Pop ups and supper clubs / News
Cambodian pop-up returns with ‘one-of-a-kind’ collaboration
The popular pop-up Cambodian restaurant, Barang, is set to deliver an “unforgettable culinary experience” in collaboration with Chicago-based chef Chanita Chayaluk for an exclusive Thai-Cambodian event at The Scrandit.
The partnership promises to merge traditional flavours with modern twists, resulting in a menu sure to captivate food enthusiasts across the city.
Chanita Chayaluk, renowned for her expertise in Thai cuisine, honed her skills at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Bangkok.
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Over the years, she has developed a distinctive approach to Thai cooking, blending vintage recipes with regional specialties and innovative gastronomic creations.
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“I have a great deal of respect for Chanita’s style and approach to Thai cuisine,” says Tom Geoffrey Smith, the chef behind Barang. “Her ability to elevate her dishes while staying true to the essence and history of the cuisine is something many chefs aspire to, yet often fall short of achieving.”
Tom has previously taken part in similar culinary collaborations in Bristol, including a recent collaborative menu at The Kensington Arms in Redland.
Over the years, Chanita Chayaluk (pictured) has developed a distinctive approach to Thai cooking, blending vintage recipes with regional specialties – photo: Chanita Chayaluk
The collaboration at The Scrandit on Christmas Steps is set to showcase a “dynamic menu” that fuses Cambodian and Thai dishes, each with a unique twist added by the team.
“We’re combining traditional flavours with fresh ideas to create something truly exciting,” Tom explains. Guests can look forward to a “one-of-a-kind” culinary experience, highlighting the rich and diverse tastes of Southeast Asia.
For those attending the final day of the event, there’s an extra treat in store: the “Sunday Noods” session. This special addition will feature a selection of steaming noodle dishes, including the famous guay tiew ruea—or Thai Boat Noodles—an aromatic broth filled with tender beef brisket, morning glory, and rice noodles. It promises to close the collaboration with a comforting, flavour-packed dish.
The latest collaboration of Barang is to take place at The Scrandit on the historic Christmas Steps – photo: Martin Booth
After the Bristol event, Tom will return to London for a two-week residency at Black Lacquer, a trendy cocktail bar within the Ennismore Hotel Group. From there, he will head to Bangkok for a pop-up at Chenin.
“I’m heading back to Thailand and Cambodia for five weeks next month, and I’m so excited to cook my own dishes out there for the first time,” Tom shares with enthusiasm.
The collaboration will run from January 23 to 26 at The Scrandit,14 Christmas Steps, BS1 5BS.
Main photo: Barang
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