Imperial Splendour Meets Modern Performance in Phuket

There exists a particular alchemy when culinary mastery meets theatrical presence, a moment when the act of dining becomes something altogether more rarefied. The Slate Phuket’s BOLD programme captures precisely this sensation with two consecutive evenings that trace an imaginary arc from the hushed elegance of imperial courts to the electric vitality of Shanghai’s after hours.

On 20 November, Chef Pom stages his interpretation of the Emperor’s Table within Rivet & Rebar. This is dining as an act of immersion, a multi course progression through imperial Chinese gastronomy, each dish a meditation on the flavours and techniques that once graced royal ceremonies. The kitchen speaks the language of tradition, whilst the dining room becomes a vessel for storytelling, for the kind of narrative that unfolds slowly across an evening, punctuated by wine selections chosen to complement and elevate. Performances punctuate the meal, threading cultural narrative through the consumption itself.

The following evening pivots entirely. Shanghai After Dark, staged within Coolies Club in Phuket Old Town, embraces a different energy altogether. Here, Chef Pom’s creations take on a more contemporary character, influenced by Shanghai’s signature audacity and its particular marriage of tradition with cosmopolitan impulse. Cocktails paired with each course echo this duality, their bold construction and layered flavours mirroring the chef’s approach to composition.

What distinguishes these evenings beyond the culinary realm is their commitment to context. A photographic exhibition by Marcos Alvez runs throughout, celebrating the vibrant cultural traditions of Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival. Chinese cabaret performances weave through both events, their spectacle and grace adding another dimension entirely to the experience. This is entertainment conceived as total immersion rather than accompaniment.

Chef Pom brings to these programmes a philosophy forged through competitive excellence and deep cultural knowledge. His approach balances technical precision with the kind of intuitive understanding that comes only from prolonged engagement with a cuisine’s historical foundations and its contemporary possibilities.

The Emperor’s Table on 20 November offers two price points depending on wine pairing preference, whilst Shanghai After Dark on 21 November presents its own distinct offering. Both sit within The Slate’s venues, each space conceived to echo the particular mood of its evening.

Reservations may be made through the hotel directly, with further information available through the BOLD programme’s dedicated channels. These are the kinds of evenings that tend to linger in memory long after the final course, when the boundary between dining and theatre dissolves entirely.

Imagery courtesy of The Slate Phuket (@theslatephuket).