Italian Executive Chef Arrives at Paresa Phuket Resort

New Executive Chef Appointment at Paresa Phuket

Luca Mancini has been appointed Executive Chef at Paresa Resort.  An Italian national, Mr Luca Mancini joins Paresa from Amanpuri.

Luca learnt his craft and developed his passion for food in Italy before heading to the London Italian food scene and honing his skills within top Italian restaurants.

He returned to Italy as Sous chef of the Michelin Star restaurant La Pernice e la Gallina, before taking up senior positions at Hotel Brufani Palace and Kempinski hotels.  Luca then headed to Koh Samui before joining  JW Marriott and then Amanpuri in Phuket.

“Luca brings with him an Italian passion for food and excellent experience here in Thailand, which will add to the success of our dining experiences at Paresa” explained Paresa Food & Beverage Director Donna Toon.

With Luca in charge of the kitchens and Diavolo’s menu Paresa is looking to further develop the rich Italian experiences and build on the restaurants current success, with his culinary leadership.

“I am excited to be joining Paresa, and putting my stamp on the culinary experiences our guests have to enjoy here; utilising the amazing array of fresh ingredients and seafood Phuket has to offer” Luca commented.

Paresa, Phuket is situated on the Andaman coast, Paresa is a stunning luxury resort built into the cliff-side, set amidst lush tropical gardens with breathtaking ocean views.  Paresa’s 49 elegant pool villas and chic interiors offers Phukets best enticing and passionate retreat with private infinity pools from which guests can enjoy the spectacular surroundings, along with two restaurants offering Mediterranean or Thai cuisine plus Thai Cooking School.

Paresa App launched

Paresa Phuket Launches Guest App

(Phuket, Thailand – 13 September 2013) With the aim to continue to innovate the services at Paresa Resort and deliver more information and experiences directly to their guests hand; the Paresa App has been launched.

The app works on all Apple and Android mobiles and tablets. The app has powerful features like In villa dining menus and ordering, call back requests, buggy or taxi booking and requests, housekeeping service requests and much more.

The resorts concierge and excursion team are available at the touch of a button as well as local weather or Phuket airport flight arrival and departures information.  If guests are lost they can turn to the app and at the click of a button Google maps will show them exactly where to find Paresa.

The App can be downloaded before guests arrive to view details about the resort and the many facilities that Paresa offers to assist them in planning a relaxed holiday experience.

The resorts General Manager Scot Toon explained “We see the App as a way to touch the increasingly tech savvy guests and deliver useful information and services to their hand”.

The app is available for free download from iTunes and Google plus stores.

What’s Out, What’s In: What’s SUP? Wet Workouts.

What’s Out: Windsurfing and jet skis
What’s In: Stand up paddle boarding (SUP)
As synchronized swimming fell out of favor after the 1950s and windsurfing mania waned in the 1990s, another wet trend has emerged: Paddle boarding. And with so many hotels getting in on the action and upping the game (yoga paddle boarding, anyone?), we think it may just be here for awhile.
For the luxury crowd, Raffles Praslin Seychelles offers complimentary stand up paddle boarding so guests can take in the stunning Indian Ocean scenery. If your main goal is to simply enjoy the Seychelles' waters aboveboard and not below, the resort also launched hourly lessons for new users, with an expert teaching you the proper way to stand on the board, keep balance and paddle (what -- all at the same time??).
Another luxe resort, the Paresa Resort in Phuket, Thailand offers straight-up SUP, but then raises the challenge level by combining stand up paddle boarding with yoga. Their “Yoga on the Ocean” program begins at sunrise or sunset when you paddle your board out on the indigo Andaman Sea and enjoy a yoga class floating on your watery yoga mat.

The Fairmont Orchid, on Hawaii's Big Island, is totally into the SUP craze, even going so far as to coin a phrase for the cumbersome “stand up paddle boarding yoga” (at least we haven’t heard it before -- have you?): Flo-Yo (Floating Yoga). Love it! Go with the Flow: Flo-Yo (Floating Yoga) is a total core workout for yogis, newbies and everyone in between where you glide out into the ocean waters before performing sun salutations, downward facing dog and other sundry balancing poses.
  




 
Extract from hotel chatter article by Janice Tober

Paresa Destination Wedding Guide

Wedding Planning Guide for your Phuket Destination Wedding

Planning a wedding can be a stressful time, but also very exciting.  Destination weddings are extremely popular these days, for good reason.

