Thai Food Weeks kick off in Amman

AMMAN — The Royal Thai Embassy in Jordan launched the “Thai Food Weeks” on Sunday, inviting Jordanians to taste their traditional cuisine at Family’s Basket Hypermarket in Amman. 

The two-week event, held under the theme “Essence of Thailand”, is part of a campaign to promote Thai food and products, which abide by halal and international standards, in Jordan and the Middle East region, according to the embassy. 

The opening involved a corner displaying Thai products available in Jordan as well as live cooking by chef Jirapob Potisuk and chef Aranya Khamphafrom the Thai residence in Amman. 

The menu of both chefs invloved famous Thai dishes such as Pad Thai shrimp, Tom Yum Goong and Thai Green Curry Chicken with ingredients available in Jordan. 

Moreover, attendants were invited to taste the cooked food and barcodes were on display, providing them with access to various traditional Thai recipes. 

Ambassador of Thailand to Jordan Supark Prongthura noted that a country’s food embodies its “traditional knowledge” and “identity”.

“A small dish can say a lot about a country’s traditions, history and people,” the envoy told The Jordan Times.

“For example mansaf, Jordan’s traditional dish which I have tried and loved, makes me think about friendly Jordanians and their country’s beautiful sites such as Petra,” Prongthura continued. 

He also noted that exchanging cuisines can enhance cultural and economic relations between countries. 

“It’s a personal and direct form of communication, removing barriers and building bridges between the people of the two countries,” said Prongthura. 

He also expressed hope that when Jordanians try Thai food, it will spark their interest to know more about Thailand and maybe visit it someday and tell their friends and family about it, “becoming like honorary ambassadors to Thailand”. 

Maher Shakhatreh, president of the Thai-Jordanian Friendship Association, was among the attendants of the opening. 

He noted the association’s goal to increase the size of commercial exchanges between the two countries and enhance their economic relations. 

“We organised an exhibition showcasing Jordanian food and products at the largest mall in Thailand in 2011 and a large delegation of business people will visit Thailand and attend its largest food exhibition Thaifex next year,” Shakhatreh told The Jordan Times.