On 13 and 14 September 2018, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Office of the Commercial Affairs in New Delhi, and Thai Airways International PCL Kolkata, organised the “Amazing Thai Taste in Kolkata 2018” at The LaLiT Great Eastern, hospitality partner.

                   This event is part of Thailand’s “Kitchen of the World” policy, aiming at deepening knowledge and understanding about the Kingdom’s rich culinary culture which is directly related to its tourism and principal economic sectors.

                   The first chapter of the event started with the “Royal Thai cuisine demonstration” on 13 September 2018 at Legacy Grill, The LaLiT Great Eastern, Kolkata. “Kanom Krok Chao Wang”, assorted coconut cream based savoury and sweet treats – a royal recipe – by the visiting Master Chef Suriya Phusirimongkhonchai, from The LaLiT Chandigarh. “Chao Wang” means related to “court attendants” or “court traditions”. The aim of the demonstration was to bring the Royal Thai cuisine to the spotlight among the Indian public. Participants were members of social circles, press agents and “food bloggers” or social media food enthusiasts from across the City of Joy. The inauguration ceremony was also brightened up by a Thai dance cultural performance sponsored by the Office of the Commercial Affairs in New Delhi.

                   On 14 September 2018, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, organised a Lecture on King Rama V of Siam’s Visit to India and Kolkata in 1871, with participation from Associate Professor Sawitree Charoenpong, Guest Lecturer from Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Attendants in this exclusive part of the event were academic personalities, friends of Thailand, and the Thai community in Kolkata, who are keen on historical and cultural relations between Thailand and India. Air travel tickets for the Guest Lecturer was sponsored by Thai Airways International PCL Kolkata

                   These aforementioned events of the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, were part of the “Thailand Week” in Kolkata, and coincided with 2 other “Thailand Week” events, as follows:

1. The “Thailand Trade Fair” , 12-16 September 2018 at City Centre, Sector 1, Salt Lake, Kolkata, venue for shopping a vast array of authentic Thai products from across the country, organised by Thai Trade Center in New Delhi in association with Thai Airways International PCL and other local private partners. Miss Venus Asawapoom, Acting Consul-General, was invited to deliver her opening speech at the inauguration ceremony, which was followed by business matching sessions in collaboration with the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI); and
2. The “Taste of Thailand Food Festival”, 7-16 September 2018 at Vintage Asia, JW Marriott, Kolkata, organised by JW Marriott Kolkata in association with the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, during which special Thai à la carte menus were made available and exquisitely taken care of by the award-winning Chef Samart Muesantat from Sheraton Koh Samui Resort. An exclusive dinner was organised on 6 September 2018 by JW Marriott Kolkata in association with the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, as a prelude to the said Thai Food Festival in the City of Joy.

              The Amazing Thai Taste in Kolkata 2018 and “Thailand Week” are collaborated efforts of Team Thailand (the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata; Thai Trade Center in New Delhi; Tourism Authority of Thailand in New Delhi; and Thai Airways International PCL) in contributing to closer tie between Thais and Indians.