A feast for THE SENSES

       Inspired by the flavours of Alsace, Champagne, the Mediterranean and Tokyo,
       seven chefs conspire to create an excitingly sensual food festival
       Gastronomes, epicures and food connoisseurs will have a golden opportunity to enjoy the splendours of the Gallic cuisine once again when "All Senses A Gastronomic Odyssey" raises its curtain at the Dusit Thani Bangkok next week.
       The six-day culinary festival, from Tuesday, October 6 to Sunday, October 11, will feature a series of lunches and dinners as well as afternoon high tea,cooking classes and workshop by seven highly-respected chefs. They are led by the internationally-renowned twin chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel of the twoMichelin-starred Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier,and award-winning Japanese-French chef Kotaro Hasegawa of the twins' Sens & Saveurs, Japan.
       The three guest chefs will join Dusit International's corporate executive chef Erwin Eberharter, executive sous chef Philippe Keller, D'Sens's chef de cuisine Julien Lavigne and executive pastry chef Slawek Golaszewski, to whip up more than 100 culinary creations. Especially at dinner, dishes will be paired with fine French wine presented by top French sommelier Yannis Kherachi, who will fly in as a special guest.
       With the hotel's D'Sens French restaurant as the festival's main venue, the celebration will open at noon on Tuesday,October 6 with the "Sense of Champagne Region" lunch (1,500 baht), a four-course meal presented by the brothers Pourcel and the restaurant's chef de cuisine Julian Lavigne. Cream soup of frog's legs,roasted angler fish with champagne sauce and pan-fried guinea fowl will be among the items on the menu.
       That evening, there will be a six-course wine-pairing dinner (2,900 baht) that also represents the Champagne region.Among the selections are crunchy pastry of rabbit with foie gras, grilled seabream fillet with paimpol beans fricassee and grilled beef tenderloin.
       On Wednesday, October 7 the festival continues with the "Sense of Tokyo"four-course lunch (1,500 baht) by chef Kotaro and a seven-course dinner (3,000 baht) for which the Japanese chef will be joined by the Pourcel twins. Highlight dishes will include Hokkaido scallop carpaccio, lobster sliced with caramelised onions and pan-fried duck fillet.
       Thursday, October 8 will be the day for the "Sense of Mediterranee" lunch (1,500 baht), which will be presented by Jacques and Laurent Pourcel, as is the six-course tasting dinner (2,800 baht or 3,700 baht with cheese and wine). Representing the cuisine of southern France,home of the brothers Pourcel, are green pea cappuccino, seared lobster medallion
       with light onion and potato foam, roasted rack of lamb and crunchy meringue with peach sherbet.
       The Pourcel twins will be joined by the hotel's executive sous chef Philippe Keller, for "Sense of Alsace", a six-course tasting menu dinner (2,900 baht) on Friday, October 9. The menu includes terrine of eel and crayfish, steamed pike in open ravioli, seared foie gras with turnip sauerkraut and roasted saddle of rabbit with seasonal mushrooms.
       On Saturday, October 10 the festival introduces a "Sense of Autumn" at its four-course lunch (1,600 baht) by chefs Jacques and Laurent. Terrine of porcini mushroom with parmesan croquette and butternut squash soup with duck foie gras are some of the glorious autumnal offerings.
       Saturday evening is the time for "A Gala for All Senses"(6,000 baht), an eight-course wine-pairing dinner in which all the participating chefs have taken a hand. Among the dishes you'll find on the menu are eel terrine and duck liver combination, seared Maine lobster with crispy zucchini flower and duo of veal with vegetable lasagna.
       The festival will be wrapped up in fine still with the "Ultimate Champagne Brunch"(1,800 baht) on Sunday, October 11- a superb three-course meal with cheese and dessert buffet and a free flow of champagne.
       "All Senses - A Gastronomic Odyssey",October 6-11, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Rama IV Road. For more information or to reserve a table, please call the hotel at 02-200-9000.