Picture this: an aromatic symphony of spices, a whirlwind of vibrant flavors tantalizing your taste buds – that’s the magic of Thai cuisine! And now, Thailand’s culinary maestros are on a culinary crusade: to take the truly authentic Thai taste to every corner of the globe. Enter the Thai SELECT badge – it’s not just a symbol, it’s a seal of gastronomic authenticity and a beacon that guides food aficionados to an authentic Thai culinary experience.
In a delightful twist of palate-pleasing diplomacy, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s government has whipped up a delicious strategy to sprinkle Thailand’s charm onto the world stage. The secret ingredient? Food – because, frankly, who doesn’t love an exquisitely crafted Thai dish? Taking pride of place on the global table, Thai cuisine has been a darling of international taste tests, with CNN Travel placing it grandly at number eight.
The icing on the cake comes from the Taste Atlas Awards 2023-24, where five lip-smacking Thai delicacies – “pad krapow,” “khao soi,” “gaeng phanaeng,” “tom kha gai,” and the ever-comforting “massaman curry” – have sashayed their way into the top 100 global dishes, handpicked from a whopping menu of 10,927 items from around the world.
At the heart of this flavor revolution is Thailand’s own Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, the mastermind director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office. Poonpong whisks together a blend of government backing with a pinch of ingenuity to create a recipe for Thai food’s exploding popularity across borders.
Since the early 2000s, Thailand has been stirring up a storm with “gastrodiplomacy,” courtesy of the Global Thai Restaurant Company. This strategic move has left a scrumptious trail, multiplying Thai restaurants from a cozy 5,500 to a whopping 15,000 worldwide. And let’s not forget the “Thai SELECT” certification – it’s the Michelin star for Thai eateries far and wide, suffusing local and international food scenes with Thai pizzazz.
Poonpong explains that the burgeoning ecosystem of Thai restaurants overseas isn’t just about the green curry and sticky rice; it’s a soft power ploy that’s been simmering on the geopolitical hob. This initiative isn’t just nourishment for the soul; it’s a bread-and-butter issue, kneading economic opportunities for Thai industries, from agriculture to hospitality.
But wait, there’s more: the dance of Thai diplomacy twirls on the world’s taste buds through every forkful of pad Thai and spoonful of tom yum served at Thai SELECT-certified venues. These establishments are not just eateries; they’re temples of Thai culture, transferring the legacy of Thai culinary wisdom to eager palates everywhere.
And as the drumroll of dishes goes global, the “Thai SELECT” badge of honor is the flag bearer. Marking a restaurant with this emblem is akin to etching a map of flavor trails for culinary explorers. The US stands as the proud host to a lion’s share of these Thai flavor oases – 6,850, to be precise.
But it’s not a solo culinary concerto. The Department of Business Development, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and Tourism Authority of Thailand have banded together, harmonizing their efforts to play a sonnet of success with “Thai SELECT Food” at the forefront.
Ever dreamt of a “Travel, Taste, Eat Thai SELECT” expedition? Now’s your chance! With a cadence of cultural beats, Thailand is calling food-lovers to experience the authentic, community-rooted essence of Thai tastiness. This initiative isn’t just about savoring a meal; it’s about the story behind each dish, the heritage of every herb, and the soul of every sauce.
With such a feast of initiatives, promoting Thai cuisine transcends the dining table. It becomes a narrative that captivates travelers, ignites excitement, and, most importantly, fuels Thailand’s economic wok with a generous splash of tourism and trade. And all of this is served with a warm Thai smile, in the spirit of government policy, just as Poonpong would attest!
Be First to Comment