Destination weddings offer some amazing locations like the miracle lawn at Paresa Phuket or even at some of the islands stunning beach clubs on Phuket. They also offer things that you just could not do at home or be able to afford, like a baby elephant greeting guests at your cocktail party or fireworks as you cut your wedding cake.  But where to start? That's another advantage to a destination wedding resorts like Paresa have experienced wedding planners to arrange everything for you and help you decide and plan your special day.

There is a lot of planning involved in a wedding and wedding coordinators like at Paresa at Kamala Beach can assist by knowing the issues with planning an outside wedding as described here.

Paresa resorts wedding coordinator has put together quick check list to help brides and grooms check they have covered everything for their destination wedding, download the destination wedding guide at our website.  Alternatively contact our wedding team at the resort via email or check out one of the private wedding planners on Phuket. 

Annual “Six of the Best” Phuket’s Top Chefs Cook for Charity

Annual “Six of the Best Phuket’s Top Chefs Cook for Charity

Six top chefs from some of Phuket’s premier luxury resorts and restaurants are joining forces for the annual “Six of the Best” charity dinner at ‘Millionaire’s Mile’ hideaway Paresa Resort in aid of underprivileged women and girls.

The gastronomic fundraiser is on May 25th 2013 at the exclusive resort in Kamala, themed ‘Six of the Best’, the prestigious event showcases the culinary talents of six of Phuket’s most acclaimed chefs – each contributing one course to the six-course gala unique dining experience, matched with fine wine.
 
The resorts and restaurants participating in the 2013 event are Paresa Resort, Anantara Resort, The Pullman Arcadia Resort, Taste Restaurant in Surin, Vset Restaurant, and Joes Downstairs restaurant. 

The sumptuous dining event starts with canapés on the manicured lawn of the luxury cliff top retreat overlooking the Andaman Sea. Dinner is at Paresa’s celebrated Diavolo restaurant, renowned for its calendar of gourmet events and with a spectacular 270 degree ocean view.  The unique team of Phuket’s chefs is being supported by their suppliers who will donate all the menu ingredients and wine – ensuring all proceeds go to “The Good Shepherd Sisters” charity. “Without the generous support of all the resorts and restaurants participating and all our suppliers this event would not be possible”, explained Ryan Arboleda, Paresa’s Executive Chef.
 
There are seven charity organizations under “The Good Shepherd Sisters” in both Phuket and around Thailand. They help women and children who have been abused, are caught up in human trafficking or the sex industry, are poor or suffering from HIV. They are given shelter, counselling and the opportunity to re-educate themselves and thus earn a decent living. Goods made by the women are sold at Paresa's boutique as well as some of the other top resorts in Phuket. “The ‘Six of the Best’ fundraiser was an extremely well supported and successful in the previous two years, teaming up with the talented line-up of the island’s top chefs each year, we hope to continue to be able to support this important charity”, emphasized Scot Toon, Paresa’s General Manager. (www.paresaresorts.com)

The Good Shepherd Sisters (www.goodshepherdbangkok.com) is a non-denominational
Thai registered charity helping all those in need.
49 Moo 6 Layi Nakalay Road | Kamala | Phuket | Thailand 83150 | Tel 07630 2000

Miss Fashion Paris

Joining us from Paris in March was the writer, photographer and blogger of Miss Fashion Paris.  Posting two features on Paresa Resort on her blog, showing off the design elements and food of our resort.

For our French followers the articles are in french at the two links below.  For those who cannot read french the photos speak all languages.  Enjoy!

Miss Fashion Paris 1
Miss Fashion Paris 2

 
Image by Miss Fashion Paris of Paresa Cliff Pool Villa

Australia versus New Zealand Wine Dinner

There is always a friendly rivalry between these two countries and wine is no exception. On the 23rd March we Paresa Resort hosts its annual wine event.

Food & Beverage Director

Paresa Phuket is excited to announce the appointment of Mrs Donna Toon as Food & Beverage Director at its luxury resort in Phuket.  Donna joins the team ahead of a busy high season for the resort.  Paresa has seen continual growth in its first three years including within its Food & Beverage offerings and Donna will lead the team to continue its growth.

Donna is no stranger to the Paresa team having previously consulted at the resort on its Food & Beverage department in 2010. “I am looking forward to being a full time part of the Paresa team and building on the great work already done in Food & Beverage so far” explained Donna.

