On August 1-2, 2024, Miss Somjai Taphaopong, Consul General in New York, was honored to be invited by Dr. Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Senior Director of the Thai Trade Center in New York, to attend “Dinner: A Gastronomic Tour of Regional Thai Cuisine by Thai SELECT”, a Thai culinary promotion event organized by the Thai Trade Center in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation (JBF), the renowned U.S. culinary arts organization. The event took place at Platform by JBF (Pier 57) in New York City.

     Consul General Somjai delivered welcome remarks and introduced the Thai SELECT certification program, highlighting the quality of authentic Thai cuisine and the importance of promoting Thai food culture abroad. The events spanned two days, featuring a cooking demonstration (Demo & Dine) on August 1 and a full-course dinner on August 2, which was graced by the honorable presence of His Excellency Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States.

     Participating Thai SELECT restaurants, including Somtum Der, Zaab Zaab, Kam Rai Thai, Fish Cheeks, and Sai Tong, proudly presented their chefs and bartenders, who created exquisite and delicious dishes and cocktails inspired by local food from various regions of Thailand. This culinary experience left an unforgettable impression on attendees and provided an excellent opportunity to promote the image of Thai cuisine, and the Thai SELECT brand in New York City.

(Explore Thai SELECT restaurants for Thai cuisine experiences via this website: https://thaiselectusa.com)

(Photo credit: Thai Trade Center, New York)