The Ministry of Culture has launched the Thai Local Food to World Food project along with the TBLF emblem to elevate Thai local cuisine internationally, starting with five model restaurants to stimulate community economies nationwide.
On 22 July 2026 at 14:00, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, chaired the press conference to launch the Thai Local Food to World Food initiative and unveiled the "Thailand Best Local Food" (TBLF) emblem.
The event was held under the concept "The Lost Taste: The Living Heritage," aiming to raise the profile of valuable Thai local foods internationally by linking culture, tourism, and the creative economy. Ms. Yutthika Isarangkul Na Ayutthaya, Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion, along with executives, government and private sector representatives, and restaurant operators attended in large numbers.
The project builds on the success of the “One Province One Dish: Honoring Local Cuisine, The Lost Taste” campaign run by the Department of Cultural Promotion since 2023, which gathered knowledge on 231 local dishes from all 77 provinces.
In 2026, the department raised standards by studying global restaurant benchmarks, consumer research, and expert opinions, ultimately selecting five model restaurants from over 170 nationwide applicants to serve as examples in preserving, transmitting, and enhancing Thai local cuisine in a contemporary context.
Minister of Culture Ms. Sabida Thaiset stated, “The Ministry of Culture is driving its organizations under the concept‘Ministry of Culture New Era: A Modern Ministry Advancing Globally.’”“We use culture as a key force in national development socially, economically, and in shaping Thailand’s global image. This project exemplifies leveraging cultural capital into economic value, creating opportunities for communities and entrepreneurs, because preserving culture today means keeping it alive and sustainably valuable for people.”
To ensure the project’s success, the Department of Cultural Promotion collaborated with leading private partners to run marketing activities from August to October 2026. The highlight is “The Lost Taste Restaurant Month” throughout September 2026, where the five model restaurants will craft special menus from hard-to-find traditional Thai recipes and offer exclusive promotions in cooperation with partner networks to boost local tourism and spending.
The project also receives marketing and publicity support from prominent organizations including
Ms. Yutthika Isarangkul Na Ayutthaya, Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion, added that this activity is a crucial step in elevating Thai culinary heritage as a driving force for the creative economy, inviting the public to experience local flavors at the model restaurants and follow updates and benefits via the Facebook pages:www.facebook.com/thelosttaste,www.facebook.com/thelosttaste