Eye Candy: Shrimp Toasts with Black Pepper Caramel

Each spring the people of Thailand mark the beginning of the New Year by celebrating Songkran, an elaborate tradition named for the Sanskrit word meaning “passing” or “approaching.” To fête the occasion at the Beard House this past April, we enlisted a dynamic group of Thai talent to collaborate on a festive menu, which was paired with modern cocktails. During the reception hour, chefs Pichet Ong, Jet Tila, and Hong Thaimee served these delicate shrimp toasts with black pepper caramel to our guests. The canapés went fast and whetted everyone's appetites for the elaborate Thai feast to come.

View this event's menu and details here. For upcoming Beard House dinners, check out our events calendar. Photo by Clay Williams.

Elena North-Kelly is senior editor at the James Beard Foundation. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.