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Published on January 20, 2008

Atop the Vanissa Building on Soi Chidlom is an institute that offers the opportunity to learn all about the delights of Spain, from the Spanish language to Spanish films to Spanish dancing and - oh, yes, traditional Spanish dishes.

Yet at the same time, Instituto Espanol has a sense of the international. "Directora" Michelle Baldassari, for instance, is part Japanese, part Italian, and she's lived in countries all over the world. Although multi-lingual, she had no particular interest in Spain until she met her Spanish husband in (where else?) Saudi Arabia.

With that first meeting, Baldassari blossomed into a "Hispanico-phile" - a lover of all things Spanish. Spanish language, culture, food, history - all these have entranced her. When her diplomat husband was stationed in Bangkok four and a half years ago, she began thinking about ways of introducing her adopted country to the Thai public.

Food, of course, is a major part of culture (and probably the most easily accessible even if you don't know much about Spain). Alongside the Instituto, Baldassari has set up the Spanish tapas cafe Abanico, offering a range of tapas that are mainly from Andalucia, in southern Spain.

"These are simple recipes you can find in the home," says Baldassari.

Spanish olive oil and sea salt are used in the dishes, as well as fresh, natural ingredients without any MSG or other preservatives.

Garlic-lovers will glory in Abanico's alioli, the garlic mayonnaise made with fresh eggs, olive oil and a pleasing amount of garlic. This sauce is served with the tortilla con alioli (Bt100), the traditional Spanish potato omelette. In Spain, Baldassari says, people eat alioli with freshly cooked rice. Abanico also has a lovely chilli-tomato sauce. The chillies are roasted before being preparation, giving the sauce a distinctive, memorable flavour.

The menu also boasts croquetas (Bt160) made with Spain's fine ham, Jamon Iberico, served on tomato bread (Bt150), and even the mild but also distinctive cheese Manchego (Bt140 per tapas).

In addition, you can enjoy Spanish dishes served with rice, a lovely chicken in wine sauce (Bt170), a garbanzo dish (Bt150), and a very fine Albondigas con salsa, pork meatballs served with white wine and onion sauce (Bt160).

There's even an exotic coca de tomate (Bt120), a Majorcan-style pizza with tomatoes, onions, raisins and olive oil.

By the way, also on the menu are simple Thai dishes, for those who are not in the mood for the total Spanish experience.

Since Abanico is part of an educational experience, Baldassari hasn't installed a wine cellar to go with the tapas, but she does offer a very fine sangria.

So far, most guests are Spanish expats looking for hometown cooking and students of the Instituto.

"There's a demand here for Spanish language instruction," Baldassari says, citing the numerous requests she herself has received from people seeking to learn the language.

Ever since she launched the Instituto two years ago, she's been extremely careful in hiring instructors, requiring them to be qualified, experienced and enthusiastic. A full range of classes are offered for children and adults, from beginners to advanced speakers.

For Baldassari, however, learning the language is only part of understanding the culture and lifestyle. "There's so much more," she says.

In addition to the Spanish-language instruction, the Instituto offers cultural activities such as dance (flamenco, rumba and samba), cooking, wine tasting and even film showings twice a month. Mark your calendar for February's showings - Guillermo Fesser's "Candida" on February 7 and Diego Arsuaga's "El Ultimo Tran" on February 21. All films are presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

Near Central Chidlom, the Vanissa Building offers plenty of parking. The BTS Chidlom station is a five-minute walk away.

Laurie Rosenthal

The Nation