Singapore (8 October, 2026) – For this year’sVegetarian Festival, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spainvites guests to indulge in Thai cuisine from a different perspective at The Mindful Table. The collaboration is with SUKJAI by Pata Obasan, the Michelin-recognised Authentic Plant-Based Thai Cuisine restaurant from Chiang Mai.
The Mindful Table runs from 10 to 18 October 2026 and brings together SUKJAI’s plant-based philosophy and the culinary traditions of Northern Thailand. The menu reimagines familiar Thai favourites without meat. It keeps the aromatic herbs, spices, textures and techniques that give each dish its character.
The Mindful Table treats Gin Jay as more than a seasonal dietary occasion. It explores the deeper idea behind mindful eating, which is that removing meat does not mean removing flavour, tradition or indulgence.
Northern Thai Classics, Reimagined
At Ta-Krai, JW Marriott Khao Lak’s Thai restaurant, SUKJAI’s collaboration menu offers plant-based interpretations of some of Thailand’s most distinctive regional dishes.
The menu begins with Sai Ua and Moo Satay, two familiar favourites made entirely from plant-based ingredients. The Northern Thai-style sausage carries the fragrant combination of lemongrass, kaffir lime and galangal. The charcoal-grilled skewers come with a silky peanut sauce.
The much-loved Khao Soi follows, with crispy noodles layered over a creamy coconut curry broth and plant-based protein in place of meat. For something smoky and spicy, Grilled Plant-Based Beef with Spicy Jaew Sauce pairs charcoal-grilled plant-based “beef” with traditional Isaan-style jaew, with its notes of roasted chilli, tamarind and toasted rice.
Rounding out the menu is Northern Spiced Mushroom Larb, which replaces minced meat with mushroom. It keeps the herbs, spice and toasted rice that give the dish its distinctive texture and depth.
At Sakura, the resort’s Japanese restaurant, the collaboration takes a cross-cultural turn with a mushroom-based plant meat preparation. The dish brings the spirit of the Vegetarian Festival into a Japanese dining setting while complementing Sakura’s existing menu.
“The Mindful Table is about proving that plant-based Thai food can be every bit as bold and satisfying as the original. Working with SUKJAI gave us the chance to bring that philosophy to our own guests, right through the Vegetarian Festival and beyond it, ” said Mathieu Sneyers, Director of Marketing Communications, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa
For Shontisha Makjaroen, Marketing Communications Manager at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, the collaboration is particularly personal.
“As a Thai myself, what excites me most is how familiar these dishes feel. Sai ua, larb, khao soi – they’re flavours I grew up with, just given a plant-based reinterpretation that doesn’t ask you to compromise on taste.”
From Chiang Mai to Khao Lak
At the heart of The Mindful Table is Pata Obasan, the recipe creator behind SUKJAI by Pata Obasan. Her approach to vegetarian Thai cuisine is rooted in technique, flavour and a deep respect for the food traditions she grew up with.
Paniti Chantayasakorn, Founder and Head Chef of SUKJAI by Pata Obasan, brings those recipes to the plate. Paniti has reinterpreted Pata’s recipe collection as authentic Thai plant-based cuisine for a contemporary audience, in step with today’s growing focus on wellness.
SUKJAI is listed in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand and stands apart for its care from the ground up. The restaurant grows its own vegetables on its farm and makes its own plant-based proteins in-house, such as “pork” crafted from jackfruit. Every dish stays true to authentic Thai flavours, is cooked without MSG and is rooted in Buddhist philosophy. SUKJAI’s cooking shows that plant-based food can carry all the complexity and satisfaction that define Thai cuisine.
“When I became vegetarian, I didn’t want to lose any of the flavours I grew up with. That’s what pushed me to really study the technique behind Thai cooking. Bringing that to JW Marriott Khao Lak for the Vegetarian Festival is a chance to show guests that food without meat can still carry all of that depth,” said Pata Obasan, Recipe Creator, SUKJAI by Pata Obasan
The collaboration arrives at a particularly meaningful time for the region. The Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, has been observed in Southern Thailand for more than 200 years. It is rooted in Taoist purification and spiritual practice, and is marked by temple rituals, processions, fire-walking and strict dietary observance. The festival remains an important part of the local cultural calendar in Phuket and Phang Nga. The 2026 celebration takes place from 10 to 18 October, beginning with the Pole Raising Ceremony on the evening before.
At JW Marriott Khao Lak, The Mindful Table lets guests engage with one aspect of that tradition through food. Guests can also discover how contemporary plant-based cooking stays deeply connected to Thai culinary heritage.
A Growing Table of Local Flavours
The collaboration also forms part of JW Marriott Khao Lak’s wider culinary philosophy, where mindful dining is closely connected to the destination itself.
The resort’s 27-acre JW Garden provides a living expression of this approach. Herbs, flowers and fruits grown on property inform seasonal cuisine and guest experiences. The garden’s soil-to-plate philosophy connects what is grown, prepared and enjoyed at the resort. It also highlights the value of local ingredients and responsible culinary practices.
The resort put this commitment into practice through its recent collaboration with Duc de Praslin Chocolaterie Boutique & Atelier. The partnership brought Belgian chocolate-making craftsmanship together with locally grown cacao from Phang Nga. The permanent boutique and atelier offers guests year-round tastings, workshops and hands-on Pod to Bar experiences that trace the journey from cacao pod to chocolate. It also shines a light on the region’s farmers and agricultural heritage.
Together, these experiences reflect a broader approach at JW Marriott Khao Lak. The resort’s food experiences are about more than what is on the plate. They also show where ingredients come from, the people and traditions behind them, and the stories they tell about the destination.
The Mindful Table takes that philosophy in a plant-based direction. It invites guests to slow down and look at familiar flavours differently. They can discover that mindful eating can be every bit as generous, aromatic and satisfying as the food they already know.
The Mindful Table will be available at Ta-Krai and Sakura at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa from 10 to 18 October 2026, coinciding with Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival.
Dining and Cooking