Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the first Bangkok Chef Charity Gala Dinner on July 27 in the Royal Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

The event showcases the culinary talents of 14 hotel chefs from Bangkok and two from Phuket. They will pair up to prepare eight courses including canapes, desserts and petits fours. Tickets are Bt7,500 net per seat (for tables of 10) and Bt25,000 per seat for the head table. Proceeds go to the Sai Jai Thai Foundation under patronage of the Princess.

 Spanish key

Chef Jordi Conesa from Barcelona celebrates a "Taste of Spain" at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit from July 9 to 18, offering Catalonian cuisine, Spanish cooking classes and wine tastings at l'Atelier restaurant. The festival also features a photo exhibition, art, flamenco dancing and Spanish guitar. Call (02) 204 4023.

 Stay in shape

Get fit at Amrita Fitness at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok. Monthly membership is Bt6,000 with benefits that include a 20-per-cent discount on massages and treatments as well as deals in the hotel's restaurants, laundry and dry cleaning, and accommodation. Call (02) 253 0123.

 All that jazz

Take in the sounds of American-style jazz on July 4 at TK Park on the eighth floor of CentralWorld, where the JRP Little Big Band entertains with tunes by Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble as part of the Tea Time Jazz Festival 2009. The music starts at 4.30. The festival continues on Saturday afternoons throughout July with different artists.

 A la Keyaki

Indulge in tempura, grilled salmon, fried bean curd and pork smothered in spicy soy plus other dishes on weekends at Keyaki, the Pan Pacific Bangkok's Japanese restaurant. The dinner buffet is available on Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 10pm and costs Bt750. Call 02-632-9000 extension 4205.

The women of Vietnam

Vietnamese artist Dinh Y Nhi is showing her latest collection of oil paintings at the Thavibu Gallery until Sunday. In her images, Dinh rejects the notion of "collective memory" in questioning the role of women in her society. The gallery is on the third floor of Silom Galleria. Call (02) 266 5454.

Wine and dine

Tomorrow, stop off at the Garden Lounge of the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower in Pattaya for a wine tasting from 6.30 to 8.30. For Bt500 there's also never-ending tapas and a five-minute shoulder massage. Call (038) 418 418.

In the deep

Photographer Laurent Ballesta and marine biologist Pierre Descamp showcase 88 images of the deep in "Planet: Voyage to the Heart of the Marine Realm", at CentralWorld's outdoor area at Zen and the Amphitheatre zone until August 12. Descamp is the author of "Planet Ocean", an encyclopaedic overview of the oceans. Call (02) 100 9962-3.

Palms and passion

The Asara Villa and Suite in Hua Hin invites couples to try the "Summer Passion" package with three-day, two-night stay in a holiday suite for Bt18,800 net. Benefits include breakfast, Thai massage, Thai set dinner, tea and coffee and snacks, gym access and wireless Internet. Go during the week until October 31 and you get an upgrade to a deluxe suite. For Bt4,500 more per package, you can stay in a pool villa. Call (02) 661 6800 extension 307 or visit www.AsaraVillaAndSuite.|com.