🇭🇰👨🏻🍳👨🏻🍳👨🏻🍳🇹🇭 @leela.hkg@somabangkok
One of the more memorable collaboration dinners I’ve had recently in Hong Kong.
Leela × Soma brought together modern Indian and contemporary Thai cooking in a way that felt surprisingly natural, not overly “fusion”, but more like two cuisines speaking the same flavour language through spice, smoke, herbs, fermentation, and acidity.
Some highlights from the night:
✦ Fish Cheek Rasam
✦ Burnt Leeks & Onion Guinea Fowl Tikka
✦ Goan Crab Cake with Gaeng Kua Curry
✦ Fermented Pork Neck Makhani
✦ Longan Mochi with Coconut Kulfi
The flavours were bold and layered, but still very refined. You could clearly feel both restaurants’ identities in every dish while still creating something completely new together.
Definitely one of the more interesting collaboration dinners I’ve had recently.
———
最近在香港吃到一場讓人印象很深的四手聯乘晚宴。
Leela × Soma 把現代印度料理與當代泰式料理融合得非常自然,並不是刻意強調「fusion」的路線,反而更像兩種料理透過香料、煙燻、香草、發酵與酸度,慢慢建立出一種共同的風味語言。
當晚幾道特別喜歡的菜色:
✦ Fish Cheek Rasam
✦ Burnt Leeks & Onion Guinea Fowl Tikka
✦ Goan Crab Cake with Gaeng Kua Curry
✦ Fermented Pork Neck Makhani
✦ Longan Mochi with Coconut Kulfi
整體風味濃郁、層次鮮明,但呈現方式依然很細膩。每一道菜都能吃出兩間餐廳各自鮮明的個性,同時又找到很舒服的平衡感。
近期吃到很有意思的一場四手(六手)活動。
𝐋𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐱 𝐒ō𝐦𝐚 — 𝐀 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥🌶️📜
When it comes to Thai culture, Indian influence is everywhere: from religion (Brahmanism) and language (Thai place names rooted in Sanskrit and Pali) to the traditional Khon dance drama Ramakien, adapted from the epic Ramayana. But when we talk about "Spice," Thailand and India have carved out entirely different identities.
India favors dried spice powders, pursuing a deep, warm, and earthy complexity. In contrast, Thailand relies heavily on fresh herbs, prioritizing an immediate sense of acidity, heat, and herbal freshness.
This 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝟓𝟎 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 was a front-row seat to a masterclass in this culinary duel.
I picked up so many fascinating details throughout the meal: from the "secret" use of 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆—a staple in old-school Bangkok kitchens—to the purity of 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗚𝗮𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝘂𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆, and the bold 𝗛𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺-𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 using whole pork neck. I’ve broken down these cultural insights in the slides—swipe through to see the true beauty of this collaboration.
The finale was honestly insane. Even after an 8-course meal, I found myself devouring 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮 all by myself. That combination of flakiness and coconut aroma made me completely forget how to spell the word "calories."
講起泰國文化,其實處處都有印度的影子:宗教受婆羅門教影響,地名源自梵文巴利文,連舞劇《拉瑪堅》也是改編自印度神話。但講到「香料」,兩邊都有各自的風采。
印度偏好乾燥香料粉,追求的是一種厚實、溫暖的深邃層次;而泰國則重用新鮮草本,講究的是即時的酸辣與清新。這場 Asia’s 50 Best Signature Session,可以看到兩個團隊的交流。
這餐飯我學到很多細節:像是曼谷老牌餐廳才懂用的 Regency 白蘭地 醃肉、泰南 Gaeng Kua 咖哩 對食材原味的堅持,還有用整塊豬頸肉做的 Hnaem 式發酵。這些文化背景我都整理在 Slide 裡了,建議大家點進去看,這才是這場聯乘最漂亮的地方。
最後真的是太誇張,即使在 8 道菜全吃光的情況下,我才發現自己一個人連食了 4 塊Coconut Paratha。那種酥脆及椰香,令我忘記了『肥』字怎樣寫。
𝑻𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕’𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒖: 𝑳𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑨 𝑿 𝑺𝑶𝑴𝑨
See comment!
@leela.hkg@somabangkok@chef_manav_tuli@chaleekader@num_samuay@theforksandspoons852
#Asias50Best #hongkong #bangkok #collaboration
#restaurant
แกงกะหรี่เนื้ออร่อย
“Gaeng Karee” with fried savory beef brisket
@somabangkok
So good !!! New menu for all of you guys to enjoy 😄🙏
#อาหารดีดนตรีเพราะ
#อาหารดีดนตรีเพราะ
#สบายใจ
🇭🇰 ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANT WEEK - HONG KONG’S MARCH 2026 CULINARY COLLABORATIONS 🇭🇰
This March, Hong Kong’s dining scene is on fire with exclusive collaborations. Don’t miss these limited-time events:
🍽️ Leela x Soma (Bangkok)
📅 23-24 March | Dinner only
Price:HK$1,188+ 10% (8 courses)
A vibrant exploration of Indian and Southeast Asian spice by Chefs Manav Tuli, Chalee Kader alongside Chef Num Weerawat
🇭🇰🇹🇭 Leela welcomes Bangkok’s 🇹🇭 Sōma, a progressive dining destination featured on 50 Best Discovery, MICHELIN Guide and recognised for its bold, modern approach to Thai flavours. Led by Chef Manav Tuli, Leela’s modern interpretation of Indian cuisine sets the stage for a dynamic exchange with Sōma’s collaborative kitchen, helmed by Chef Chalee Kader alongside Chef Num Weerawat Triyasanawat of Samuay & Sons and Head Chef Pak Yamoo. Together, the chefs explore the intersections of Indian and Southeast Asian influences, presenting a vibrant menu defined by spice, balance, and contemporary expression.
👉🏻 Read more, swipe right:
Theforksandspoons.com.hk/newsroom
#Asias50Best #HongKong #CollaborationEvents #March2026 @leela.hkg@chef_manav_tuli@jmhsandberg@somabangkok@num_samuay@pakkindy@chaleekader@leegardenshk
On 23 & 24 March, SOMA is headed to Hong Kong where we'll be cooking @leela.hkg
This collaboration is a meeting of two culinary worlds, both rooted in the intricate language of spices, yet each telling its own story. @chaleekader , @num_samuay , and @pakkindy , together with @chef_manav_tuli , will explore that shared vocabulary to create a menu that bridges traditions and speaks in a new voice.
Reservations are open now via @leela.hkg
Happy New Year to all my friends in this Instagram — to those I’ve already had the chance to meet, and to those I look forward to meeting in the days ahead. 😊🙏
May this be a good year for everyone — a year that blesses you with wisdom in everything you face. May it be a year where your wishes come true, whatever they may be, so long as they are kind and do not cause trouble to others.
May the power of nature be with all of you. ❤️🙏
Num
P.S. This New Year greeting card is a piece of art — beautiful in its form and firm in its meaning. My son explained to me what “art” means, and this painting reflects his own perspective. I wish that your life will be filled with bright and vibrant colors every single day😊😊
#welcometo2026 #greatyear