DUSIT International is set to bring the food scene in Davao City to a whole new level with two restaurants that will surely satisfy Dabawenyos and its guests.

Dusit International brings to Davao Benjarong and Sala to Davao City as the Dusit Thani Residences and dusitD2 Hotel is targeted to open by the end of the year.

Benjarong, Dusit International's signature Thai restaurant, will offer the guests of Dusit Thani Residences the finest Thai cuisine cooked with locally-sourced ingredients from sustainable sources.

Boon Kwee Lim, chief operating officer Dusit Hotels and Resorts, said Benjarong will offer authentic Thai cuisine but with a contemporary look.

He said the chefs will be Thai and while they source some of the ingredients locally, they will also be using ingredients from Thailand to ensure the authenticity of the flavors.

Lim also said what makes Benjarong in Dusit Thani Residences Davao different from Dusit Thani Manila is it will feature a bar. He said they added this feature to promote the restaurant as a place for social gatherings in Davao City.

Meanwhile, the 120-room dusitD2 Davao hotel will have the Sala, "an interactive multi-street cuisine inspired by a community to bring a fun, vibrant dining experience."

Thomas Pfortdte, Dusit International group director of food and beverage, said Sala will offer buffet and ala carte dishes for its diners. However, for the buffet aspect, he said they are veering away from the traditional buffet.

"We are on the direction to have live cooking stations. Diners will see more actions from the chefs. The chefs will cook food as needed. This is part of our efforts to be more sustainable and avoid food waste," Pfortdte said.

The on-the-spot preparation of food at the different buffet stations will result to a ‘pan-to-plate’ style buffet dining experience.

"Sala is a ‘must see-must try’ that will identify D2 as a hotel brand that provides great food quality with a contemporary ‘edgy’ approach to venues design. Every section of the restaurant will offer an ethnic ‘signature dish,’ uniquely presented in a special service-ware that has an ethnic connection to each dish. This compels customers to go that extra mile and cue if necessary to get their taste fix,” Pfortdte said.

Sala is targeted to open at the same time as Dusit Thani Residences and dusitD2 Davao open its doors to the public that is expected by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Benjarong is expected at a much later date.

Situated at Lanang in Davao City, the hospitality complex will have 174 full-service residence units for Dusit Thani Residences and 120 hotel rooms for dusitD2.

Residents will have housekeeping, laundry and personal concierge services at their disposal, as well as access to hotel-like amenities such as a Dusit spa, exclusive pools, specialty dining outlets, a business center and fitness area.