SINCE they first opened in 1989, Mom Tri?s Boathouse and Mom Tri?s Villa Royale have set the standard of taste and sophistication on Phuket.

These fabulous boutique resorts and restaurants on Kata Beach and Kata Noi headland are as effortlessly tasteful as the man for whom they are named, Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul, who is universally known as Mom Tri.
Mom Tri descends from a branch of Thai royalty and is known far and wide as an architect, designer, entrepreneur and bon vivant, a man so talented that he cannot really be categorised.

He was educated at Harvard and has won so many design awards and decorations that his abbreviated ?bio-data? runs to five pages.

His modest demeanor, ready smile and self-effacing, scholarly approach, masks the brilliance of a most unusual individual.

The Devakul family has always had an extremely strong bond with Phuket, owning considerable land holdings and, as a result, Mom Tri became involved in the design of many iconic island developments such as The Meridien Patong, Club Med, Trisara and the Royal Phuket Yacht Club.

He also built a modest beachside home for himself on the stunning headland between Kata and Kata Noi beaches.

What started out as a simple thatched-roof bungalow, gradually expanded into a fabulous collection of traditional Thai buildings that is now Villa Royale, one of Phuket?s most exclusive boutique hotels.

Mom Tri?s activities were confined to Phuket?s western fringes, facing the open Andaman Sea, until recently when Gulu Lalvani, the owner and developer of the Royal Phuket Marina, had a quiet word in his ear.

It seems that Mr Lalvani enjoyed eating at Mom Tri?s, but was finding it tiresome taking his luxury motor yacht around Phuket?s southern headland to get there.

The trip was taking him over an hour each time he wanted to enjoy the gourmet delicacies and award-winning wines at the Boathouse, and suggested Mom Tri open a second restaurant on the Boardwalk at the Royal Phuket Marina.

Mom Tri jumped at the offer, and the new east coast Mom Tri?s Boathouse Regatta restaurant was on its way.

With multi-million dollar yachts and cruisers moored in front of the restaurant, a strongly nautical theme was chosen as the d?cor for the new restaurant.

The Regatta has no doors. At Mom Tri?s behest, it is open-fronted, taking full advantage of the view across the marina?s yacht basin and the vaulting Thai roofs of Mr Lalvani?s mansion beyond.

There is light-grey painted decking, faux portholes, a riot of bunting and regatta flags and a long, curving bar, where the view is so seductive that aperitifs can easily go on for hours, while chef, Khun Somboon, cools his heels and drums his fingers.

The menu offers a similar sumptuous array of choice as the Boathouse?s modern Mediterranean and Thai panoply, plus a few additions befitting a brand new location.

Since the ?soft? opening in December, the Lalvanis have been true to their word, and kept their cruiser firmly tethered to its berth, while they dine ?Chez Mom Tri? on their own doorstep.

Mrs Lalvani was so taken with the new Regatta that she asked for her favourite waiter to be transferred from the Kata Beach branch.

He is now serving crab salad and spinach-stuffed chicken breast at RPM.

Mom Tri?s have initiated a Gourmet Club featuring a 25 per cent discount on food and a 10 per cent discount on wine and champagne across their range of outlets, which include the recently-opened Oasis On The Sea beachside restaurant and the Oasis Spring tapas bar on Kata Beach, next door to the Boathouse.

The new Regatta at RPM officially opened last week.

The opening heralded the start of the Boathouse?s annual French food festival, which will run until next Sunday, March 8.

Mom Tri?s good friend Jean-No?l Lumineau, who has been the guest chef every January for the past eight years, is now overseeing the development of all five of Mom Tri?s restaurants.

He holds the coveted title of Ma?tre Cuisinier de France, the highest ranking for French chefs.

His mission is to promote quality French cuisine in Phuket, and to train and nurture young culinary professionals.

He is joined by George Ciret, the Wine Director for the group which has been awarded the Wine Spectator?s Award of Excellence every year since 1995 and the Best of Award of Excellence every year since 2006.

The French food festival is not to be missed and Mom Tri?s Boathouse Regatta is a wonderful addition to Phuket?s dining scene.

Mom Tri?s Boathouse Regatta at the Royal Phuket Marina is open from 11am until 11pm every day except Tuesdays. For bookings, call 076 360 855, email regatta@boathousephuket.com, or visit www.boathousephuket.com