Michelin has launched its first-ever Guide for Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, recognising the city’s best culinary establishments.

The prestigious French guide dished out 20 Michelin stars to 17 restaurants. Amongst them is the ‘Queen of Thai street food’, Jay Fai. The 70-year old street food seller is known for her scorching wok-fired dishes made with noodles prawns and crab.

The highest accolade was two stars, which went to three establishments -- the progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan, Le Normandie, which opened at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok in 1958, and Mezzaluna at Lebua Hotel. A total of 98 Thai, Asian and international restaurants, including 28 Thai street-food stalls, are featured in the inaugural Michelin Guide.

Renowned for its famous street food, Bangkok has now become the seventh Asian country to have a Michelin Guide and has risen up the culinary ranks to join the likes of Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong/Macau.
 
The launch of the Guide was celebrated at a gala ceremony in Bangkok last week. In his opening remarks at the launch, Yuthasak Supasorn, the Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) Governor, said: “The inaugural Michelin guidebook will elevate Thailand’s food scene to a new level of excellence and significantly enhance the country’s reputation as a world-class dining destination."

“The Michelin Guide is a measure of gastronomic quality for many people around the world. It sets a high benchmark, and we are confident that the launch of Michelin Bangkok will attract more food connoisseurs to Thailand, which will in turn increase revenue for restaurants and substantially contribute to Thailand’s overall tourism and leisure market.”

According to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), food tourism can generate $150 billion in revenue. For Thailand, in 2016, international visitor expenditure on food totalled 326 billion Baht, representing 20 per cent of the tourism revenue.

Yuthasak added: “TAT has made Gastronomy Tourism an important part of its marketing strategy under the Thailand 4.0 socio-economic development plan.

“Thai cuisine is famous all over the world. It is rare a major city in the world that does not boast a Thai restaurant, be it in the form of fine-dining or takeaway. All our culinary delights have their roots in Thai agriculture, which was our bedrock source of economic livelihood well before tourism. Now, the Royal Thai Government is more firmly linking both.”

The Michelin Guide Bangkok 2018 will be followed by similar guidebooks covering the food, service and catering sectors in other popular destinations; such as, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hua Hin.

In 2018, TAT is also supporting the publication of a bilingual Thailand guidebook Gault and Millau Belux 2018 edition. The 4th UNWTO Conference on Gastronomy Tourism will be held in Bangkok in May 2018. - TradeArabia News Service