THE NORTH Phuket Culinary Arts Festival 2010 opened last night with a 100 metre long table set for 300 and an extremely cool bar made entirely out of ice.

Today, tonight and tomorrow, more events will mark the Mai Khao innovation as a cause for celebration. It's not often that rival resorts get together to offer up such a refreshing taste of upmarket Phuket, and it deserves encouragement.

Among the guests at last night's formal opening at the Renaissance and SALA Phuket resorts were Phuket Vice Governor Niwit Aroonrat and Phuket Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Bangornrat Shinaprayoon.

Tonight guests will be able to chill out and mingle at Infinity Sunsets by two more northern resorts, one an interloper from Greater Phuket - Mai Khao's Anantara Phuket Villas Resort and Phang Nga's Aleenta Resort & Spa.

From 5pm until late, guests can sample cocktails created by international mixologists; enjoy a unique barefoot coastal BBQ served in the infinity pool, or snack on delicious Thai food from the markets stalls located on the lawn, and groove to the beats of DJ Charles Schillings.

On Sunday, the JW Marriott Phuket Resort, presents 'The Brunch of Your Life' a bounty of sophisticated tastes from the JW Marriott's 14 kitchens served up on the beach between 11.30am and 3.30pm.