Calling All Foodies
Thailand is attracting foodies by positioning itself as a gourmet paradise with food festivals and expos
By Laurence Civil
Thailand in addition to its world-renowned Thai cuisine has emerged as a gourmet paradise in Asia thanks to chefs from around the world either setting up base in Thailand or stopping by to cook up a storm during food festivals and promotions. Many of these chefs are Michelin-starred. But it was David Thompson’s Nahm Bangkok that first focused attention on Bangkok when it took the 50th place in the World’s 50 Best Restaurant 2012. The following year with the inauguration of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2013, Bangkok took 10 per cent of the places with five restaurants in Bangkok on the list. In just four years that number has nearly doubled – nine of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 are in the Thai capital. Today, Thailand is positioning itself as a haven for gourmet food festivals.
Taste it all 2017 @Ratchaprasong
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is supporting ‘Taste it all 2017 @Ratchaprasong: The Royal Delights – Pheasant Festival’ organized by the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA). The food festival runs from now until 31 October. The annual festival, celebrates its 14th anniversary this year and offers amazing dining experiences to local and international visitors helping promote the district as ‘The Best Dining Destination’ in Bangkok.
Pheasant has been chosen as the highlight of this year’s Taste it all 2017 @Ratchaprasong . The lean meat, which is chewy but tender, is quite a delicacy and and an excellent choice for health conscious foodies. In Thailand, pheasant comes from the Royal Projects, which began experiments with pheasant farming in 2004.
This year, all of the Royal Project’s pheasants will be used to create signature dishes for the Taste it all 2017. Try the creative dishes at eight hotels in the Ratchaprasong District – Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, InterContinental Bangkok, Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, The St. Regis Bangkok and Paste Bangkok at Gaysorn Village. Read more
6th Annual So Amazing Chefs 2017
From Tuesday 26th to Sunday 1st October SO Sofitel will host 12 chefs who between them share a total of 12 Michelin Stars. For six days on the agenda are five themed degustation dinners, five exclusive private chef’s table dining opportunities catered by the SO Amazing Chefs, a weekend brunch, and three once-in-a-lifetime cooking classes hosted by the chefs themselves. In addition there will be a cheese evening, an oyster feast and a series of after parties.
New gastronomy professionals who are joining this year include: Read more
World Gourmet Festival
One of the longest running food festivals, this year it marked its 18th edition from September 4-10, 2017 at the Anantara Siam Bangkok. This year the World Gourmet Festival partnered with Sanpellegrino to invite Michelin-starred chefs as well as chefs who are on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Asia’s 50 Best 2017 lists. Read more
Phuket Food & Wine Expo 2018
Phuket was wining Wine Spectator Awards long before Bangkok, yet the island’s fine dining hasn’t received the same global recognition as the capital. To assert its right on the global dining map, in March 2018, Phuket Food & Wine expo (orchestrated by Talisman Media Group) will take place at Royal Phuket Marina International Exhibition & Conference Center (RPMIEC), showcasing sumptuous cuisine, fine wine and spirits and the latest in luxury kitchen products and services.
This exhibition labelled, as “The Food and Beverage Event of the Year” will attract more than 80 international exhibitors and 3,000 plus visitors to this one-of-a-kind industry event. Besides a comprehensive exhibition, Phuket Food & Wine 2018 features a programme packed with engaging food and lifestyle events, including a gourmet farmers’ market, charity dinner, live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, fashion events and live entertainment. Read more
