Review

Another inspired addition to the new One Bangkok community hub, Duet is a sleekly designed garden glasshouse within the Ritz-Carlton Residences, offering serene views over Lumpini Park — an ideal setting for a restaurant that explores the duality of food and nature. This theme is tastefully reflected in its botanical interior: soft sage hues, organic textures and menus crafted from flower-pressed handmade paper. Culinary visionary David Toutain, celebrated for his restaurant in Paris, brings his philosophy of balance and imagination to Bangkok. Together with chef de cuisine Valentin Fouache, presenting a seasonally inspired tasting experiment of eight acts, each a vignette where a fresh herb, vegetable, or fruit takes the starring role, explained in accompanying story-telling cards. Taking cues from Toutain’s plant-based roots in Paris, the menu reveals creativity and restraint in equal measure. Highlights include delicate blue crab tartlets on timut pepper; a surprising interplay of zucchini, lemon balm and pistachio; and a decidedly un-plant-based main of capelin cantal pork, whose chestnut-fed diet imparts a gentle, nutty sweetness. The wine pairing program bridges old and new world terroirs, emphasising French vintages that echo the kitchen’s layered precision. For a captivating alternative, a zero-proof pairing offers an inspired series of inventive drinks — many crafted exclusively for Duet — that enhance flavour and aroma without overpowering the delicate nuance of the cuisine.