Craving an authentic taste of Thailand? My craving was satisfied this morning! I attended the opening of the 2025 Thai SELECT Festival at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, and it was a culinary adventure I won't soon forget. This festival showcased the best of Thai cuisine, offering a diverse range of flavors and experiences.
Spicy, sour, salty, sweet, and umami - if there are words that best explain the flavors of Thai dishes, they can be summed up in these five words. Known for its bold and vibrant flavors, Thai dishes continue to capture everyone's palate and heart, making them one of the emerging favorites among experiential and immersive dishes in the world.
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| Ms. Sutinee Vathana - Director, Thai Trade Center in Manila and H.E. Mrs. Makawadee Sumitmor - the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines at the main entrance arc for Thai SELECT Festival special ribbon-cutting ceremony. |
In the Philippines, being one of Thailand's neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, more and more Filipinos are craving an authentic Thai experience that offers grandeur flavors and tastes. While numerous Thai restaurants are sprouting all over the metropolis, Thailand's Thai SELECT reiterates that for Filipinos to fully appreciate the authentic Thai taste, one must look for the Thai SELECT seal.
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| Ms. Sutinee Vathana, Director of the Thai Trade Center Manila |
"We are very grateful to our Filipino friends for continuously appreciating our dishes. Like them, we take pride in our dishes that speak not just of flavors and taste but also years of history. culture, values, and discipline that made our dishes what they are right now. Knowing Filipinos to have a good choice, we are excited for them to try other Thai dishes in this year's Thai Select Festival at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City," shared Ms. Sutinee Vathana, Director of the Thai Trade Center Manila.
Eight Thai SELECT Certified Restaurants:
The festival featured eight exceptional Thai SELECT certified restaurants, namely Mango Tree BGC, Mango Tree City of Dreams, Benjarong Manila, Samyan Thai Street Food, Nara Thai - Megamalls, Nara Thai - Molito Lifestyle, Thai BBQ Original Restaurant, and Greyhound Cafe. Offering the perfect balance of Thai flavors, these eight brands are Thai SELECT certified restaurants, making it Thailand's pride and bridge in connecting to more people across the globe.
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| Benjarong Manila - Dusit Thani |
Benjarong Manila: A sophisticated blend of traditional and modern Thai cuisine, showcasing elegant royal dishes.
Samyan Thai Street Food: A vibrant celebration of Bangkok's street food scene, with both sweet and savory delights.
Nara Thai Cuisine: Exquisitely presented dishes made with premium ingredients, capturing the grandeur of Thai fine dining.
Thai BBQ Original Restaurant: Comforting and invigorating Thai flavors, from refreshing drinks to delightful desserts.
Mango Tree (BGC & City of Dreams): Popular for its stir-fried rice noodles, Panang curry, and mango sticky rice, Mango Tree offered innovative twists on classic dishes.
Greyhound Cafe: A unique fusion of East and West, combining traditional Thai flavors with modern creativity.
Day 1 Cooking Caravan
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| Demo of Nara Thai Chef Sorada Sriwichai |
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| Demo of Mango Tree , Chefs Banchong Singthis and Elijah Estillore |
To join the festivities, the Thai SELECT Festival is happening today, July 19, and tomorrow, July 20, at the Grand Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City. The event is organized by the Thai Trade Center (TTC) Manila.
To learn more about Thai SELECT restaurants and products, you can simply browse through https://thaiselect.com/. You may also follow the Thai Trade Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaitradecentermanila.
