SAii Resorts, the free-spirited five-star lifestyle brand from S Hotels and Resorts PCL, has announced an exciting new collaboration with Ministry of Crab to bring the finest Sri Lankan seafood to SAii Phi Phi Island Village, its five-star flagship resort on the idyllic island of Koh Phi Phi Don.
From 14-15 April 2022, Chef Harsha Madhuranga de Silva of the Ministry of Crab Bangkok will be serving a special set menu to the resort’s experience-seeking guests. This exclusive gastronomic event will pop up in a stunning seafront setting at The Beach House Grill & Chill, the resort’s casual alfresco restaurant that overlooks the crystalline waters of Loh Ba Gao Bay and the Andaman Sea.
This enchanting dining destination specialises in grilled seafood, so the Ministry of Crab will perfectly complement its authentic epicurean ethos.
Ministry of Crab was built on the basis of serving the highest quality ingredients, including magnificent mud crabs, in their purest form – wild-caught and not farmed, using a daring no-freezer policy to ensure complete freshness.
At SAii Phi Phi Island Village, diners will be able to savour a trio of signature dishes created by Chef Dharshan Munidasa, the founder of Ministry of Crab. Pepper Crab (above) features a 1kg mud crab cooked with Sri Lankan black peppercorns, served whole and crushed using a traditional miris gala grinding stone, along with pepper dashi, while the Garlic Chili Prawn dish showcases succulent freshwater prawns cooked with sizzling oil, garlic, Sri Lankan chilli flakes and Japanese soy sauce.
These delicious dishes are accompanied by rustic bread and butter – perfect for soaking up the rich and vibrant sauces. For dessert, Chef Harsha will prepare Coconut Crème Brûlée, a tropical island twist on the classic French dish which uses rich coconut milk and is baked in a coconut shell! This sumptuous shared sweet is perfect for sharing.
Ministry of Crab was founded by three of Sri Lanka’s most famous figures. Dharshan Munidasa is a popular chef, restaurateur and television personality, while his partners Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are two of the country’s greatest cricketers, with almost 200 international appearances between them.
Since the concept was founded in 2011, Ministry of Crab has expanded to seven Asian locations – Colombo, Shanghai, Chengdu, Manila, Mumbai, Maldives and Bangkok. And the original restaurant in Sri Lanka’s capital city has been named as one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for eight consecutive years, from 2015 to 2022. It is currently ranked number 35 on the prestigious list.
“We are delighted to welcome the Ministry of Crab to the pure shores of Koh Phi Phi for this exclusive pop-up. At SAii Phi Phi Island Village, we pride ourselves on sourcing sustainable local seafood and cooking it in a way that highlights its natural flavour. This is a philosophy we share with Ministry of Crab; their commitment to using the finest ingredients and treating them with care and respect is something that is dear to our hearts.
I am sure that guests will like these three signature dishes: Pepper Crab, Garlic Chili Prawn and Coconut Crème Brûlée. This is another of the ways that we are bringing truly magical moments to our lifestyle-focused clientele,” said Bart Callens, Cluster General Manager of SAii Phi Phi Island Village and SAii Laguna Phuket.
The Ministry of Crab set menu at SAii Phi Phi Island Village is available for two days only, from 14-15 April 2022, priced at THB 3,300++. Guests who book before 9 April 2022 will be entitled to an early bird discount!
To learn more about SAii Phi Phi Island Village, please visit saiiphiphiislandvillage.com.
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