Tofu fans already know that Lam Gok Weng, the chef at Hai Tien Lo at Bangkok's Pan Pacific hotel, works magic with the stuff, and this month they'll be out in force as homemade beancurd specialities are served non-stop.

The menu is varied - Szechuan style, braised, with seafood XO sauce, clay pot, beancurd sea cucumber, stuffed with shrimp mousse... we've only just begun.

Get your name in: (02) 632 9000, extension 4202.

High tea for charity at Nai Lert

Coming to a close on Sunday, the Nai Lert Park hotel's 20th annual Floral Jubilation, which this year paid homage to His Majesty the King, has been such a success that a Charity Tea Dance is planned to celebrate.

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, no less, will perform for the sophisticated afternoon crowd at the Bangkok hotel.

Magnificent dishes created innovatively from flowers and tea from around the world will be served as diners dance to the "sassy rhythms" of the orchestra and guest singers.

The event runs from 4 to 8pm on Sunday. Tickets are Bt1,200 per person, with proceeds going to the Kidney Foundation of Thailand's 80/84 transplant programme and the Suan Luang Rama IX Royal Park Foundation.

Call (02) 253 0123, extension 8056, to book.

Ostrich takes flight at the Peak in Pattaya

Ostriches may not be able to get off the ground, but the ostrich dishes being served at the Dusit Resort Pattaya's restaurant, the Peak, are soaring up the delectability meter.

Prepared in a "modern Chinese style", the meat is magnificent as well as nutritional. Chef Chi Tak Lai has prepared a variety of a la carte dishes this month. Recommended are sautéed ostrich with black pepper or XO sauce, braised ostrich with bamboo pith and black mushroom in brown sauce, and ostrich steak.

Dessert doesn't come much better than Chi's almond pudding.

The Peak is on the hotel's ninth floor, giving it a panoramic view of the bay.

Every day at lunch there's an extensive selection of dim sum - 40 varieties that rotate on a seasonal basis.

And the main menu offers such classy plates as barbecued suckling pig and shark-fin soup Szechuan style, plus deep-fried spring rolls Peak style, fried egg noodles Fukien style and steamed abalone stuffed with minced shrimp on sesame egg noodles.

Call (038) 425 611-7, extension 2276.

Peaceful karaoke at the Asoke's Big Echo II

Hi-tech karaoke restaurant Big Echo has just opened a second branch in the Asoke Tower on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Soi 21.

Businessmen, families and other folk who love crooning will appreciate the musical variety, not to mention the great food.

A karaoke room rents for between Bt400 and Bt2,400 per hour depending on the size. Big Echo is open from 11am to 1am.

Call (02) 261 2593-5.

Chinese veggie feast on tap at Loong Foong

Vegetarian food remains one of the best way to shake off the toxins we absorb daily, and Loong Foong Chinese Restaurant at Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok is leading the way when it comes to healthy dining.

Enjoy such creative dishes as the vegetarian platter "duck, chicken, prawn, snowfish and lamb". All of the components are made from 100-per-cent soy flour, and exquisitely prepared in Cantonese style.

Call (02) 694 2222, extension 1540-1.

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