TORONTO — What constitutes an authentic Thai restaurant? Just ask the owners of Linda Modern Thai restaurant, the family owned and operated Thai restaurant, located at The Shops at Don Mills in Toronto. The popular eatery is the first Canadian recipient of the Thai Select Premium designation, which identifies Thai restaurants globally for offering authentic Thai foods, employing genuine Thai cooking methods and importing ingredients from Thailand.
To introduce the new designation, The Department of International Trade Promotion, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce agency dedicated to the expansion of international trade, joined with the owners of the restaurant, Linda Liu, her husband, Ernest, and son, Alan, to host a media dinner to celebrate the official designation and to showcase several of the eatery’s specialties.
“The Thai Select Preimum is the highest award the government of Thailand can bestow on a Thai restaurant,” explained Daovipa Leekumjohn, Consul, Thai Department of International Trade Promotion. “It indicates a five-star degree of excellence and a premium fine-dining experience. Linda Modern Thai now joins the exclusive company of fine Thai restaurants around the world that have earned this distinction.”
“We are very honoured to be awarded this internationally noted accolade,” said Alan Liu, GM of the restaurant to a crowd of media and dignitaries earlier this week. “It recognizes not only the authenticity of our flavours and cooking style but also our commitment to outstanding service and innovation in Thai cuisine.”
The Thai Select Cuisine program is divided into two categories based on the levels of design and service excellence. The Premium is the highest category and reflects a degree of excellence of five stars or higher and a premier dining experience. The secondary Thai Select designation indicates a degree of excellence of three to four stars and recognizes a fine-dining experience. Four Canadian restaurants have been selected to receive the premium designation while 18 others from across Ontario have been awarded the select designation. Among the four premium winners are Linda Modern Thai, Bangkok Garden, Golden Thai and Mengrai Gourmet Thai, all of Toronto. Winners of this designation can showcase a DITP logo prominently on their restaurants for three years.
