A recent deal between Commerce Ministry’s Thai Kitchen to the World programme and The l’Institut National des Appellations d’Origine of France, reports the endorsement of a new culinary trend of matching French Wine with Thai Cuisine at the Thaifex World of Food Asia 2006, which is to be held at the Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani, from the 17th of May 2006 until 21st of May, 2006.
Thai food is a complicated cuisine that incorporates bold flavors, and French wines being equally complicated it is a challenge for the Ministry of Commerce to make it click or for that matter make this pairing an integral part of Thai cuisine without meddling with its ethnicity. As far as French wines are concerned they are meant to mingle with the haute cuisine like French Puilly Fousse or a Sauvignon Blanc to go with Chinese Szechwan dishes, Zinfandel works wonders with American Cuisine, Riesling pairs well with Indian cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Mexican cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine, so on and so forth.
However, Rene {aac} Renou, president of the National Committee of Wines and Spirits of the French institute states:
Several Thai dishes went perfectly well with certain types of French wine. He also observed that Thai food was increasingly popular in France as its ingredients were already commonly available in general supermarkets in France, not just limited to “ethnic” food stores as in the past. We certainly hope the Thai Food and French Wine 2006 Fair can boost the consumption of French wine among Thai people.
This expectation has given rise to an array of possibilities in the Thai restaurant sector, with respect to the possible wine pairings and their outcome.
To quote Pairach Intaput, director of Thai Sommelier and Gastronomy Co:
Thai food could go very well with cool white and rose wine, especially that with sweet and fruity flavours. If they can match their food and the wine well, their business growth could even be doubled.
It all depends on how well-paired is spicy Thai food with fruity French bouquets.
