Michelin Guide Bangkok - 10 earn their first star, while one gets upgraded

[webfact]

10 earn their first Michelin star, while one gets upgraded

By KHETSIRIN PHOLDHAMPALIT 
THE NATION

 

 

JAY FAI’S shop-house restaurant has retained its Michelin star, remaining the only street venue in Thailand to earn this internationally recognised kudos.

 

 

Meanwhile, the 60-year-old restaurant Methavalai Sorndaeng, which is next to Democracy Monument and popular among politicians, is one of the 10 new eateries awarded one star, as per the second edition of the “Michelin Guide Bangkok” released yesterday at Park Hyatt Bangkok.

 

No restaurant in Thailand has won the coveted three stars yet, though all three two-starred restaurants from the inaugural edition, namely Gaggan, Le Normandie and Mezzaluna have retained their stars.

 

 

“It’s my greatest honour to win the award again and it also proves that we can still maintain Michelin standards,” said 72-year-old Supinya Junsuta, better known as Jay Fai. Her eatery is known for local seafood delicacies, such as omelette stuffed with crabmeat, with prices ranging from Bt800 to Bt2,000.

 

“For the past year, after winning one star, I have not stopped cooking as people are still queuing up to try the dishes. I still cook with a charcoal oven and am the only cook. I work 11 hours a day, from 2pm until 1am every day except Sunday and Monday,” Supinya said.

 

Apart from Jay Fai, the 12 one-starred restaurants in the first edition have also retained their honours, namely Bo.lan, Chim by Siam Wisdom, Elements, Ginza Sushi Ichi, J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Nahm, Paste, Saneh Jaan, Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, Upstairs at Mikkeller and Savelberg. The European contemporary restaurant Suhring run by chef brothers Mathias and Thomas Suhring earned an upgrade from one to two stars.

 

The little red guide has been extended to cover the best dining venues in the southern provinces of Phuket and Phang Nga for its 2019 edition.

 

 

However, Pru restaurant in Phuket is the only restaurant in region to have been awarded one star.

 

“The awards aim to honour the diversity of Thai gastronomy, secret recipes and talented chefs who can craft dishes to reflect Thai cultures and marry traditional and modern cooking techniques,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of Michelin Guides.

 

“More than half of the awards go to Thai-style cuisine, which is why Thailand has become a world-class culinary destination. We have also seen a trend in degustation menu, whereby chefs design a complete experience for diners.”

 

Apart from Methavalai Sorndaeng and Pru, other new one-starred additions include Le Du, Gaa, Canvas, R.Haan, Saawaan, Sorn, Ruean Panya and Suan Thip.

 

“I didn’t expect to win a Michelin star because the standard is very high. I’m really glad that Thai food can be accepted so widely,” Jirawut Sapkiree, the second-generation owner of Methavalai Sorndaeng, said.

 

“Our restaurant focuses mainly on local ingredients, spices and herbs and maintains the authentic recipe. The most popular dish for local people is green curry, while pomelo salad impresses foreign diners.” 

 

Former prime ministers such as General Prem Tinsulanonda, Anand Panyarachun and Chuan Leekpai have been seen dining at Methavalai Sorndaeng.

 

The “Bib Gourmand” award, a rating that recognises restaurants offering exceptionally good food at moderate prices (within Bt1,000 in Thailand’s case), doubled in number this year from 35 to 72 venues. Dining venues in Bangkok’s neighbouring provinces of Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan as well as Phuket and Phang Nga were covered in this category.

 

Among them are the legendary Southern food restaurant Raya and its sister restaurant Chomchan in Phuket, along with Krua Bai Toey and Nai Mueng in Phang Nga.

 

 

The Michelin Guide Bangkok has a five-year budget of Bt140 million paid for by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The guide is expected to promote the country as an international gastronomic destination.

 

“The first edition had a successful impact as more tourists want to discover the diversity of Thai cuisine,” TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said. “Popular tourist destinations, Phuket and Phang Nga are also included in the new edition. The cuisine in Phuket is distinctive and flavourful, with a wonderful blend of influences from India, Malaysia, China and the Peranakan ethnic group, while Phang Nga is full of eateries with authentic southern fare incorporating seafood, herbs and spices.

 

“We plan to cover more territories in the future,” he added.

 

The bilingual edition of “Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phuket and Phang Nga 2019” is now available at leading bookstores.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30358555

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-15

[flyingtlger]

Thailand is truly becoming a gastronomical delight!????‍????

[seancbk]

Congratulations to the winners!  
 

A few more restaurants to add to my list of places to dine.

[Henrik Andersen]

Small plates of food but clean and fresh = expensive and you get a **

I just want home clean cooking 

[Cereal]

I've eaten in a couple of Michelin starred restaurants over the years. The food is great, the presentation pure perfection, the ambience spectacular but generally speaking, this ol' home boy likes street chicken and sticky rice with some spicy dip.

[Nyezhov]

Ive eaten at BoLan (excellent) and Canvas and Ruen Panya are on my list. The nice thing about Reun is that it is off the beaten path.

 

As to Jay Fa, I give her credit and wish her business continues to be fabulous, but I refuse to stand in line at a street restaurants with a zillion other tourists and foreigners to have a $30 omelet. Nong Rim Khlong in Ekkamai is getting some press, I hear Krua Asporn is pretty good crab omelets too.

 

Someone told me Rod Lert in WongwangYai has them so sooner or a later I will find a hidden gem.

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, Cereal said:

I've eaten in a couple of Michelin starred restaurants over the years. The food is great, the presentation pure perfection, the ambience spectacular but generally speaking, this ol' home boy likes street chicken and sticky rice with some spicy dip.

True that dude. If Im hungry and in some wierd area, I hit the side streets and look for places filled with Thai folks. Thats easy here in Thonburi, but go to Yaowarat and try it. You have got to hunt the side streets for the good stuff. 

 

Simple formulae form Thai food: Falang Faces=higher prices + less quality

 

The lady near my Condo makes KILLER Gai Yang. 

Edited November 15, 2018 by Nyezhov