When was the last time you stepped inside The Peninsula Plaza, the dated shopping
complex located along Ratchadamri Road? If you’re a foodie with an incessant craving for a fancy meal, the long-standing mall may just be your next epicurean destination as it is now home to White Lies, a fine-dining venue that boasts an intriguing “Italian omakase” concept.
The man behind White Lies is Italian chef Maurizio Menconi, who achieved stardom in
Bangkok’s dining scene as head chef of La Scala, The Sukhothai Bangkok’s iconic Italian kitchen. At La Scala, Menconi steered The Art of Dining project, which granted him opportunities to cook side-by-side with some of the world’s most renowned chefs. Now, the star chef is on a new gastronomic journey, overseeing Areeya Property’s culinary outlets including White Lies, the group’s first fine-dining venture.
White walls, earth-toned furniture, marble details, and dangling crystal set the tone for a
swanky epicurean experience. The compact dining room welcomes with natural light in the early evening, and then turns to more elegance dim lighting as the evening deepens.
Chef Menconi’s concept combines influences from the Italian kitchen with an Oriental flair, serving a constantly changing menu based on the availability of ingredients, not to mention his own mood for the evening.
The Italian omakase menu (B5,000) comprises around 18 courses, all made of top-quality ingredients presented as art. Our meal started out with a rich, umami-intense cod fish mantecato (creamed spread) served on barley chips and topped with caviar, followed by a playfully presented honbinosu clam tartare served in a shell-like edible cone. More intense seafood flavors kicked in with the likes of abalone, served stir-fried with salty chorizo and leek, and rich lobster flecked with truffle. But the star of the night was a yuzu-infused brioche served alongside gold log-shaped mousse of foie gras.
To complement Menconi’s rich flavors, White Lies offers a wine pairing option for an
additional price: B3,400 for more standard labels, and B20,000 for the more exclusive
Stunning Experience featuring pricey vintage bottles.