I had to return to Blue Velvet - I'd missed it so much when it was closed in the recent unrest. I couldn't stay late because the curfew was still in place, but it was especially enchanting, not least because of the good company of Blue Velvet shareholder Rika Dila, who is always fun to hang out with. I have to say, though, I couldn't quite understand how Rika could fit into that little white dress - yes, white, a colour that can turn any slim woman into a whale. Besides being extremely fit, Rika is a very happy person. Even as we talked business - she is involved with several other restaurants as well - and with her two mobile telephones constantly ringing, she was simply stress-free. We both ordered a Mojito cocktail, and it was simply divine - not too sour. Thank God, Blue Velvet is back!I didn't want to pry, but I had to ask about a comment I'd seen from her on Facebook: "I know I embarrass my boys more than once in a while."
"Care to explain?" I said.
She laughed and said: "I like to chat with strangers, and that sometimes embarrasses my two sons, [15-year-old Gabby and 12-year-old Leo]. For instance, a friend called the other night, so I told Gabby, Leo and Pat [Pat Phornprapha, Rika's boyfriend who is several years her junior] that we needed to meet him that night at Blue Velvet.
"They all asked who was this friend was. I told them it was someone I met on the plane coming back from a family vacation from Japan."
I then asked, if it was a family vacation, how come her kids didn't know that particular friend?
Rika said: "Until they learn to make their own money, they will sit in the economy section and only I will sit in the business class section."
Both Rika and I burst out laughing again, before she continued: "Yesterday we went to a Japanese restaurant. I chatted with the owner until Pat and my sons were like, 'here we go again!' That night Pat went to Blue Velvet with me and we all had a good time."
"Care to explain?" I said.
She laughed and said: "I like to chat with strangers, and that sometimes embarrasses my two sons, [15-year-old Gabby and 12-year-old Leo]. For instance, a friend called the other night, so I told Gabby, Leo and Pat [Pat Phornprapha, Rika's boyfriend who is several years her junior] that we needed to meet him that night at Blue Velvet.
"They all asked who was this friend was. I told them it was someone I met on the plane coming back from a family vacation from Japan."
I then asked, if it was a family vacation, how come her kids didn't know that particular friend?
Rika said: "Until they learn to make their own money, they will sit in the economy section and only I will sit in the business class section."
Both Rika and I burst out laughing again, before she continued: "Yesterday we went to a Japanese restaurant. I chatted with the owner until Pat and my sons were like, 'here we go again!' That night Pat went to Blue Velvet with me and we all had a good time."
Now that her sons are growing up, they've become very protective of their beautiful mum. "Here's Leo for you," Rika said. "When we were in Hua Hin and were all sitting at home, I was just wearing my bikini. I mean, that's what people wear at home! When we were going out to have lunch, I just threw on a flimsy top. Leo said: 'Mom, cover up your boobs!' He can be extremely protective," said Rika as we laughed some more.
Rika is half Japanese and half Filipino. "My parents came here for job purposes. I was born here so I consider myself Thai, even though there's not a single drop of Thai blood in me. I love my country. I love my King and Queen."
Rika worked for the luxurious jewellery company Bulgari in Thailand for almost eight years before she married and then became pregnant with her first child. "I quit a week before I gave birth," she said. The marriage ended in a divorce.
I asked her about an area of her expertise, which is beauty. For almost two years she was a columnist for Lips magazine.
"Have you seen a mouse run in circles? Beauty is exactly like that," she said. "You can't exercise for two months and take six months off. I exercise Monday to Friday, starting at 9am. I run for 10 minutes and then do Power Plate for 30 minutes."
Rika usually gets home the same time as her boyfriend, around 5pm, and typically they just hang out. "In the evenings we usually don't go out, just have a quiet dinner. Now all my restaurants are over three months old. It's mandatory to go check on them only for the first three months," she said.
The conversation turned to skin care, and Rika didn't forget to remind us: "The sun is your worst enemy. Always use sunscreen. As for moisturiser, everyone has a different skin type. You can't be lazy when it comes to beauty. You have to be bold and ask the BA [beauty assistant] for samples. If they don't give them to you, ask for their name and go to their manager. That was how I got the right one for me. If it's the right one, your skin will feel it."
Then we talked more about Rika's talent for developing culinary venues. She's a shareholder in a number of successful restaurants, and future expansions are planned. "It was kind of accidental. The first one started because we found a good space."
The concept at Cafe Chilli at Siam Paragon is bringing good street food - with the same taste that you find on the sidewalks, but with better ingredients - into an air-conditioned space, making it easier to enjoy Isan treats. There is another branch in Pattaya and expansions to Central Lat Phrao and even London are on the way.
