Two cities, hundreds of kilometers apart, might have more in common than one might think—especially when the conversation begins with the word “Toddy Palm.”
Phetchaburi Gastronomy and Art Festival
The “Phetchaburi Gastronomy and Art Festival” was held from July 24–28, 2026, organized by the Phetchaburi Provincial Cultural Office at the Zodiac Courtyard, King Mongkut Memorial Park, Phra Nakhon Khiri. The team from Songkhla proudly participated in the activities from July 26–28, 2026.
What makes this connection so interesting is that both Phetchaburi and Songkhla are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Gastronomy (Phetchaburi joined in 2021, and Songkhla in 2025). This journey was akin to visiting a network peer who shares similar ingredients and urban challenges. We didn’t just attend the event; we brought the authentic flavors of Songkhla to the stage.
Culinary Exchange & Chef Showcase
During the event, เชฟต๊อก–ปีรัชด์ อนันตพันธ์, owner of Secret Garden, and เชฟคาเบียร์ อรโวฟสกี้ (Kabir Orlowski), owner of Studio 55 Songkhla, joined a panel discussion with representatives from Phetchaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Sukhothai. They exchanged valuable insights on food, ingredients, and how each city utilizes local resources to tell its own unique story.
In the Chef Showcase segment, the chefs demonstrated their creativity:
เชฟคาเบียร์ connected the two cities in a single dessert with his “Songkhla Toddy Palm Choux served with Phetchaburi GI Golden Banana Caramel.” It was a perfect harmony between Songkhla’s ingredients and Phetchaburi’s finest, beautifully balanced without either overshadowing the other.
ช่วง Chef Showcase ที่เชฟต๊อกหยิบข้าวยำและไข่ครอบมาทำใหม่เป็นเมนู “ข้าวยำโครเกตไส้ไข่ครอบ” หน้าตาร่วมสมัย แต่ข้างในยังเป็นรสชาติและความทรงจำของสงขลา ส่วนเชฟคาเบียร์เลือกเชื่อมสองเมืองไว้ในขนมชิ้นเดียว ด้วยเมนู “ชูส์น้ำตาลโตนดสงขลา เสิร์ฟคู่คาราเมลกล้วยหอมทองเพชรบุรี GI” เป็นการพบกันของวัตถุดิบจากสงขลากับของดีเมืองเพชร โดยไม่ต้องมีใครแย่งกันเป็นพระเอก
เชฟต๊อก transformed traditional Khao Yam and Khai Khrop (Songkhla’s salted egg yolks) into a contemporary “Khao Yam Croquette with Khai Khrop Filling.” It featured a modern look on the outside, while preserving the authentic taste and memories of Songkhla on the inside.
Beyond the Plate: A Shared Heritage
The most fascinating aspect of this trip wasn’t just what was served on the plates, but what emerged during the conversations. We discovered that both Phetchaburi and Songkhla share a way of life deeply intertwined with the Toddy Palm—from harvesting the sweet sap to simmering and processing it.
While the specific details, flavors, and human stories vary by region, the core processes share striking similarities. This common ground gave us plenty of “homework” to bring back:
- Fostering knowledge exchange among local producers.
- Developing consistent quality in local ingredients.
- Creating new menus to help local products travel further.
We returned to Songkhla with a simple realization: our local treasures don’t necessarily need to change themselves. We simply need to find better ways to tell their stories and present them so people can truly appreciate their value. And sometimes, the development of new flavors begins exactly like this—when people from two cities sit down and truly talk to each other.
References / Sources
- Phetchaburi Provincial Commercial Office. “Phetchaburi Provincial Commercial Office Joins the Press Conference for ‘Phetchaburi Gastronomy and Art Festival’.” Published on July 15, 2026. https://phetchaburi.moc.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/3535/iid/175434
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network. “Phetchaburi — Gastronomy, Member since 2021.” https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/phetchaburi
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network. “Songkhla — Gastronomy, Member since 2025.” https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/songkhla
- Department of Intellectual Property. “Phetchaburi Golden Banana — Geographical Indication (GI) No. 67100224.” https://www.ipthailand.go.th/th/gi-011/item/giregistration224.html
- Department of Intellectual Property. “Songkhla Khai Khrop (Salted Egg Yolk) — Geographical Indication (GI) No. 66100198.” https://www.ipthailand.go.th/th/gi-011/item/giregistration198.html
