How popular is Thai food in this region?
Sawai Krasian, Chef de cuisine, Blue Rain, The Ritz-Carlton DIFC: Thai food is absolutely growing in popularity, especially well done, authentically prepared Thai food. Twenty years ago, Thai food was a niche market in the region, perceived by many as too spicy for anyone but Thais themselves.
Pawichada Phakhot, Thai specialty chef, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai: Thai food is very popular in the Middle East; now you can find a Thai restaurant in most of the hotels.
Toshikazu Kato, Chef de cuisine, Nusantao: Sea Kitchens, Four Seasons Hotel Doha: Thai food is quite popular not only with Asian expats, but individuals from all nationalities, including Arabs. I personally think Thai cuisine is suitable for hot climates, because of the way it is cooked and its ingredients.
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Is Thai cuisine here as authentic as it gets?
TK: Yes, most of the restaurants in Doha have very good Thai chefs hailing from Thailand, so they serve authentic food. There are naturally some challenges involved in obtaining a regular supply of Thai ingredients such as fresh vegetables, Thai herbs, sauces and so on.
SK: Dubai’s Thai food offerings are good overall, but we feel that it is essential to use authentic Thai ingredients in the food. There are various types of ginger, and palm sugar and fish sauce only made in Thailand. Like any type of cuisine, there is no real substitute for authentic ingredients; the end product suffers when the ingredients are compromised.
What is the competition like between outlets serving Thai food?
Chaiwat Kawikitpraphat, Head chef, Thiptara, The Palace Downtown Dubai: Dubai’s culinary landscape is extremely competitive; everywhere you look, there are new restaurants, chains and global brands that are establishing their regional presence within the emirate, turning the heat up on existing outlets.
Yongyos Chimthep, Chef de cuisine, Benjarong, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi: Naturally every restaurant strives to produce the best and most authentic food possible and we know diners who enjoy Thai cuisine will naturally try different restaurants to find what their preference is.
SK: Dubai has a dynamic food scene, so there is always plenty of competition with any type of cuisine. For a Thai experience in Dubai, there are certainly many options, as Thai restaurants become more prevalent each year.
TK: I believe there is healthy competition. What I also believe makes a difference in popularity is whether the outlet serves only Thai food or a variety of Asian cuisines. Thai menus generally offer a very good variety, but a lot of the Pan-Asian restaurants are more popular and well known in the city of Doha.
PP: There is very good competition especially in Dubai. Many restaurants are also coming up with different concepts such as bringing food from different regions of Thailand, so even Thai cuisine food served in the region will be different.
What does it take for a Thai restaurant to succeed?
TK: The quality and flavour of the food continues to dominate. If the food tastes like what one would find in Thailand and the ingredients used are authentic, diners are pleased. The atmosphere and ambience is also important.
SK: First and foremost, you need a Thai chef who is passionate about introducing his native flavours to guests. Second, the starting product should be fresh and as authentic as possible. If the ingredients are high quality, great food will follow. Finally, service is always important.
YC: Whenever you interact with a guest it is an emotional transaction and we have to ensure that we deliver their expectations, which means making sure that from the moment they enter the restaurant to taking the order to the food being served, their expectations are exceeded. In short it is all about striving to be the best. If we did not, we would not be true to our diners.
PP: We have to provide what people like and bring something original. To be successful in Thai food the main focus should be the taste — making food according to the original recipes is very important. It is also important to stay consistent.
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