JEDDAH, 22 June 2004 — The Thai government’s “Kitchen of the World” campaign was extended to Jeddah on Sunday night, with a “Discover Thai Food” reception hosted by Thai Consul General Sukasem Yothasamutr at the Al-Salam Holiday Inn hotel.
“The promotion aims to introduce authentic Thai cuisine to an international audience,” the consul general told the guests.
“Centuries-old Eastern and Western influences have essentially helped blend Thai food into something that’s now uniquely Thai,” Sukasem said. “Thai food ultimately depends for its authenticity on who cooks it, for whom it’s cooked, for what occasion and where it’s cooked,” he said, adding that dishes can be refined and adjusted to suit all palates.
A proper Thai meal should consist of soup, a dish of curry with condiments, as well as fish and vegetables, and strike a balance between different flavors.
Over 20 dishes of exotic Thai food were on display, ranging from the famous hot and sour shrimp soup (TomYum Kung), green curry with beef (Kaeng Khiao Wan Nuea), barbecued chicken (Kai Yang) and fried noodles (Phad Thai).
A Thai chef demonstrated the preparation of these dishes as well as others such as fried noodles, fish cakes (Thod Man Pla) and spicy papaya salad (Som Tam).
“When it comes to tantalizing the taste buds nothing does it better than Thailand’s classic soups,” the chef said. A colorful mix of Thai herbs and spices infuses these soups with zesty flavors, he said and outlined various ingredients that make Thai food a “food for health.”
Sukasem also took the opportunity to highlight his country’s tourist potential. “Thailand is more than just a destination. Not visiting Thailand is like missing a trip of a lifetime,” he said. “Thailand embodies a quintessential ‘Thainess’ that indelibly colors the nation. Yet the Thais miraculously combine a sincere respect for the past with zest for the new and joy in today’s innovations,” he said. The country is attracting ever growing numbers of tourists for a variety of reasons including shopping, entertainment, sport, ancient wonders, tropical resorts, nature, exotic spas, festivities and a unique lifestyle — aside, of course, from delicious food.
