Thai SELECT Presents “Soul of Thai Cuisine,” Celebrating Thailand’s Regional Culinary Traditions
An intimate four-chef collaboration celebrates the depth of Thailand's regional cuisine through heritage, personal
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An intimate four-chef collaboration celebrates the depth of Thailand’s regional cuisine through heritage, personal storytelling, and contemporary technique
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 17, 2026 / Thai SELECT, the global culinary certification supported by Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, welcomed invited guests on Thursday evening for Soul of Thai Cuisine: A Chef’s Love Letter to Thailand, an intimate chef collaboration held at Platform by JBF in New York City.
The one-night-only experience brought together four acclaimed Thai SELECT-certified restaurants – Lalyn, Chalong, Tiki Thai, and UnTable – for a collaborative culinary journey showcasing the remarkable diversity of Thailand’s regional cuisine. Moving beyond the country’s most familiar dishes, each chef offered a personal interpretation of their heritage through thoughtfully crafted courses inspired by regional ingredients, time-honored traditions, and contemporary techniques.
Rather than following a traditional tasting menu from a single restaurant, Soul of Thai Cuisine unfolded as a shared progression of dishes, with each chef contributing a distinct perspective on Thailand’s culinary identity and demonstrating how its traditions can be honored while reimagining them through contemporary techniques.
The evening began with Chef Kitpoom “Nicky” Khanarat of Lalyn, who welcomed guests with Moonlit Royal Trilogy, a modern interpretation of three classic royal Thai recipes, alongside Lalyn Head Bartender Teddy Chantarasombat’s tropical pandan-infused cocktail, Duen Pen. Chef Nate Limwong of Chalong followed with Miang Scallop, a refined Southern Thai appetizer featuring Hokkaido scallop, betel leaves, and Thai herbs, while Teddy introduced Gaeng Aom, a savory cocktail inspired by Northern Thailand’s aromatic herb stew. For the main course, Chef Porntipa “Pat” Pattanamekar of Tiki Thai presented a Southern Thai Crab Curry with handmade curry paste, jumbo lump crab, and rice noodles. The evening concluded with Chef Un Kampimarn of Brooklyn’s UnTable, who reimagined Thailand’s beloved mango sticky rice as a contemporary dessert with a chocolate shell with coconut mousse, mango coulis, toasted almonds, and pistachios.
Among the evening’s distinguished guests were Somjai Taphaopong, Consul General of Thailand in New York, representatives from the Royal Thai Consulate-General, the Thai Trade Center New York, Thai SELECT, Michelin Guide editors, members of the media, and influential voices from New York’s culinary community.
“Thai cuisine is one of the world’s most diverse culinary traditions, yet many diners are only familiar with a small portion of what Thailand has to offer,” said Thanakrit “Tommy” Luangasnathip, Director of Thai Trade Center New York. “At the Soul of Thai Cuisine dinner, we wanted to create an intimate experience that celebrates the chefs who are preserving Thailand’s regional traditions while showcasing the authenticity, craftsmanship, and cultural stories behind every dish. We hope to continue introducing new audiences to the depth, creativity and cultural heritage behind authentic Thai food.”
Through these intentionally designed initiatives and experiences, Thai SELECT continues to spotlight the chefs and restaurants advancing authentic Thai cuisine around the world while fostering a deeper appreciation for Thailand’s rich culinary heritage.
For more information about Thai SELECT, visit www.thaiselect.com or follow @thaiselectusa on Instagram.
About Thai SELECT
Thai SELECT is the official certification mark established by Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce to recognize restaurants and packaged food products that uphold the highest standards of authentic Thai cuisine. The certification assures consumers of genuine Thai flavors, quality ingredients, and traditional cooking techniques while promoting Thailand’s rich culinary heritage worldwide. Today, nearly 2,000 Thai SELECT-certified restaurants across more than 70 countries serve as ambassadors of authentic Thai cuisine.
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SOURCE: Thai SELECT
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