Los Angeles, 12 November 2016 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) North America is proud to announce Chef Andy Ricker, one of America’s most celebrated chefs of Thai cuisine, as the first “Amazing Thailand Culinary Ambassador.”
With his passion for Thailand and its renowned food culture, Chef Ricker, owner of the Pok Pok restaurants and Thai cookbook author, has showcased Thai dishes with authenticity incomparable to others and is the ideal candidate to promote Thailand’s tourism through authentic Thai cuisine.
Ricker has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation and Michelin Guide for his work, and has made special appearances on multiple TV shows; such as, Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” (Travel Channel) and “Parts Unknown” (CNN) showcasing his Thai culinary roots.
“As a longtime student of Thai cuisine and, by extension, Thai culture in general, it is a great honor for me to be named an ambassador,” said Chef Andy Ricker, “I hope that in this role I will be able to share my love for Thailand and it’s incredibly varied regional cuisine with the US.”
Through his new role as the Amazing Thailand Culinary Ambassador, Chef Ricker will assist TAT in promoting Thai cuisine through a variety of marketing and publicity initiatives throughout 2017.
The first project will be taking a small group of influencers on an off-the-beaten path culinary trip to Thailand, curated by the Chef himself.
The trip will be filmed for TAT’s web series Thai-licious that will be relaunching this fall with a new look and feel. The series will expand its past culinary beginnings and now focus on traveling like a local in Thailand, with several special guests planned for future episodes.
“For many years, TAT has recognized individuals within the hospitality industry who contribute to the promotion of Thailand’s tourism with the ‘Friends of Thailand’ Award,” said Ms. Srimala Waraphaskul, Director of the TAT New York Office.
“This year we have introduced our first culinary brand ambassador as a new take on this award. We hope that Andy’s genuine passion for Thai food culture will inspire more US travelers to visit and experience the authenticity of Thai cuisine first hand.”
“Thailand is second to none when it comes to culinary adventures. As TAT embraces the trend of culinary travel, Chef Andy’s continuing efforts to advocate authentic Thai cuisine in the US aligns perfectly with TAT’s strategies to promote experiential travel to lesser-known destinations in Thailand for 2017,” said Mr. Kittipong Prapattong, Director of the TAT Los Angeles Office.
