Phuket feasts: Peranakan flavours go global at culinary festival

Phuket hosted the Phuket Peranakan Menu to the World festival yesterday, featuring more than 50 booths serving traditional Peranakan dishes. This event, part of the World of Peranakan Food Art Exhibition & Festival 2024, aims to bolster local tourism and achieve recognition in the Guinness World Records.

An official report highlighted the festival’s role in boosting the local economy by promoting Phuket’s Peranakan cuisine on an international stage. A focal point of the event was the famous Phuket Hokkien Noodles, which is slated to be featured in the Guinness World Records in 2025. However, specific details regarding the record were not disclosed.

Organised by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) in collaboration with over 10 network partners, the festival intends to establish Phuket as a premier destination for gastronomic tourism. The event took place at Dragon Plaza in Queen Sirikit Park, Phuket Town, drawing a significant crowd.

Leading the opening ceremony, Rewat Areerob, PPAO President was joined by Kosol Tang-Uthai, President of the Peranakan Association of Thailand, and Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr, advisor to the Phuket Peranakan Association.

Other notable attendees included Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office; Narong Promjitta from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Southern Regional Office; and Boonperm Intanapasat, president of the Thai International Festivals and Events Promotion Association (TIEFA).

Previous activities under the campaign included an art display at Woo Gallery in Phuket Town and a cooking demonstration of Mee Hokkien at a Sino-Portuguese shophouse on Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town on September 26.

These events have been instrumental in promoting the rich Peranakan heritage and culinary traditions of the region.

With its successful execution, the Phuket Peranakan Menu to the World event is poised to leave a lasting impact on both locals and visitors, reinforcing Phuket’s status as a cultural and culinary hotspot, reported The Phuket News.