Chef David Thompson is used to ruffling feathers but he was at his diplomatic best when he helped Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra whip up a traditional dish to launch a Thai food festival yesterday.

The Michelin-starred cook and Ms Shinawatra put together a noodle salad signalling the opening of Thailand: Kitchen To The World, a weeklong celebration of Thai cuisine, produce and culture being held at the Shangri-la hotel in The Rocks.

Ms Shinawatra said Thailand would be boosting agricultural, value-added products and export programs ‘‘ beyond ASEAN’’ to promote Thai cuisine and produce.

‘‘ We looked to Australia as the first place to launch this program overseas,’’ she said. The Thai Prime Minister also awarded 19 Sydney restaurants a Thai Select Award, an international program acknowledging that their chefs were staying true to their roots, adding to the 50 that already exist in Australia.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, 28 May 2012