Imperial Splendour Meets Shanghai Glamour at The Slate

There exists a particular kind of theatre that unfolds not on a stage but across the intimacy of a dining table, where each course becomes an act and flavour becomes dialogue. This is the essence of BOLD, a culinary happening that returns to The Slate Phuket across two transformative November evenings, each telling its own story through the masterful hands of Iron Chef Thailand’s Chef Pom.

The first evening, on 20 November, transposes guests into The Emperor’s Table at Rivet and Rebar. Here, imperial Chinese tradition meets refined contemporary dining. Chef Pom has crafted a multi course journey drawing from the culinary heritage of China’s royal courts, where each dish speaks of centuries of technique and reverence for ingredient. The experience unfolds not in silence but accompanied by exceptional wines selected to complement the progression, while immersive storytelling weaves context and meaning through the meal. It is dining as narrative, where the table becomes a portal to imperial grandeur.

The following evening shifts register entirely. Shanghai After Dark at Coolies Club in Phuket Old Town embraces a different energy altogether. Here, Chef Pom’s signature creations blend with Shanghai inspired cocktails in an atmosphere that channels the glamour and daring of Shanghai’s storied past. The mood is intoxicating and intimate, where bold flavours meet timeless elegance in a space designed to evoke that particular kind of urban sophistication that defined old Shanghai.

What distinguishes BOLD extends beyond the food itself. The experience encompasses dazzling Chinese cabaret performances that punctuate the evenings with spectacle and artistry. There is also a captivating photographic exhibition by Marcos Alvez, which celebrates the vibrant cultural traditions of Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival, threading together threads of local heritage, visual storytelling and cultural reverence throughout the experience.

The Slate Phuket, situated within the island’s cultural landscape, has positioned itself as a venue where culinary ambition meets theatrical presentation. These two evenings represent the kind of dining that transcends routine, offering instead a total sensory experience where performance, artistry, heritage and flavour converge. For those who understand that the most memorable evenings are rarely about the meal alone, BOLD represents something altogether more substantial: a moment of genuine cultural connection expressed through the universal language of food and artistry.

Imagery courtesy of The Slate Phuket (@theslatephuket).