The Michelin Guide Thailand previously unveiled its 2024 Bib Gourmand List. In total, the selection features 196 Bib Gourmand (28 newcomers and four moved from Michelin Selected), and 216 Michelin Selected entries (37 newcomers).
Among new additions to the guide, 23 are from Koh Samui (four Bib Gourmand, and seven Michelin Selected entries) and Surat Thani Mainland (eight Bib Gourmand, and four Michelin Selected entries), the newly covered territories in this edition. The Bib Gourmand distinction recognises restaurants and eateries that offer great food at budget-friendly prices, namely no more than THB1000 (S$37) for a three-course meal.
According to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, Koh Samui and the mainland city of Surat Thani boast a vibrant and varied culinary scene that further contributes to The Michelin Guide Thailand’s existing restaurant selection.
“Our inspectors have experienced the true diversity that Thailand has to offer, from modern restaurants pushing culinary boundaries to simple street food stalls – continuously reinforcing Thailand’s rich gastronomic culture and heritage,” said Poullennec. “The 2024 edition of The Michelin Guide Thailand highlights not only these exceptional culinary experiences but also the latest trends in the country’s culinary world.”
Eyebrows were raised when the Thai government inked an initial five-year contract with the French gourmet bible, worth around THB143.5 million (S$5.4 million), to launch the yearly guide covering Bangkok and other destinations in Thailand. Exorbitant though the price tag may seem, it appears to have been a smart move on the part of the Thai authorities.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, newly appointed governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, expanded on that theme at the ceremony. She said: “Michelin is putting Thailand into the spotlight as an international gastronomic destination, and the country’s restaurant scene is thriving and flourishing consequently. We are sure that dining in any of the restaurants in the newly launched guide will enhance visitors’ enjoyment of visiting Thailand.”