Lonely mouths

March 13, 2024 - Food is romance. If you’re feeling a little kuchisabishii – or the need to eat because your mouth is lonely – then fall in love with our Thali and Khmer sharing dishes at Six Senses Fort Barwara and Six Senses Krabey Island.

When it comes to eating, the happiest hour is the one spent together. Beyond the social benefits, the act of chatting, listening, and connecting also slows you down. Rather than kuchisabishii or boredom eating, mindful eating helps to improve digestion while increasing happy hormones. 

As our Director of Eat With Six Senses, Farah Condor explains, “Picture this. When friends sit together to enjoy food, their cells are receiving nutrients in a different way. Food is energy, giving your body the tools to be strong, well, and full of vitality. Getting involved with cooking and eating together means you eat in a calmer, more connected way. It may also open your horizons to eating something new and takes you on an adventure beyond your comfort zone. The second you’re connecting in this way, your cells are absorbing everything a little better, and here’s the science: it’s because your body is releasing oxytocin, the love hormone.”

At Six Senses, eating is a special occasion and each of our properties creates its version of magic. “If we choose to connect with our food, where it comes from, how it is made, and the power it harnesses, imagine the goodness it brings to your body and its ability to keep you well and full of vitality, no matter your numerical age,” says Farah. “That’s the philosophy behind Eat With Six Senses.”

Explore and enjoy learning about local food and customs with cooking classes, wine evenings, Chef’s Tables, and degustation dinners. It will all serve to bring a smile and a happy tummy.

Six Senses Fort Barwara: Rajasthan Thali

As the Hindi word for plate, Thali is an integral part of Indian festivals, group celebrations, and everyday eating, steeped in tradition. Six Senses Fort Barwara offers the best local flavors and aromas as part of a complete balanced meal.

Coming together over multiple small bowls known as Katoris is a highly social experience, sharing the joy in ingredients such as rice, lentil dal, seasonal vegetables, ker sangri (an indigenous dish of dried ker berry and sangri beans), chutneys prepared with vegetables and tempered spices, fresh curd, crisp papadums, and spicy pickles.

For Executive Chef Stephen Jones, food is romance, and everything tastes better when you eat together. “Eating meals with family or close friends relieves stress and enhances flavor. As you bond over a meal, you’ll often feel happier and more satisfied with life and engaged in a community. You’ll learn to listen and learn a lot about your companion.”

Stephen, or Stevie to his friends, hails from North Wales but made the 10,600-mile leap to Sydney, Australia in 1990. Since then, he has never looked back, quietly notching up 30 years of globetrotting. He says his travels have been forged by luck. We politely argue his current post at Six Senses Fort Barwara is due to his passion and talent in the kitchen.

Rajasthan is certainly the place to reinvigorate all the senses, and as Stevie explains, it is also the home of mindful eating. “Engaging in the physical and emotional senses, colors, smells, tastes, and textures served in modest portions that are satisfying and energize the body, warm the heart, and fire up the soul. It also prevents overeating and potential food waste, increasing the gratitude for food.”

Stevie’s own food memories begin with the smells of his grandmother’s kitchen, with sugar caramelizing and the pastry on her fine apple pie. So, what lured him away from Wales?

“I am no stranger to India, having traveled extensively in the late 90s, before partnering with The Oberoi group from 2005 to 2007 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. I continued experimenting with food, travel, and a career in luxury tourism, finally joining Six Senses in 2016 to help launch our integrated wellness ethos and take on various taskforce roles in destinations including Singapore, Fiji, and Cambodia.”

He answered the call from Corporate Food & Beverage Director Jonathan Heath to move to Six Senses Fort Barwara, following Ian Fleming’s mantra, “Never say ‘no’ to adventures, always say ‘yes’, otherwise you will lead a very boring life.” You’ll find him in the kitchen cooking up his own 007-worthy adventures and love letters to life.

Our two-night Discover Six Senses offer includes three meals and a couple’s spa treatment when staying in any of our suites in our Rajasthani palace of wonders.

Six Senses Krabey Island: Intimate oceanside dining under the stars

Since ancient times, family dining in Cambodia has always been a special moment enjoyed with loved ones after a busy day.

The culinary team at Six Senses Krabey Island invites you to taste the joys of Khmer culture while absorbing the captivating backdrop of the Gulf of Thailand. The Khmer Sense Menu Dinner is a culinary journey crafted by our talented Khmer chefs, cooked with fresh, locally sourced, and organic ingredients from our farm.

As night falls, gather around a candlelit communal table with dishes placed in the center in the traditional Cambodian style. Pass them around to share flavors and stories, creating unforgettable memories in a serene “Seabreeze Dining” setting under the twinkling stars.

Before the dinner begins, why not join us for the sunset hour at our Sky Lounge? Sip on signature cocktails and mocktails and savor mouthwatering appetizers as nature’s masterpiece unfolds before your eyes.

If you’re feeling inspired and would like to recreate the experience at home, don your apron and try out some of our guests’ favorite dishes in our Khmer cookbook. Recreate the unique flavors of our resort and embody our core values of wellness, sustainability, and local culture. From fragrant curries to refreshing salads, each dish is crafted to nourish your body and delight your senses. 

Take advantage of our Jungle Island Escape offer to enjoy 30 percent savings on our Best Flexible Rate plus alluring experiences including an authentic Khmer Cuisine set-menu dinner (excluding beverages) when staying a minimum of five nights.