Would you say Thai cuisine is popular in this region?

Nut Kunlert, executive chef, Lemongrass Thai Restaurant: What I find very interesting is that a significant number of our guests have either visited or lived in Thailand, and our offerings bring back memories for them.

Atita Tuparsa, speciality chef, Mekong, Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa: It is very popular. Thai cuisine features a unique combination of ingredients that create distinct flavours that are very appealing to local guests. Many people travel to Asia nowadays, which increases the awareness of Thai cuisine in the region.

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Khamphun Plangthaisong, chef de cuisine, Spice Emporium, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi: Yes, Thai cuisine is very popular throughout the world, more so here because a lot of the population has visited Thailand because of its proximity. People here seem to be a little more adventurous when it comes to trying different types of cuisine so they are not scared by the spicy nature of the dishes.

Aphichat Amatmontri, head chef, Pai Thai, Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah: Thai being a cuisine with complex flavours, using all sort of spices, is somewhat very close to Arabic cuisine, where many spices are used in their hot dishes. Also, the weather in Dubai and Thailand are quite similar — hot and humid. I believe eating spicy food actually cools you down. The concept of plates being placed in the centre of the table to make meals a sharing experience is a notion that people in Dubai are very comfortable with as well, which further adds to the cuisine’s popularity.

Supattra Boonsrang, chef de cuisine, Thai Kitchen, Park Hyatt Dubai: It certainly is, amongst both locals and expats. Having opened 10 years ago, we have gone from having 6-7 competitors in the city to over 80 to date, which clearly symbolises the increase in popularity.

How authentic is the preparation of Thai cuisine?

Kunlert: The dishes are authentic in the sense that we use fresh Thai herbs flown from Thailand the day before, traditional Thai cooking techniques, as well as the fact that we strictly hire Thai wok chefs to prepare the dishes. We do understand the local requirements, such as the level of spice and adjust the taste accordingly from time to time.

Tuparsa: The underlying foundation of Thai cuisine is driven from early Chinese cooking techniques, and dates back as early as the 10th century. It establishes a relationship between five fundamental tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, salty and spicy. Striking the optimum balance between these five basic taste categories is the true art and technique behind the preparation of great Thai food, and an important focus for us. We also have a very traditional approach to food preparation — we source authentic ingredients and have a team of Thai chefs, which ensures that the dishes are as true to its core as possible.

Plangthaisong: All of the recipes are authentic; we have spent the last two years sourcing the desired ingredients through various suppliers directly from Thailand to ensure our guests have the same experience they would in the best restaurants in Bangkok.

Amatmontri: Some of our products come directly from Thailand, but we do make adjustments. We try to incorporate some locally sourced vegetables to support local farmers and businesses. We only have Thai chefs, who create authentic flavours. The presentation may be slightly different than what you would get in Thailand.

What is the supply stream like?

Kunlert: As we have franchised the brand, we have sourced and branded the sauces from Thailand to ensure that they get the same taste in every outlet. With regards to Thai herbs, we do have few Thai suppliers whom we import from at least three times a week.

Tuparsa: We have bi-weekly deliveries of some authentic Thai ingredients, like herbs, spices, Thai coconut curry pastes. We also grow our own herbs, like lemongrass, mint and basil, in the herb garden just beside the restaurant.

Plangthaisong: Some of the basic ingredients are sourced from the local market (like onions, garlic, chicken, fish et cetera) but all speciailty Thai products are delivered from Thailand, thrice a week.

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