Where governments are born

The meeting took place at Siam City Hotel on Bangkok's Sri Ayutthaya Road.

"We are proud that the hotel is part of political history," says Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, vice president of the Sukosol family-run Siam City Hotels and Resorts.

But she's not just referring to that one event.

The Siam City was also the place where both Chuan Leekpai governments were born.

The hotel became popular with politicians in the era of the Chatichai Choonhavan administration, 18 years ago. During Banharn Silpa-archa's time as prime minister, the Chart Thai Party held get-togethers at the hotel almost every week, especially at Lin Fa, the Chinese restaurant.

The relaxed tradition of diners using chopsticks to tuck into communal dishes could be a reason why Chinese restaurants are popular for political and business talks, suggests Marisa.

"One of our strengths is that we are politically non-partisan," she says. "Government or opposition, we take care of them equally well."

Newin's assistant contacted the hotel to ask if the Rattanakosin Room was free just one hour before the press conference with Abhisit, she says.

Marisa got busy, directing her staff to decorate the room with flowers.

Besides the location, not far from Parliament, the hotel's appeal to lawmakers lies in the quality of the food and respect for its guests' privacy, says Marisa.

Lin Fa has about a dozen private rooms available, and waiters and waitresses are trained to leave when the customers start talking.

The special treatment that regular customers get is probably another draw.

"At Lin Fa we provide regulars with personal chopsticks."

Food and beverage manager Prasert Pornprachachai says the customer's personal chopsticks are saved and brought out each time he or she comes.

Restaurants manager Kalyakorn Srinarong adds that waiting staff memorise the preferences of regulars and even know their car licence numbers.

The "Ministers' Menu" gives customers the chance to try the favourite dishes of Cabinet members who have visited over the years, but we are not told whose is whose.

Among the choices are double-boiled shark-fin soup and deep-fried garoupa with sweet-and-sour sauce served on the side, as the minister likes to pour it on for himself. The extra-crispy noodles in the fried-rice and noodles with pork are a stipulation of another minister.

Marisa says the restaurants get a makeover from time to time, which draws young customers, but regulars and senior customers find the same level of hospitality, so they stay loyal.

Bangkok-governor candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, for instance, held a press conference at the hotel just last week, while the Bhum Jai Thai Party is making its first visit this week.