Bangkok (Thailand) – November 16, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Michelin has published the Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phuket and Phang-Nga 2019. This is the second edition of the Michelin Guide in Thailand and the first to cover new areas outside Bangkok: Phuket, Phang-Nga and the surrounding provinces (Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan). This latest edition features 217 restaurants and 67 accommodations – including a total of four two-star restaurants, one of which is new, and 23 one-star restaurants, ten of which are new.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, said of the 2019 selection: “This year’s selection highlights the diversity of culinary experiences, both within and outside of Bangkok. We have also observed the burgeoning trend of tasting menus, where chefs carefully craft a complete experience for guests.”

In the 2019 edition, all two-Michelin-starred restaurants from the previous selection – Gaggan, Le Normandie, and Mezzaluna – retain their accolades. New to the list is Restaurant Sühring, which has been upgraded from one to two stars. There, chefs Mathias and Thomas Sühring serve unique and contemporary European dishes in their own distinctive style of modern German cuisine.

Of the 23 one-Michelin-starred restaurants in this edition, Le Du and Gaa are the only two to have progressed from the "Plate"—an award recognizing good food made with fresh ingredients and skillful preparation—to their first star. Eight restaurants are new to the guide. Five of these new additions are located in the heart of Bangkok: Canvas, a restaurant where art meets cuisine, and every dish looks like a masterpiece thanks to top-quality regional produce and diverse cooking techniques; Methavalai Sorndaeng, whose dishes have delighted loyal guests for over 60 years with their explosion of flavor and refined complexity; R-Haan, a restaurant offering authentic Thai dishes—both regional and royal cuisine—using ingredients sourced from across the country; and Saawan, which exclusively serves a 10-course tasting menu of authentic Thai cuisine. Here, creative and perfectly prepared dishes are crafted from regional and seasonal ingredients, offering a true journey through the world of Thai flavors, culture, and art. and Sorn, a restaurant that focuses on long-forgotten recipes and the art of southern Thai cuisine, using ingredients sustainably sourced from a trusted network of farmers and fishermen, as well as refined and sophisticated cooking techniques.

The other two Michelin-starred restaurants are located near Bangkok: Ruean Panya (in Samut Sakhon province), a family-run restaurant considered a hidden gem, offers a captivating combination of cuisine and art. Here, the chef's meticulous attention to detail and the complexity of the flavors make every dish a true delight. Suan Thip (in Nonthaburi province), nestled in a lush garden with trees and small ponds, pampers its guests with refined cuisine inspired by royal recipes. Phuket also boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant: PRU, an elegant establishment within a luxury resort, offers delicate and artfully presented dishes. Many ingredients are sourced from its own 96-hectare organic farm – even the butter is made on-site from milk sourced in Krabi.

Furthermore, three restaurants that had previously been awarded a star – namely Elements, Nahm and Saneh Jaan – have retained their awards despite new head chefs.

The complete selection of the Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phuket and Phang-Nga 2019 will be available as a bilingual digital edition (Thai and English) on the website and as a print version in leading bookstores for 650 Baht.

The 2019 selection at a glance: • 4 two-star restaurants (1 new) • 23 one-star restaurants (10 new) • 72 Bib Gourmand restaurants (42 new)

About Michelin: Michelin, the leading tire manufacturer, is committed to sustainably improving the mobility of its customers. The company develops and distributes the right tires, services, and solutions to meet its customers' needs, offers digital services, maps, and travel guides for unforgettable travel experiences, and develops high-tech materials for the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin operates in 171 countries, employs over 114,000 people, and runs 70 production facilities in 17 countries, which together produced approximately 190 million tires in 2017.