Another restaurant where the beautiful flock to is Extra Virgin at 63 Sukhumvit Soi 53. Serving Italian fusion food, the homey atmosphere is emphasised by the garden in front. Another branch is slated for CentralWorld when the mall reopens.
My favourite, as you might have guessed, is Blue Velvet at 105/2 Thong Lor Soi 5, where the decor evokes a chic medieval castle, the food combines Thai, Japanese and Western influences, and the cocktails are nice and strong.
Oh, and check this out. Soon you will no longer have to go to LA for a "food truck" experience. Rika and partners are bringing the hip-and-happening culinary trend to Bangkok.
Soon to hit town is Kenjy, a Korean and Mexican mobile food enterprise. In two or three months a delicious sampling of Korean and Mexican cuisines will be available nightly along a route that runs by the happening places in the Thong Lor-Ekamai area. In LA, the concept really works, but in order to connect people have to follow irregular schedules posted on Twitter. In Bangkok, we'll be lucky to have routes following exact schedules.
Talking of her business arrangements with partners, Rika said: "What we have is the best kind of partnership. I do the concepts, designs and staff uniforms. I leave the running of the restaurants to my partners."
Cool as she is, Rika actually squirmed a bit when I asked about her relationship with Pat. "It was accidental. I met him at a party. I'd never met him before, though I knew his sister. Now we're hanging out and we're happy," she said, smiling. "That's all I'm telling you. Yeah, we're very good together."
Rika is half Japanese and half Filipino. "My parents came here for job purposes. I was born here so I consider myself Thai, even though there's not a single drop of Thai blood in me. I love my country. I love my King and Queen."
Rika worked for the luxurious jewellery company Bulgari in Thailand for almost eight years before she married and then became pregnant with her first child. "I quit a week before I gave birth," she said. The marriage ended in a divorce.
I asked her about an area of her expertise, which is beauty. For almost two years she was a columnist for Lips magazine.
"Have you seen a mouse run in circles? Beauty is exactly like that," she said. "You can't exercise for two months and take six months off. I exercise Monday to Friday, starting at 9am. I run for 10 minutes and then do Power Plate for 30 minutes."
Rika usually gets home the same time as her boyfriend, around 5pm, and typically they just hang out. "In the evenings we usually don't go out, just have a quiet dinner. Now all my restaurants are over three months old. It's mandatory to go check on them only for the first three months," she said.
The conversation turned to skin care, and Rika didn't forget to remind us: "The sun is your worst enemy. Always use sunscreen. As for moisturiser, everyone has a different skin type. You can't be lazy when it comes to beauty. You have to be bold and ask the BA [beauty assistant] for samples. If they don't give them to you, ask for their name and go to their manager. That was how I got the right one for me. If it's the right one, your skin will feel it."
Then we talked more about Rika's talent for developing culinary venues. She's a shareholder in a number of successful restaurants, and future expansions are planned. "It was kind of accidental. The first one started because we found a good space."
The concept at Cafe Chilli at Siam Paragon is bringing good street food - with the same taste that you find on the sidewalks, but with better ingredients - into an air-conditioned space, making it easier to enjoy Isan treats. There is another branch in Pattaya and expansions to Central Lat Phrao and even London are on the way.
Another restaurant where the beautiful flock to is Extra Virgin at 63 Sukhumvit Soi 53. Serving Italian fusion food, the homey atmosphere is emphasised by the garden in front. Another branch is slated for CentralWorld when the mall reopens.
My favourite, as you might have guessed, is Blue Velvet at 105/2 Thong Lor Soi 5, where the decor evokes a chic medieval castle, the food combines Thai, Japanese and Western influences, and the cocktails are nice and strong.
Oh, and check this out. Soon you will no longer have to go to LA for a "food truck" experience. Rika and partners are bringing the hip-and-happening culinary trend to Bangkok.
Soon to hit town is Kenjy, a Korean and Mexican mobile food enterprise. In two or three months a delicious sampling of Korean and Mexican cuisines will be available nightly along a route that runs by the happening places in the Thong Lor-Ekamai area. In LA, the concept really works, but in order to connect people have to follow irregular schedules posted on Twitter. In Bangkok, we'll be lucky to have routes following exact schedules.
Talking of her business arrangements with partners, Rika said: "What we have is the best kind of partnership. I do the concepts, designs and staff uniforms. I leave the running of the restaurants to my partners."
Cool as she is, Rika actually squirmed a bit when I asked about her relationship with Pat. "It was accidental. I met him at a party. I'd never met him before, though I knew his sister. Now we're hanging out and we're happy," she said, smiling. "That's all I'm telling you. Yeah, we're very good together."
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