Koktail Thailand Charity Dinner 2026: Bangkok Eats the World with nine chefs celebrating culinary culture and community on 12 November at Gaysorn Urban Resort. 

Bangkok’s dining scene went global for one evening as nine chefs shared flavours, techniques and food traditions from their own backgrounds. Under the theme Bangkok Eats the World, the Koktail Thailand Charity Dinner 2026 took guests on a culinary journey across cultures, with Thai influences reflected throughout the menu. The evening also included a charity auction, with proceeds supporting the Issarachon Foundation. 

Bangkok Comes Together for a Night of Food and Giving

After the Koktail Thailand Dining Guide Awards 2027, the celebrations continued with Koktail Thailand’s annual Charity Dinner 2026, a gathering for those who enjoy good food.

To open the evening, Nigel Oakins, Founder and Chairman of MediaMagination and publisher of Koktail Magazine, Koktail’s Restaurant Guide and Time Out Thailand, took the stage to welcome the guests.

“Evening, everyone. Um, I left my speech thing on the table there. I was going to speak quite a lot, so I’m going to keep it quite short. Now, myself and Khun Naphalai, who’s here tonight with us, have been doing this for 23 years. And we’re trying to come up with something original and something different. So we thought, you know what, a lot of people come to Thailand and they enjoy Thai cuisine. The whole world comes to Thailand and eats Thai food and everything.

So we thought Bangkok should bite back. Bangkok’s going to eat the world tonight. So we’ve got nine different chefs from nine different countries to cook a dish each. Their favourite dish in their own country, and their little challenge is to add a bit of Thai-ness to it. That was the kind of quirky, fun thing we’re doing. And then we said to the Italian wine guys, pair that. And so you’re going to have a lot of fun doing that. There’s a whole list of our partners there. Our major partner is Gaysorn. This is the third year that we work together to do this event. They’re incredible guys. I’m blown away by how supportive they are and how they never say no to anything, even adding another seat here at the end of the table 10 minutes before we sat down tonight.”

Nigel spoke about Thailand’s food scene, the chefs and local producers who give it character, and the importance of giving back through the evening’s partnership with the Issarachon Foundation.

“I’m going to finish by saying a little bit about the foundation we’ve chosen to work with this year. I was thrilled last year when I went to visit them and saw them taking part in giving things to people who are currently unhoused.

In Thailand, social security is simply not enough for many people to cover their living costs. As a result, many find themselves at the end of their lives living on the streets or without a permanent home. It was wonderful to see that what we did here last year, and what I hope we’ll do again tonight, made a significant contribution to the foundation. I believe we were its largest single donor last year.

So I’d love you all at some stage during the evening to go back to the room and, and put bids in at any time, and the auction will close when the final dish is served.  I’m hoping to get one final auction prize in. I’m waiting for confirmation on my phone, and if it comes through, I’ll announce it from the stage.

With that, I’d like to thank everyone for coming tonight, all our chefs for their contributions and the service team for their hard work. They’re going to do a great job, especially the wine team. I’ve already made a start on that! I hope you all have a fantastic evening. Thank you.”

Next, Patrick Martens, Director of Food & Beverage at Ratchaprasong Food Services, shared a few words with the audience.

“Sawasdee krub, and good evening. It’s wonderful to be here. On behalf of Gaysorn Village, its management and the Mingle team, it’s a real pleasure to welcome you tonight to the Crystal Box at Gaysorn Urban Resort.

As Nigel said earlier, this is the third time we’ve held this event together. A big part of tonight is, of course, the chefs who will be cooking for you, but another part is what our team will bring to the table and the service we’ll provide. More importantly, here at Gaysorn Village, we’re all about community. We’re about bringing different elements together in one place.

Tonight, we’re coming together here at the Crystal Box, not only to celebrate culinary creativity in Bangkok. I think we’re all very privileged to live in this city and have so many fantastic chefs around us. I think the motto tonight is ‘Bangkok Eats the World’, but I believe it should be ‘Bangkok Cooks for the World’.

This also ties in with the foundation we’ve chosen to support this year, with the help of Koktail Magazine and your generous support in attending tonight’s dinner. Hopefully, you’ll also take part in the auction later and bid on some of these incredible prizes.

It all comes back to food, which connects us all, and I think you’ll enjoy what we have prepared for you tonight. I hope so! I’ll be around the room, so I look forward to seeing you. Thank you for being here. Have a wonderful night and a delightful evening. Thank you.”

Paola Guida, Director and Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE) Bangkok Office, which serves Thailand and Myanmar, is invited to the stage to speak about the Italian wines selected for tonight’s nine-course menu and the special partnership behind the evening.

“Good evening, everyone. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be here with you tonight. On behalf of the Italian Trade Agency, the Italian government agency that promotes Made in Italy around the world, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Nigel and Koktail Thailand. They have brought us together not only for an amazing evening of lifestyle, food and gastronomy, but above all, for generosity, as they have already mentioned in connection with the Issarachon Foundation.

