Bangkok slum gets Michelin-starred meals from Thai beauty queen

Surrounded by children in a Bangkok slum, Miss Universe Thailand handed out lunch boxes prepared by Michelin-starred chefs yesterday-a project to help some of the capital’s worst COVID-hit communities. The kingdom is currently battling a third wave of coronavirus-an outbreak that authorities traced in April to a nightlife district frequented by Bangkok’s uber-rich and politically connected. The government slapped restrictions on businesses and public spacesmuch to the chagrin of restaurants already battered by a year of on-off pandemic shutdowns.

Even Michelin-starred ventures are feeling the brunt, and concierge company The Silver Voyage Club is working to bring their ultra-luxe meals to some of Bangkok’s hardest-hit communities, said founder Jakkapun Rattanapet. Part of the “Food for Fighters” project, Bangkok’s world-class chefs are paid up to 100 baht ($3.20) per lunch box-which are then donated to communities where high rates of clusters have emerged. Khlong ToeiBangkok’s largest slum-has emerged in this third wave as a hotspot, because most of its working-class residents are not able to social distance or work from home.

‘The kite is going down’

Yesterday, families stood in long queues waiting to receive 500 meals made by top Bangkok chefs from Miss Universe Thailand Amanda Obdam. “We need to get rid of that (inequality) gap

because there are so many people still struggling while the rest are living an elite life,” she told AFP, in between taking selfies with fans. “I’m very grateful to be here,” she said. “I hope they enjoy what they receive today.”

Among the offerings was pasta with a spicy tom yum chicken flavor, said chef Thaninthorn “Noom” Chantrawan-who heads the Michelin-starred restaurant Chim by Siam Wisdom. It is “a mixture of comfort food and a mixture of a food that you don’t get to eat too often”. Despite his restaurant having to temporarily close

because of COVID, he said he was luckier than most because he could still keep his staff. “The restaurant industry is very affected and we try to fight, but the chance is thin,” he said. “The government needs to do better.”

So far, some 50,000 restaurants nationwide have shuttered during this outbreak, said Taniwan Koonmongkon, president of the Thai Restaurant Association, which has caused a loss of jobs for over half a million people. “In the first two waves, the kite could still fly with the thread, but this third wave has seen the

thread cut,” Taniwan said. “The kite is now going down.” Food for Fighters founder Panchana Vatanasathein-a restaurateur herself and had started her project initially to help hospital workers-was far blunter. “I have no hope for the government,” she said as kitchen staff worked rapidly around her to prepare the meals before they were ferried to Khlong Toei in Silver Voyage Club’s luxury sedans. — AFP

Thai beauty queens Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam (center), Miss Universe third runner-up Praewwanich Ruangthong (left) and Miss Universe Thailand 2019 contestant Patrapong Wang (centre right) hand out food boxes made by Michelin-starred chefs to children in the Klong Toei slum area of Bangkok yesterday.

Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam (right) learns to cut starfruit for food boxes to be distributed to the poor, in the kitchen of Chin By Siam Wisdom restaurant in Bangkok.

A chef from several Michelin-starred restaurants prepares ingredients for food boxes to be distributed to the poor, in the kitchen of Chin By Siam Wisdom restaurant.

Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam (left) hands a food box made by Michelin-starred chefs to a young girl in the Klong Toei slum area of Bangkok. — AFP photos

Residents of the Klong Toei slum community queue for food boxes made by Michelinstarred chefs.

A young resident of the Klong Toei slum community holds a food box made by Michelin-starred chefs in Bangkok.

Miss Universe Thailand 202, Amanda Obdam (left), hands food boxes made by Michelin-starred chefs to residents.