merlo offers set and a la carte menus of mushroom dishes and specialties from Italy’s Piedmont region.

Rossini’s will also host a memorable Mushroom & Piedmont Wine Dinner on Friday, November 19th.

A la carte dishes include sautéed porcini, black trumpets, chanterelle mushrooms and polenta taragna, the exquisite maccheroncini with clams and chanterelle mushrooms, and roasted suckling pig with chanterelle and chestnut foam.

The set menu includes salad of fresh finferli mushrooms and Parmesan cheese followed by ravioli filled with morels. Diners will also enjoy Barramundi fillet with asparagus and chanterelles mushrooms, and chestnut pudding with black truffles. The exceptional meal ends with coffee, tea and biscotti.

The set menu of “Seasonal Mushroom Cuisine & Piedmont Specialties” is outstanding value at Baht 2,200* per person and Baht 3,900* for the wine dinner on November 19th.

For more information or reservations, please call 02 6498364 or visit eatdrinkandmore.com/bangkok

Starwood Privilege Thailand members enjoy a 20% discount.

*Price is subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax.

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Vino Di Zanotti in Khao Yai

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Vino Zanotti

Situated 160 km away from the busy life of Bangkok, Vino di Zanotti has relocated to a tranquil setting in Khao Yai. Surrounded by nature with its own Estate, Vino continues to serve fine Italian food while offering the ultimate Thai countryside experience. Open from Thursday to Sunday, Vino di Zanotti offers a delicious Italian menu while boasting a pizza oven made from the original design of the Acunto family from Napoli to serve Khao Yai’s finest Italian pizzas and fresh bread. To complement the food a selection of superb wines from a number of Italian regions, as well as cigars are available.

Vino Zanotti

A choice of surroundings, from the main dining area and lounge, to the more intimate context of our private room is available for your pleasure. For those wanting to be closer to nature we also offer outdoor seating facing the Vino Estate. The mountain view seating during the winter season offers a cool breeze making it a perfect spot to enjoy an Italian meal or an ‘aperitivo’.With a famous saxophonist, the popular Vino jazz quartet continues to perform cool, classic tunes on Friday and Saturday nights until late as well as Sunday afternoons.

Vino Zanotti

Live Music

If you are looking for a truly special experience in Khao Yai you have the opportunity to organize an exclusive helicopter flight from Bangkok to Vino’s Estate in just 40 mins, where you will enjoy the exhilaration of flying by helicopter and the pleasure of dinning at Vino di Zanotti. An experience we promise you will never forget!
Vino also offers a Sunday brunch experience with family activities. And if you are looking to celebrate a special event such as a birthday party, a wedding or even a conference meeting, you can do so at Vino di Zanotti in Khao Yai. For more information please contact events@zanottigroup.com

Opening days: Thursday – Sunday (and public holidays)

Vino Zanotti

map

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Loy Kratong at Lake House – Bangkok

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Loi” means “to float” and a “Kratong” is a raft. Thai people believe that floating a raft on the river is to honor and pay respect to the goddess of water. Make sure that if you launch your raft in a river it is made out of bread, as it will degrade more quickly. Also, floating a raft in the river is to apologize to the “goddess of water” for the bad things we have done to the river during the past year, and they are numerous, as most bodies of water are used as a sewer hereabouts.

Loy Kratong

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Yung Kee – Hong Kong

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

By Carole Chung

Cathay Pacific Promotion (Image credit: Cathay pacific Airlines)


Yung KeeYung Kee, Central, Hong Kong
32-40 Wellington St, Hong Kong
852/2522 1624
Opening Hours: 11am-11:30pm
www.yungkee.com.hk
Credit cards: Yes
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

A great deal of confusion has been brewing in the wake of announcements about Yung Kee’s share squabble, and Carole Chung paid a visit to find out if the food was still intact, or had it changed. She filed this report:

Even now there is a lot of interest in this old Cantonese restaurant, as you can see by the Cathay Pacific Airlines Promotion above earlier this year, and the bestowing of a Michelin star. However, in some respects it is trading on its reputation and a family feud over holdings does not help the situation; it is still famous for roasted goose and century eggs, although in many ways the experience is a let down, and there are other restaurants to choose from when it comes to roasted goose. As in the past, the ground floor is filled with office workers grabbing a bite, floors 1-3 are for more civilized dining, and the 4th floor is a member club where the finest goose is served to VIP’s. Generally, nothing much has changed; the hostesses are rude, the waiters brusque and the place is still packed.

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Amanita Caesarea Mushrooms

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Caesar Mushroom

These fungi are indescribably delicious when tossed with pasta along with olive oil and possibly a touch of garlic.

This culinary prize, Amanita Caesarea appears in Autumn although the season can vary depending on location. At first glance its distinguishing characteristics are: A somewhat shiny reddish cap with radial lines around the margins; yellowish gills and a ring around the yellowish stalk with scattered white tissues; and a saclike cup at the base of the stalk, typical of many amanitas. This mushroom is highly prized, and is a common sight in the markets of Italy, southern France, and Spain. However, many mycologists warn inexperienced gatherers against seeking it out as it can be easily confused with other deadly members of the Amanita genus, for example Amanita Muscaria or Amanita Phialloides.

The well-known, hallucinogenic Fly Agaric has no radially lined margins around the cap and has whitish gills. A close inspection should easily allow identification of either of these similar mushrooms that are members of the dangerous genus Amanita.

The genus Amanita is better known for its poisonous members the death angels (Amanita virosa, A. bisporigera, A. verna), the destroying angel or death cap (A. phalloides) and the hallucinogenic and toxic fly agaric (A. muscaria).

No foraged mushrooms should be eaten without the advice of an expert!

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