Hyde and Seek . . . .

Hide and seek is a game about a search and the winner is the one who seeks and hopefully finds a gem. . . this is the case of this very bijoux little gastro pub, called Hyde and SEek in Bkk.  Hyde for the fact that is behind Bkk's version of Hyde Park and Seek for all the nooks and crannies, a the playful twist of dining, and it is a pub after all.

Without doubt the best drinks in town are brought by Flow and pub grub by Ian Chalermkittichai of Kittichai NY. The cozy interior fits around 40 and is conceptualised by BUG and the large terrace decked out by Bill Bensley.  It is particularly jovial around the bar where the bartenders wear bibs inspired by mechanics' overalls in old movie, the waitresses wear belted oversized shirt dresses and the boys, tapered trousers and hidden houndstooth trimmed shirts, all designed by yours truly (a little past time that I engage in since a few years back when I did Ian's restaurant in NY, Kittichai, Nobu Berkeley in London and a few others).

  

It is dark with a childlike charm to it - it reminds me of Laduree mixed Pastis with a touch of The Cow . . Dad said defo a posh pub and not the type he used to visit in his uni days in England.  

Other than for my own vanity - watching the staff is like watching my own mini fashion show... (though I am still tweaking bits) I would not frequent a spot so much that the waitress says "I have not seen you in ages" after 3 days if it was not rather nice. It's a clandestine little haunt me and my friends . There is a special drink there, created by Chanond, it's called the double black.... It fuels the night and in the last month I have enjoyed some of the best most entertaining moments... 

And the food? First time I went was for a tasting more than a month ago....  and now with the temporary menu done to perfection and the full monty being launched shortly... suffice to say, I have a few favourites.  These are the wagyu beef burger, the poached salmon, the english salad and to die for and must try pannacotta.

Pow and Wagyu burger

Paulie said we kept it in the fam (smirnoff black complete with faberge egg at the bar)... I suppose we did in a way...  The closest thing to a mom and pops in downtown bkk .... A thai english dandy, suave swedes, a celebrity thai chef from ny, BUG and me... A raggidy mix probably rather suitable for a little pub. 

Hyde and Seek is located at the Plaza Atheneee Residence on closer to the Ruamrudee side. . .see you there. :)

Campanas x Lacoste

A year has flown by extraordinarily quickly - this time last year I was in Miami for Art Basel and was one night stranded, at a warehouse in Wynwood - the Campana brothers were my saviour as they offered to give me a ride back to South Beach.  Coincidentally, same time this year, I see one of the Campanas again, as he is on a road show around Asia for the collaboration they did with Lacoste.

Only Humberto was around this time, lovely to catch up with him . . .love the project they did with Lacoste - very special and speaks to their artisanal roots, something tropical and handmade about it . . .probably because the video projection over The Metropolitan pool was of the beach, their studio, crocodiles and the jungle which is Brazil. 

I really believe what the Campanas do in terms of design is relevant and applies very well to Thailand - they transform the most ordinary things to something unique that is in fact functional.  I believe that is called good design.  I love the Sushi chair made from towels, the Disney Banquete and the big wicker Library (not in production seen at Albion Gallery years back). According to Humberto, the Vitra retrospective that launched at in the summer at Basel will come to Thailand soon.  That will be quite something.

 

Humberto and I

The Lacoste crocs do evoke images of the Campanas crocodile banquet.

  crocodiles

John Storey was around too, the creative visionary behind this collaboration and the Visionaire x Lacoste one last year, pretty much many relevant projects we have seen really in the last decade not only with Lacoste but other houses such as Comme. The jungle he created out of Cy'an with the displays was very cool indeed.  I remember the party he did with Visionaire, Lacoste and Alex de Betak in Paris last summer, rocking indeed.  This one was great but could have been mindblowing if the PR was perhaps done differently, then again Frantz (who I adore) did move to HK - really it should fuse the design/fashion/streetwear worlds - perhaps something to look into. I mean it was swimming pool, great collabo, great music and a jungle!

John Storey and Kuan Teo of 2 Magazine

Nonetheless, nights like that do give me some hope, I wonder what John has up his sleeves for next year . . . .

fashion x design - Rick Owens

I love it when someone with a very holistic, complete aesthetic applies his view of the world in a medium which is not what we would expect . . . or has chosen to transcend his craft to another.  That is the case with the furniture design pieces that Rick Owens did for Sebastian + Barquet gallery in London.

I love the light, organic and simple feel of the pieces that still carry with them a certain darkness, intensity and mystery.  It is so completely Rick Owens.