

Raffles Bali launches the 2025 edition of its celebrated “Rumari and Friends” chef series next month with Bangkok’s Baan Tepa.
Perched on a hill overlooking Jimbaran Bay, signature restaurant Rumari offers a dining experience that bridges Indonesian culinary traditions with contemporary influences. Led by chef Gaetan Biesuz (below), its menu highlights flavours from the Indonesian archipelago and Southeast Asia, with options for curated degustation menus and à la carte selections.
Rumari’s dedication to excellence is reflected in accolades such as the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence (2022-2024) and its status as Indonesia’s first and only Krug Ambassade.
Launched in 2023, the “Rumari and Friends” series celebrates global culinary connections by inviting internationally renowned chefs from around the world to collaborate on multi-course dining experiences. These events embrace friendship and cultural exchange, blending diverse influences to create a one-of-a-kind culinary journey. Each collaboration showcases the creativity and expertise of guest chefs while honouring unique regional flavours and techniques.
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For the inaugural event of 2025, Rumari welcomes chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam, the visionary behind Baan Tepa in Bangkok. Situated in a repurposed family home, Baan Tepa masterfully combines heritage and modernity, offering a sustainable and seasonal approach to Thai cuisine.
As Thailand’s first-ever Top Chef Thailand champion and the world’s first female Thai chef to earn two Michelin stars, Tam is celebrated for her contemporary interpretation of Thai flavours, sourcing ingredients thoughtfully from eco-responsible local farmers and crafting them into meticulously curated tasting menus. She is also an advocate of food waste reduction being the Chef Ambassador for Thai Harvest/ SOS and UNEP campaigns 2015 – 2017.
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Baan Tepa’s accolades, including a place on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, underscore its exceptional standards and commitment to sustainability. Tam’s farm-to-table approach to Thai cuisine complements Rumari’s dedication to the 80/20 principle, which prioritises sourcing 80% of ingredients locally to ensure freshness and minimise environmental impact.
This collaboration will showcase the distinctive styles of chef Tam and chef Gaetan in a unique culinary event during which guests can expect a multi-course menu that blends Indonesian and Thai flavours, highlighting the commitment of both restaurants to culinary artistry and their support of local communities.
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