Thai cuisine on the worldwide expansion
Walking into a blue Elephant restaurant dazzles the senses. It is a world of lush plants and trickling fountains. The scent of tropical flowers mingles with the heady aroma of exotic herbs and spices flown in fresh from the Far East. Blue Elephant is a total sensory concept based on the very best of traditional Thai Beauty, charm and courtesy. Superb Royal Thai cuisine sets the standard of dining excellence requiring expertly trained chefs endowed with great patience, the result is a deliciously diverse, colorful and delicate menu. Blue Elephant takes restaurant dining to new heights and ensures a most memorable occasion. The restaurant is available for exciting theme parties and complete takeovers.
Authenticity: Accomplished Thai chefs prepare dishes with ingredients of the highest quality, flown in fresh directly from Thailand. Tradition and innovation most recipes are centuries old, faithfully handed down through generations. Others are new, creative and unique variations on traditional themes. Presentation :Visually stunning dishes artistically presented with carved fruits and vegetables.
Blue Elephant was started 26 years ago in 1980, by Khun Nooror Somany Steppe, a Thai living with her Belgian husband Mr. Karl Steppe, in Brussels, where the first Blue Elephant was opened. With a passion for Thai cooking, Khun Nooror with the support of her husband and other partners quickly established what became one of Europe’s leading Asian restaurants. The renowned Blue Elephant London further established the name, followed by Paris and Copenhagen. Today there are 12 Blue Elephant restaurants serving the best in Royal Thai cuisine throughout Europe, and the Middle East.
One of the top Thai cuisine restaurants chains in the world, Blue Elephant is known by food lovers the world over for its authentic Thai taste, its consistently high standards of quality, and its promotion of the best in Thai culture. A recipient of numerous awards, Blue Elephant has been at the forefront of bringing Royal Thai cuisine and the beauty of Thai culture to people around the world while striving to benefit Thailand and the Thai people. A vast majority of the Blue Elephant workforce is made up of Thai nationals and all the Blue Elephant restaurants are beautifully decorated in array of authentic Thai handicrafts and artwork. A large proportion of the food served at the Blue Elephant restaurants is flown in fresh from Bangkok, handled by Blue Elephant Bangkok Co., Ltd., which maintains an active Thai based supply and trading operation. Blue Elephant, bringing the best that is Thai to the world, while always looking to serve Thailand. HISTORY OF THE BLUE ELEPHANT
The Blue Elephant operates restaurants evoking memories of Royal Thai Cuisine in luxurious ambiance. With a worldwide reputation for excellence and authenticity, the Blue Elephant aims at playing an unofficial role as an ambassador for Thailand’s gastronomy, culture and traditions. Years of experience and a particular attention to details make the difference. Why the name Blue Elephant? Blue: the royal color of the Thai flag. Elephant: the national animal of Thailand.
Also: “if you see a blue elephant you will never forget it.”
“Blue Elephant International Plc” is a holding company based in the UK, currently operating high-class restaurants, more specifically in Royal Thai Cuisine or refined Indian Cuisine with a difference. 2008
Opening of The Blue Elephant under the name BLUE ERAWAN in Jakarta, in collaboration with Saphir Group of Hotels & Resorts Indonesia. 2005 Opening of The Blue Elephant in Moscow.
2004 Opening of The Blue Elephant in Bahrain, in collaboration with International Hotels Establishment. 2003 Opening of The Blue Elephant Kuwait in November, in collaboration with Hilton International. 2002 Opening of The Blue Elephant Cookery School in Bangkok with a restaurant in August.
2001 Opening new premises of Blue Elephant trade office. 2000 The Blue Elephant opened its outlet in Hilton Malta with the capacity of 170 seats indoor and 50 seats in the terrace with the view of the marina.
1999 In collaboration with the Hilton International, Blue Elephant extends in France with a second restaurant, this time in the Lyon Hilton. 1998 Inspired by the success of the restaurant in Dubai, the Rotana Group opened a new Blue Elephant with 100 seats in their Hotel in Beirut. Blue Elephant was inaugurated at the “Searock Hotel” in December. 1997 Blue Elephant, with the Rotana Group, opened at the “Al-Bustan-Rotana” Hotel in Dubai, followed a few months later by the Blue Elephant New Delhi in the Inter-Continental Hotel. 1996 Our restaurant “La Porte des Indes” with a seating capacity of 300 seating was opened in February. We specialise in authentic Indian refined Cuisine and Pondicherry Creole Cuisine.
A unique concept in London. 1995 We acquired 1,000 square meter properties in Marble Arch, London.
1991 At the Bastille in Paris, we opened our 6th operation with a seating capacity of 250 covers. As in London, The Paris “Blue Elephant” is the “Venue Place” for the Parisian high society and so called the “Place to see and to be seen”.
1990 The Blue Elephant Copenhagen opened at Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel. The restaurant is still considered by the Danes as one of their top 5 restaurants in Denmark.
1986 Blue Elephant extended its operation to London and opened a restaurant with seating capacity of 250 covers.
1984 Karel Steppé and his partners established a trade office in Bangkok, “Blue Elephant Bangkok”. This is in order to be able to import fresh products directly from Thailand.
The same year they opened an Indian restaurant named “La Porte des Indes” in Brussels. It is still regarded as the most prestigious Indian restaurant in Belgium.
1980 The first restaurant was opened in Brussels under the Name of “L’Eléphant Bleu”. It was and still is a very successful operation. The main founder of the restaurant, Mr. K. Steppe, is today the Chairman of the company. THE BLUE BAR
Following an extensive refurbishment and expansion, the Blue Elephant is pleased to announce the completion, and opening of Blue Bar. Blue Bar’s interior is set upon a visit to old Bangkok. The focal point is the bar itself, a reproduction of the Suphannahong, reserved exclusively for the conveying of Their Majesties the King and Queen. With a figurehead fashioned in the shape of a swan (hongsa) and an intricately carved and gilded hull, the majestic 12m bar has been carved out of a single trunk of teak. Master craftsmen laboured for aver 4 month on the bar. The intricate feathers were painstakingly carved the applied with 50,000 sheets of gold leaf and inset with over 3,000 pieces of stained mirrored mosaics, giving a shimmering effect as if it were actually afloat.
The true authenticity of the Blue Elephant is strengthened by the existence of a trading office in Bangkok. Established in 1984, this office is responsible for the world wide distribution of fresh produce from local Thai markets to all our restaurants.
The next restaurant will be opened in Jeddah.
