JUST AS another glorious sunset painted the sky and sea with vivid hues across Kalim Bay last evening, a canvas filled with glamor and sizzle started to form across the road in Phuket's latest chic dining spot - Brush by John Underwood.

Housed in the two-level, open-front industrial style building that was formerly the Chinese restaurant Hung Fat's (and before that, Mr Underwood's home before the 2004 tsunami gave it an early spring cleaning), the re-imagined bistro offered guests a sampling of treats from salmon rolls to sticky-sweet brownies, while roving waitresses with trays of sherry, champagne and colorful cocktails were quickly swamped by the thirsty crowd.

Spotted out at the celebration were some of Phuket's familiar faces - yacht cruise veteran Bill O'Leary, Royal Phuket Marina owner Gulu Lalvani, the ubiquitous writer Bruce Stanley, Art & Culture publisher Lori Ashton, Sue Ultmann of Baan Rim Pa Group.

Brush chef Martin Bower emerged from his kitchen to greet the crush of people. The always Able
Wanamakok hosted the evening.

Taking the island's newspaper war into a rather stylish battleground, a number of local media figures made an appearance. A stack of Phuket's newest weekly newspaper, The Phuket News, disappeared quickly, while the Phuket Gazette company car was seen arriving.

A fashion show featuring tropical leisure designs by Cassandra Harper of Island Bliss, an outdoor fire dance with three beefy poi men and some lip-synching performances by a few of Phuket's most gorgeous and glittering kateoys rounded out the fun-filled evening.