Maison Dunand in Bangkok: Between Alpine Traditions and Breton Flavors

A Savoyard Escape in the Heart of Sathorn

Nestled in Bangkok's Sathorn district, Maison Dunand is a true tribute to the alpine chalets of Savoy, a region dear to chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier. This restaurant with its picturesque architecture comprises two timber-framed houses, evoking the chef's Savoyard childhood with rare authenticity. The interior décor, warm and welcoming, harmoniously combines oak wood, stone, and nature-inspired design elements such as cow prints and leather rugs. With only a few tables, the intimate and peaceful atmosphere invites relaxation, far from the city's hustle and bustle. This style, both cozy and elegant, is enhanced by large bay windows and a verdant garden surrounding the building. It is a place where every detail is designed to offer a unique sensory experience, perfect for special occasions or romantic dinners.

Between Mountains and Oceans: Maison Dunand's Flavorful Journey

Maison Dunand is a true tribute to the chef's culinary travels around the world, while celebrating his deep Savoyard and Breton roots. This one Michelin star establishment since 2023 invites each guest to an inspiring gastronomic experience, where the warm welcome and expertise of the service team enhance every meal. The cuisine is a subtle blend of mountain and ocean products, offering refined dishes based on alpine trout, renowned cheeses like Beaufort, and fresh seafood from the Breton coast. Each dish tells a story, a childhood memory or a travel tale, and demonstrates Chef Arnaud's skill in combining traditional flavors with influences from around the world.

The essence of Maison Dunand lies in harmonizing French culinary traditions with the Chef's international explorations. True to his Savoyard origins, the cuisine is generous, rooted in the exclusive use of local seasonal products, while incorporating exceptional ingredients from regions as diverse as Thailand and Japan. The restaurant's philosophy emphasizes respect for terroir and culinary experimentation, with particular attention to the purity of flavors and the balance of pairings. The tasting menu evolves with the seasons, offering delicate and confident dishes, while the wine cellar brilliantly celebrates the vineyards of Alsace and Savoy. The attentive and warm service completes this gourmet symphony, where each tasting is a unique sensory journey.

From Savoyard Peaks to Bangkok's Shores with Arnaud Dunand Sauthier

Chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier discovered his passion for culinary arts at a very young age. He embarked on a gastronomic path that led him to train under masters such as Marc Veyrat, Jacques Lameloise, and Jean-François Piège at the Hôtel de Crillon. After fifteen rich years of experience in France, he joined the Thai culinary scene in 2012, taking over the direction of Le Normandie restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok. His mastery of classic French techniques and his use of the finest products imported from France enabled the establishment to earn two Michelin stars in 2017, a recognition he maintained until his departure. Drawing on his Savoyard heritage and Asian experience, Arnaud Dunand Sauthier created his own restaurant Maison Dunand, promising an innovative and personal fusion of alpine and Asian flavors.

Between Tradition and Innovation: The Chef's Magic

With this elegant presentation, this culinary preamble is a masterpiece in itself. The calamansi and smoked eel wafer offers a combination of tangy and smoky flavors, while the foie gras mulled wine macaron evokes a comforting richness and sweetness. The sesame tacos with bouchot mussels, coffee, and whisky promise a bold and innovative taste experience. Finally, the onion and tonka bean tartlet seduces with its sweet and spicy aroma, perfectly completing this sophisticated gastronomic tableau. Each element is carefully arranged, creating visual and sensory harmony, perfect for savoring with a glass of champagne.

Let us continue this culinary experience with an amuse-bouche that is a true visual beauty, elegantly presented in a carefully cut eggshell. This delicately prepared egg with pumpkin and a subtle touch of juniper offers a harmony of sweet and slightly woody flavors. A small piece of golden brioche accompanies this dish, inviting a tasting in the manner of a soft-boiled egg, where one dips the bread into the creamy preparation.

This signature dish elevates the classic pairing of caviar and potato with a touch of innovation. The delicate sweetness of Brittany sea urchin mingles with the saline depth of Kristal Caviar, creating a harmony of complex flavors. A champagne and lobster sauce, silky and luxurious, envelops everything, adding an elegant and refined dimension. This dish, which originated during the chef's time at Le Normandie, is a true ode to French gastronomy, ideally paired with a white wine Domaine Rolet, L'étoile En Novalet Chardonnay 2020.

