Restaurants

Thai-ing Together the Local Community

SalaThai’s upcoming Tastes of Thailand event brings four Vancouver chefs together to share their passion for cooking and Thai culture

By Sala Thai /

SalaThai’s upcoming Tastes of Thailand event brings four Vancouver chefs together to share their passion for cooking and Thai culture

To say that the local Thai restaurant community is supportive is an understatement. “It’s very small,” explains Sawasdee Thai’s Chef Sam. “We all know each other and we all like to help each other out.” Sawasdee Thai is one of four Vancouver restaurants participating in SalaThai’s upcoming Tastes of Thailand event, which aims to bring increased awareness to the country’s varied regional cuisine.The May 9th event, held at SalaThai on Burrard Street, will see four different chefs prepare dishes from four distinct regions, inviting guests to vote on a favourite at the end of the night. Complete with traditional Thai fruit carving and beloved Thai beer, guests will be immersed in a culinary tour of Thailand in the heart of the city.All four participating restaurants are keen to introduce Vancouverites to traditional Thai flavours rarely found in North America. “We want to showcase authentic Thai cuisine and show why Thailand is named The World’s Kitchen,” explains SalaThai’s Chef Eddie. “There’s so much more than the generic Pad Thai,” adds Sawasdee’s Chef Sam.

Host SalaThai, who were allocated the region of Southern Thailand for the event, will be preparing a dish based on bold varietal spices. “My team and I are looking forward to representing Thai cuisine at its best,” says Chef Eddie. Sawasdee’s Chef Sam is excited to bring attention to the often overlooked cuisine of his native Northeastern region, Isan, where an emphasis on fresh herbs and vegetables replaces the classic coconut milk base North Americans have come to expect. “Freshness is key in Isan,” he says.Ban Chok Dee Thai’s Chef Parinya will be cooking a cross-regional dish. “I always love a challenge,” she says. “There is a lot of room for fun and creativity in cooking—but especially with an event like this.” For her it all comes back to promoting and embracing the local Thai community. “I love learning new things from other chefs,” she adds. “It’s our honour to be part of this event.”The final contestant is Chef Ui from U & I Thai, a staple in the Lower Mainland’s Thai community with reputed locations in Vancouver and Mission. The event, emceed by Vanmag Editor-In-Chief Max Fawcett, promises to be equal parts interactive, educational and sensory-indulgent.

Event Details

What: Tastes of ThailandWhen: Monday, May 9 | 7:00pm – 9:00pmWhere: SalaThai, 102 – 888 Burrard Street, VancouverTo partake in this unique escape to Southeast Asia, be sure to buy your tickets here: salathai.ca/events