Even now, a gift of matsutake is considered special and is cherished by those who receive it.

Benihana Japanese restaurant at the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa is maintaining the tradition by offering the special mushroom Teppanyaki style. You can see the whole process before the dish is put in front of you.

Recommended dishes are the matsutake dobin mushi (pine mushroom in teapot soup); matsutake grilled beef with teriyaki sauce and matsutake zake (pine mushroom brew in hot sake). These dishes are available only until the end of this month.

Call (02) 476 0022, extension 1416.

South Africa on your table

South Africa is a country of vibrant tribal heritage and cultural richness, but its culinary world is rarely explored. A taste of exotic South Africa sounds impossibly remote for Bangkokians, but the Radisson Hotel is offering a delightful opportunity to all food lovers.

All this month, the Radisson Coffee Shop will be serving up a spread of South African delicacies such as baked kingklip in banana leaf, bo-kaap lamb curry, breast of duck with potato and cashew nut, confit of chicken leg stuffed with mushroom duxelle and more.

Call (02) 641 4777, extension 1251.

Korean fare at the Fountain

Korean food means lighter fare with fresher ingredients and a mixture of interesting flavours and textures. Colourful presentation and bold display is also the underlying signature to Korean cuisine.

All this month, the Fountain Café at Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok offers diners a pleasurable and delicious Korean buffet. The price per person is Bt450, including an international dinner buffet option.

Call (02) 694 2222, extension 1530.

Super snow fish

Snow fish is rich in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and you can indulge in this healthy option all this month at the Grand China Princess Hotel.

The executive chef of the Siang Ping Loh Chinese restaurant is putting on dishes made from the freshest and best quality ingredients for both lunch and dinner.

Call (02) 224 9977, extension 338, 303.

Sizzling Latin delights

It's a hot month at Bangkok's Ambassador Hotel where diners can be titillated by the heat from Latin cuisine at the Am Cafe. On offer are carnitas (slow-roasted pork shoulder), snapper Veracruz (grilled snapper with green and black olives, onion, tomato and red chilli) and ropa vieja (Cuban-style pork) to name a few.

Call (02) 254 0444, extension 1581-2.

A taste of Tuscany

Italian chef Nicola Coccia of Angelini is offering authentic cuisine from Tuscany, known for its charm, beauty, history and ambrosial food.

Enjoy true Tuscan taste with dishes delicately prepared from simple ingredients, such as combination of chicken liver and squid with Swiss chard stew; the famous Tuscan soup of tomatoes and bread with slightly spicy tuna croutons; potato gnocchi "Maremma-style" with pork and beef ragout; homemade pappardelle pasta with hare sauce and black truffles; Tuscan-style sun-dried tomatoes and marinated T-bone steak; chestnut, raisin and rosemary cake; and a lot more.

Available for dinner nightly at Angelini Italian restaurant and bar, the Shangri-La Hotel, from tomorrow through September 30.

Call (02) 236 9952 or 236 7777.

The editor can be contacted at focusfood@nationgroup.com.

Compiled by Juthamas Cholthavornpong