Always remember Alois…

Excellent new gay Pattaya Restaurant with familiar faces

By Suzy Size, gay Pattaya

If some of your friends have problems remembering things or names – who does not at your age? – they are ideal candidates for a joke of yours. You just ask them a simple question: What was the first name of Alzheimer? Everybody has heard of the world famous medical doctor, of course, who gave his name to the terrible disease that wipes out your memory, but nobody can remember his first name. Try it, it always works.

So is the newest addition to fine dining restaurants of Pattaya “Alois” named after the Bavarian doctor? No, of course not, it has its name from Alois X. Fassbind (1935 – 1998) who was a fun loving and very able man. The Alois crew describes why they chose to immortalize him as follows:

”The name ‘Alois’, chosen for our restaurant, is essentially in commemoration of the man who effectively put Pattaya on the map, the legendary ‘Mr. Pattaya’, Mr. Alois Fassbind, erstwhile Executive Vice-President of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Chairman of the PATA Thailand Chapter and winner of PATA's Award of Merit. Mr. Alois and his close friend, Mr. Bruno Forrer, who also worked at the Royal Cliff as General Manager, decided between themselves to establish Pattaya’s first and premier fine-dining restaurant in North Pattaya. They were joined by Mr. Vichai Priyatrakulruji, who had had the honor to serve for 20 years as personal assistant to Mr. Bruno.

Mr. Vichai so assimilated the sheer love and appreciation of fine cuisine which these two gourmet doyennes taught and exemplified that he felt impelled to open a fine-dining venue whose name and growing reputation would preserve for future generations the enduring memory of the two individuals, who have probably done more than anyone else to exalt the name and reputation of this resort-city, rapidly becoming known as the Riviera of Asia.”

When Suzy met Alois X. Fassbind for the very first time she asked him whether or not he was married, even though she knew exactly he was gay and Fassbind shrewdly answered:

”I am married with the hotel.”

Later that day (or rather night) she met him again at BoyzBoyzBoyz, they had a drink and a big laugh together. It was always like that, with Alois you had a drink (at least one!) and a good time.

When then Swiss President Arnold Koller visited Pattaya in November of 1997 Alois invited your heroine to join him, the President and some others to the small party on his sailing boat. Alois X. Fassbind offered a nice aperitif on the island Koh Pai (a deliquesce Chardonnay) as a preamble to sailing back on his sailboat "Hanumarn", named after the mythical Monkey God. An exquisite Barbecue was also served on board. Needless to say, the drinking went on all day and Alois was a bit tipsy when they returned and had to be helped off board by his always so helpful staff.

Fassbinds funeral was probably the funniest of such sad events Suzy ever attended. Alois had demanded in his will that the navy band was to play and lots of wine and food be served. And that was what happened. About 600 persons were there at the Pattaya St. Nicolas church. On the huge white coffin stood a glass of chilled Chardonnay. After the sermon a waiter took that glass and ten Thais tried to shoulder the heavy coffin, obviously quite a task since Alois was about 1.90 m tall and had a weight of around 100 kilos. When they finally had the coffin up, strong applause started. Then the waiter with the glass of Chardonnay took the lead followed by the coffin and the huge funeral party. When the coffin was in its grave the Chardonnay was poured over it. Every funeral attendant then threw a flower and some dirt on the coffin in the grave: This took more than an hour. Alois was a Pattaya giant.

Coming into the new Alois Restaurant – it is located where the old Icon Show Bar once was, for details go to the Pink Pages of Sticky Rice Gay Guide Asia and Gay Guide World – is like a trip back in time when Alois and Bruno opened their first Brunos in North Pattaya, similarities are intentional as is explained on the Alois website:

”The intention with the décor of the restaurant was to create an atmosphere of sedate elegance, reminiscent of the fine-dining venues of Europe, like those of the Carlton and the Ritz. The heavy gathered drapes at the windows, crisp white tablecloths, quality tableware and floral centrepieces, all conspire to invoke the ambiance of a more relaxed, bygone era that both Messrs Alois Fassbind and Bruno Forrer would have felt perfectly at home in. The restaurant has seating for 100 diners, with a select dining area towards the back, perfect for private functions, birthday parties etc. For the convenience of smokers, several tables and chairs have been placed alfresco, outdoors.”

And it goes on: “In common with Mr. Vichai, almost every other staff member of the Alois Restaurant, including the Restaurant Manager, Mr. Veerapong Khamsri, his assistant, Mr. Paiboon Kaewpakdee, and Chef Luk Youcharoen, served their apprenticeship and most of their careers in what is widely recognized as being the Eastern Seaboard’s finest hotel, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The experience they gained was comparable to any available in the West as all senior management members were Swiss or of similar European nationality.”

But, you may want to know, gay tourist to Pattaya, how is the food? How is the service? How is the atmosphere? Suzy found it all excellent during her two recent visits there and certainly will be back. And Werner, a Swiss hotelier friend of your heroine, made a reservation for a party of four at the end of their dinner at Alois. Have a look at the menu which is posted on their website. And cross on October 3rd in your agenda when they hold a highly interesting Wine Dinner at Alois in Pattaya. Click through to their website where all details are to be found.