A New Zealander with an extensive background in food & beverage in some of the country’s top 5 star hotels, she has also managed restaurants and bars on the award winning Hayman Island in Australia.  Before taking a break from the industry to have children, she was also General Manager for Per Aquum Resorts in the Maldives.

Paresa, Phuket is situated on the Andaman coast, Paresa is a stunning luxury resort  overlooking the Andaman Sea, set amidst lush tropical gardens with breathtaking sunset views.  Paresa’s 49 elegant pool villas and chic interiors rival the best in Phuket and offer private infinity pools from which guests can enjoy the spectacular surroundings, along with two restaurants offering Mediterranean or Thai cuisine and a Thai Cooking School.

Hydroponics garden now supplying the Paresa Kitchens

Paresa Resort launches its own fresh produce Garden

Paresa Resort situated on the drastic waterfront of Kamala, known for its unrivaled luxury and exquisite views of Andaman Sea has launched its very own hydroponic garden, whose herbs and fresh greens are utilized in our menus and the Spa by Paresa.

This eco-friendly garden accounts for 30% of all the herbs and salad greens used in the kitchen and is also creatively being incorporated into the Spa in different ways. It takes anything up to 3 weeks for the herbs and greenery to grow before it can be picked. Once picked the Executive Chef decides what new herbs to plant according to what new authentic Thai or sophisticated Mediterranean dish he would like to add a twist to in the upcoming weeks.

Amongst all the Thai herbs being grown there is Holy Basil, Lemon Grass, green and red Lettuce and more. Fresh Bananas are picked daily from our garden so that our guests can enjoy making a fresh banana smoothie in the morning or enjoy a hot cup of lemongrass tea. Lemongrass is quite well known as an herbal tea used to speed up a slow digestive system. Paresa has created their own version of the tea and turned it into a cool and refreshing beverage to be served to guests upon arrival. Paresa also finds the time to grow some extra herbs and donates them along with some seeds to the community garden at Kajonkiet International School Phuket.

Throughout the Resort you’ll see the natural Southern Thai style that has been used whether it is in the architecture or the open style of the villas. Paresa continues this design into the Spa, a heavenly sanctuary, inspired by Thai healing which uses only natural and luxurious products by “Panpuri” in its treatments. Instead of buying Pandanus oil to burn in the Spa, Paresa makes most of the plant which is natively grown in the lush green forest of Phuket and handpicks its leaves everyday to burn in the treatment rooms to draw the sweet-smelling scent out of them. These leaves release a relaxing, calming and earthy aroma which can be enjoyed through scent or in a floral bath. Paresa also uses its own fresh Papaya, handpicked from the garden and incorporated into a revitalizing and unique treatment. Fresh Papaya is great for the skin due to its enzymes and vitamins that soften and revitalize the skin leaving it soft and radiant.

Paresa Resort, an oasis of tranquility offers guests the experience to stay in a luxurious hideaway and experience the “Heavens of all Heavens” ensuring guests leave feeling revitalized, refreshed and of course, heavenly.  

China Union Pay Accepted at Paresa

China Union Pay Now Accepted at Paresa Phuket

(Phuket Thailand, February 14, 2012) – With an increasing number of guests visiting Paresa and Phuket each year, the luxury resort located on millionaire’s mile is now accepting China Union Pay.

China Union Pay is the only domestic bank card organization in the People's Republic of China. Founded in 2002, China Union Pay is also the only interbank network in China and accepted in over 100 countries worldwide now.

“This is just the latest addition to our guest experience at Paresa, we are always evolving and adjusting our services and experiences to meet our guests needs, no matter where in the world they come from.” Explains Scot Toon, the resorts General Manger.

 Additional services in our dining outlets and villas are being rolled out in the following weeks, including the addition of Chinese speaking staff, all to enhance the experience for Chinese guests staying at Paresa.

The ultimate Phuket retreat, with 49 luxury pool villas and suites, cocooned from tourist crowds, Paresa is also just minutes from picturesque Kamala village and lively Patong Beach for relaxation or shopping. Immerse yourself in the excitement and rush of the islands best markets and shops at the markets of Patong or to shop around at market boutiques and Thai handicrafts in Surin

Paresa offers many exciting and relaxing leisure or site seeing activities for families or group of friends include days excursions from elephant trekking and lazing on the beaches of Phuket or shopping trips to island hopping and meditation classes.