The dish "Cocollos N°1 Oyster / Lovage / Borage" takes us on a culinary symphony that evokes vivid memories of Brittany and the mountains. This bold creation presents the oyster in two forms: a delicate tartare below and a poached oyster on top, paired with two types of seaweed and a lovage sauce. The alliance between the fresh salinity of the oyster and the gentle bitterness of alpine herbs creates an unexpected yet harmonious dialogue, offering a taste experience suspended between sea spray and pure mountain air. Accompanied by a glass of Domaine Ciringa, Fosilni Breg Sauvignon Blanc, this dish is a true pleasure for the palate.

Let us continue our journey with the Dover Sole, accompanied by endive and winter black truffle from Périgord, which presents itself as an elegant reinterpretation of a timeless classic. This line-caught sole meunière dish is elevated by a hazelnut crust that brings a crunchy texture and aromatic richness. The Périgord black truffle, with its enchanting fragrance, enhances the delicacy of the fish, while the endive adds a subtle note of bitterness, thus completing the harmony of flavors. To accompany this refined dish, a glass of Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2023 from Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils, whose minerality and freshness underscore the complexity of the dish, promises a superb gastronomic experience.

The Brittany Blue Lobster comes next, a refined dish that combines winter flavors with exceptional elegance. The lobster is accompanied by smoked cabbage and Corsican clementine, bringing a richness of textures and an unprecedented taste harmony, elevated by a red wine bisque. This culinary composition highlights depth and warmth, while emphasizing the rustic and authentic character of the terroir. To perfect this experience, the pairing with the wine "Domaine des Ardoisières, Argile Rouge 2019" enriches each bite with additional nuances.

Let us now evoke the "Game from Sologne", a dish that pays tribute to the game season, showcasing venison from Sologne, known for its pronounced yet delicate flavor. Presented in traditional French style, this version is elevated by a classic grand veneur sauce that enhances the natural notes of the meat. The accompaniment of pear and celeriac adds a touch of sweetness and freshness, while the Savoyard crozets pasta brings a comforting texture. The perfect pairing with a glass of Blason d'Issan 2016 Margaux accentuates the subtle nuances of the dish, promising a rich and refined gastronomic experience.

The Cheese Trolley at Maison Dunand is a true ode to the cheese heritage of Savoy and the French Alps. This meticulous selection includes emblematic pieces such as Beaufort and Tomme, which embody the very essence of the region. Elegantly presented, this platter also offers some surprises from other regions of France, testifying to the richness and diversity of French terroirs. The condiments accompanying these cheeses elevate each bite, promising a refined and unforgettable taste experience for lovers of fine cheeses.

Before concluding, a pre-dessert paying tribute to the chef's childhood memories makes its appearance, with a delicate chocolate mousse. The 70% Chiang Mai chocolate sauce is skillfully blended before us with a sabayon, creating a perfect harmony of rich and creamy flavors. Everything is elegantly sprinkled with cocoa bean pieces, adding a crunchy texture and additional chocolate intensity.

In this sumptuous creation, the dessert entitled "Peanut / Milk / Caramel" presents itself as a tribute to beloved childhood flavors, recalling the irresistible delights of chocolate bars such as Snickers. On an elegant plate, the composition evokes a delicate rose, where the smooth caramel and peanuts harmoniously marry with a touch of vanilla. The refined presentation and creamy texture promise a purely indulgent culinary experience, where each bite transports the taster on a nostalgic and gourmet journey.

To close this exquisite meal, an elegant presentation of petit fours reveals a trio of sweet delights, each carefully arranged on a stone platter. On the left, a miniature Tatin seems to exhale caramelized and fruity aromas, its appetizing texture capturing the essence of a classic tarte tatin. In the center, the mont-blanc is reimagined as a delicate bite, with its airy chestnut cream and immaculate meringue, topped with a small touch of sweetness. Finally, the Opera displays its harmonious thin layers, revealing a perfect marriage of chocolate, coffee, and ganache, typical of this sophisticated pastry. These petit fours promise the end of a refined and enchanting taste journey.

My Review

Maison Dunand offers a unique sensory immersion, inviting guests on a journey through alpine and Breton flavors, elevated by Asian influences. Every detail, from the architecture inspired by Savoyard chalets to the warm welcome from the team, is designed to create a memorable experience. Maison Dunand is an essential destination for lovers of high-end French gastronomy.