Meet Head Chef Alexandre Castaldi as He Dishes Out Plans for Returning Bangkok Diners

Alexandre Castaldi, better known as Chef Alex, is a man for all seasons. When SEEN Restaurant & Bar Bangkok at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel had to suspend in-person dining as a social distancing measure, the venue’s head chef jumped at the opportunity to help lead the kitchens of Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel’s fine dining restaurants. Now that his trendy eatery on the banks of the Chao Phraya River has reopened, Alex is ready to welcome cabin-fevered patrons clamouring for the return of the communal experience back to SEEN.

Part of SEEN’s leadership team from day one, Alex understood early on what secret sauce was needed to make a hyper-social venue like SEEN work in Bangkok: a combination of winning food and personality. Diners might come here for spectacular sunsets, fashionable DJs, or the crowd, but it’s Alex’s food that acts as a uniting force; an experience made better by his genuine warmth, spontaneity, and organic presence in the dining room.

Born in Marseille in the south of France, Alex grew up cooking alongside his mother in a city that many consider one of France’s culinary capitals. Among Marseille’s specialities is the iconic sweet biscuits Navette de Marseille; a staple of Provençal cuisine, ratatouille; and Marseille’s most famous dish beloved by seafood enthusiasts the world over — the bouillabaisse.

From his mother’s kitchen, Alex graduated to working in some of France’s finest restaurants, such as Michelin-starred Parisian haunts Alain Senderens and Le Celadon. Those formative years at Europe’s storied culinary establishments were followed by a stint at the red-hot Scarlett Café & Wine Bar in Hong Kong, before finally setting roots in Bangkok.

Alex’s skills as head chef and manager are in high demand as lockdown-weary Thais deprived of sophisticated food and good company are packing into the capital’s restaurants once again. “I love seeing people happily enjoying a meal together,” he explains. “It’s not all about the food but it’s about being together and creating unforgettable moments. Of course, good food is always a plus.”