Issue 20

Thai SELECT award winning Mango Tree has announced an ambitious plan that will see the number of its outlets increase to 100 around the world by the end of 2015.

Mango Tree on the River is the latest outlet of the global brand that includes Mango Tree Bistro Bar and Mango Tree Café as well as COCA restaurants, in addition to the flagship Mango Tree itself. The new venture will present a Thai contemporary life and style concept, with an emphasis on hospitality welcoming both local and international guests to indulge in a memorable dining experience.

The opening of Mango Tree on the River represents the latest chapter in a quite remarkable Thai culinary success story. The first Mango Tree restaurant opened in the heart of Silom, Bangkok, in 1994. Today the group operates more than 70 restaurants and cafés in 15 countries across Asia, the Middle East and the US. Mango Tree represents a premier global Thai brand, delivering quality Thai cuisine, and offering a stylish design and service.

Mango Tree Worldwide CEO and Founder, Pitaya Phanphensophon says he is delighted to see the growth of the company with its brands entering many of the world's major cities, such as Tokyo, London, Dubai, Jakarta, Manila and Hong Kong. "Our success is down to choosing great partners, having a unique concept, a wide-ranging strategy and above all, a team which believes in itself," he says.

The group has a number of long-standing partners worldwide, united under the concept of taking Thai food in an authentic yet innovative direction, adding value to the dining experience beyond just good food via ambience, décor, presentation and tabletop architecture.

According to Phanphensophon, innovation and creativity are essential to maintaining Mango Tree's reputation. High quality ingredients, locally sourced where possible, and respect for tradition is also primary to the Mango Tree brand. Mango Tree’s signature dishes include Nue Palow (beef in brown sauce), Pad Thai (stir-fried noodles) and Yum Pla Muek (squid salad). "We also try to get the ambience [right] including a fully functioning bar to provide innovative presentation and unexpected twists on ingredients,” he says.

Phanphensophon believes that The Mango Tree group is a dynamic, innovative and fast-growing company with the vision to bring authentic Thai cuisine with a creative twist to the world, and to plant a Mango Tree in every major world city.

Mango Tree on the River
240 Yodpiman River Walk Shopping Paradise, Building D5 Atsadang Rd, Bangkok
www.exquisinethai.com

Words by: Natthinee Ratanaprasidhi

Ingredient tips: Pak Plang or Ceylon Spanish

This well known leaf vegetable is high in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. In Northern Thailand, it is cooked with fish to make sour soup and also can be stir-fried with garlic.

Thai Select

Mango Tree on the River is endorsed by the DITP under its Thai Select scheme. The Thai SELECT programme was launched to certify and promote authentic Thai cuisine around the world. It is a seal of approval granted to Thai restaurants – both overseas and local Thai eateries that serve authentic food – and processed Thai food products. The objective is to increase the recognition of quality Thai restaurants and processed Thai food products as well as to encourage Thai restaurateurs and food producers to raise quality while maintaining authenticity. For more details of the scheme visit: http://www.thaiselect.com