Tucked into secluded valleys beneath Bhutan’s towering peaks are five intimate lodges that together form Amankora. The first international resort to open in the Buddhist Kingdom and the only to offer a series of lodges, Amankora provides between eight and 24 suites per lodge as well as exceptional dining and wellness facilities.
Dining will take centre stage this September as Amankora Thimphu plays host to the celebrated chef of New York’s Le Bernardin restaurant. Widely considered one of the best chefs in the world, Eric Ripert will be preparing two celebratory dinners for guests of the lodge on 14 and 15 September 2012. These events mark the first time ever that a Michelin-starred chef will cook in the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan. Chef Ripert will combine signature Le Bernardin-style French technique with the unique local ingredients and flavours of Bhutanese cuisine.
Bhutan is the last remaining Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom and following the two landmark dinners, Chef Ripert, a practicing Buddhist, will travel throughout the country. He will visit all five of the lodges on the Amankora circuit in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey and Bumthang. In addition to seeing temples and dzongs, meditating with monks and trekking through the beautiful landscape, he will go on a culinary journey to sample some of the unique foods of Bhutan, including the national dish ema datse (chillies and cheese). The lodge chef of Amankora Thimphu, Matthew Schaefer, was formerly a sous chef at Le Bernardin and will introduce Chef Ripert to the lodge’s signature dishes. Amankora will also arrange for Chef Ripert to forage for wild chanterelle mushrooms found in the pine forests close to the lodges, dine in private homes, visit local markets, experience the harvesting of red rice and picnic in a variety of charming settings.
Guests visiting Amankora from 14-27 September may possibly join Eric Ripert on various journey experiences. Enquire at time of reservation to see if your journey dates correspond with Eric Ripert’s Amankora itinerary.