The Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa won the headline somtam contest at the annual Pattaya Issan Festival.
Hotel chefs took back the top prize of 30,000 baht and the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn trophy for their “Foreigners Love Lao-Issan” salad at the June 17-18 event at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
The Somtam Hai Tak restaurant won the 20,000-baht second-place trophy for its version of the spicy papaya salad, while the Hojimin and Tor Nong Jabtao restaurants each won 10,000 baht for third place.
The annual festival also featured live bands, “pong lang” and other cultural performances, and plenty of food.
Pattaya Issan Association President Chanthiman Siripotiraksa said the festival is a chance for tourists to experience the way of life, food, herbal medicine and culture of Thailand’s Northeast region, from where so many Pattaya residents hail.