This year is particularly special for us. As mentioned, we are sponsoring the wines tonight. It was a real challenge to pair Italian wines with the amazing nine-course menu prepared by nine chefs from around the world. We are also celebrating the Italian Trade Agency’s 100th anniversary. We were established in 1926, so we are quite old, to be honest! It is a privilege to work for my government and promote Made in Italy. And evenings like this make me especially happy to share products from my country.

I hope you enjoy discovering these wines. Compared with other countries, Italy has an incredible diversity of grape varieties and wine regions. Our wines can pair with many different cuisines, not just Italian food. Of course, pairing Italian wine with Italian cuisine is easy. The real challenge for us and our wonderful sommelier, Khun Nuch, was to find the right wines for this unique menu.

I think it will also be a lovely challenge for you to discover how these wines work with the dishes tonight. So please enjoy the experience. I hope your generosity will also make a meaningful contribution to the Issarachon Foundation. Thank you.”

Paola has also prepared a small gift for everyone: a box of chocolate to mark the Italian Trade Agency’s 100th anniversary.

“I have a special chocolate bar for you to celebrate our 100th birthday. It is made by a proud Thai producer using only cocoa beans grown in Thailand. This is our way of thanking the country that hosts us and has been such a valuable partner and long-standing friend. Thank you, Thailand, for everything you have given us. I hope you enjoy the chocolate. It is a lovely souvenir to take home with you. Thank you so much.”

And last but not least, Achara Saravari, Secretary of the Issarachon Foundation, is invited to the stage to say a few words on behalf of the foundation.

“Good evening, everybody. I would like to thank Koktail Magazine for supporting our foundation, and thank you all for helping homeless people. Our work began in 2010, when we heard about homeless people who had been found in rubbish and had died. This made us want to do something to help others who were living on the streets.

Since then, we have worked to support homeless people by providing clothing, selling meals and sharing food with those in need. For us, helping is not just about giving people food. It is also about creating job opportunities, providing an income and helping them gain better access to their rights. Thank you.”

Nine Courses, Nine Culinary Perspectives, All with a Thai Touch

Food was at the heart of the night, with a specially curated nine-course fine dining menu that took guests on a journey across different culinary traditions. The menu featured dishes inspired by Korean, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Spanish, Malaysian, Chinese and Southern American cuisines, with each chef adding a Thai touch to their interpretation of their culinary heritage. Each course was paired with wine curated by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

 The First Course by Chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij

• Crab chili custard tartlet with caviar
• Wine: Cascina Ghercina, Alta Langa DOCG, Piedmont, 2022

The Second Course by Chef Takashi Sasaki

• Tuna tartare with Thai seafood dressing
• Wine: Ferrari, “Perlè” Rosè Riserva, Brut, Trento DOC, Trentino-Alto Adige, 2015

The Third Course by Chef Steve Sanggun Lee

• Korean cold noodle with perilla oil dressing, zucchini and prawn
• Wine: Rocca Bernarda, Friulano, Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 2024

The Fourth Course by Chef Brandon Orange

• Lemongrass Thai chili lemon pepper wings
• Wine: Aldegheri, “Mondello”, Soave Classico DOC, Veneto, 2025

The Fifth Course by Chef Sachin Poojary

• South Indian tom kha pla: steamed spotted coral grouper in “thanni saaru”
• Wine: Planeta Oly Etna Blanco DOC, 2024

The Sixth Course by Chef Andrea Cetani

• Risotto inspired by pizza alla iavola, with a tom kha gai twist
• Wine: Rainoldi, “Sassella”, Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Lombardy, 2020

The Seventh Course by Chef Tsai Shih Wei

• Dry-aged A5 wagyu with Taiwanese plum cordia
• Wine: I Vigneri, “Tradition Red”, Etna DOC, Sicily, 2022

The Eighth Course by Chef Ferran Tadeo Domènech

• Cheesecake blueberry sticky rice
• Wine: La Spinetta, “Bricco Quaglia”, Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont, 2024

The Ninth Course by Chef Sam Pang

• Bubur chacha and mango pancake
• Wine: Strega Fiori di Sambuco (Elderflower Liqueur)

A Dinner That Gives Back

The evening had more than a nine-course menu on the agenda. Guests also had the chance to take part in a charity auction, with exclusive dining experiences and special offerings from event partners up for grabs. 

All proceeds from the auction will support the Issarachon Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping homeless people in Thailand through direct support and initiatives that promote mental well-being. The auction raised over THB 273,500 for the foundation.

The Partners Behind the Evening

The charity dinner was made possible with the generous support of its sponsoring partners: the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Gaysorn Village, Italian Trade Agency, TPN, Jagota and Thai Sturgeon Farm. The event also received media support from Time Out Bangkok, Thairath Online, Thairath Plus, Mirror, CNN and Gastrofilm.

A Night Above the City at Gaysorn Urban Resort

For the third consecutive year, Gaysorn Urban Resort served as the venue for Koktail Thailand’s annual gathering. Located in the heart of Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district, the venue provided a stylish setting for the dinner, with city views, modern facilities and an experienced events team to help bring the evening together.