Is there any greater culinary joy than the perfect Thai Green Curry?

No wonder the delicious dish made the Top 100 in a BBC poll of the UK's favourite meals. It's the most ordered item at Thai restaurants nationwide.

This Sunday, fans of the fiery stew should head to the annual London Festival of Thai Food and Culture at Battersea Park, where for one day only, the park will be transformed into an authentic Thai village.

Stalls will sell tasty sweets and imported ingredients and fifteen Thai restaurants will serve streetfood and demonstrating traditional skills such as fruit carving.

For Atique Choudhury, manager of Stoke Newington's Yum Yum, Europe's biggest Thai restaurant, the festival is the perfect opportunity to show off Thai cuisine.

"It's the most appreciated Ethnic cuisine in the UK," he claims.

"Indian food has been here for two or three generations but much of what is served up caters for the British palate. Thai food actually represents what is eaten in Thailand. The key is fresh ingredients, simplicity of cooking and no additives or flavours."

Choudhury has seen the market change beyond all recognition since he first set up Yum Yum in 1992. Earlier this year, the restaurant was forced to moved premises to increase its nightly covers from 80 to 200.

"When I started 15 years ago, it was a lot different. There were only a handful of Thai restaurants at the time," he says.

"Now it's no longer just an ethnic cusine but a serious cusine. People are better travelled now so they are not only tasting the food. They are appreciating the range of flavours and ingredients."

Choudhury is unwilling to divulge the secret of the perfect Green Curry but he is happy to boast about his latest summer special - lamb and peanut curry with pumpkins and potato, roasted chilli and cocunut milk. Like all his dishes, it draws on whatever seasonal produce are available at the time.

Of course there is more to Thai culture than food. This year's festival - the 12th of its kind - coincides with the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the Thai throne and as the King is a die-hard jazz fan, singer Juliette Kelly will be making a special appearance.

Other entertainment comes courtesy of musicians, dancers and martial artists, while several Buddhist monks will be wandering around the site in their distinctive orange robes.

After last year's Tsuanmi disaster, there has never been a better time to invest in Thailand and its culture. As organiser Fiona Fieber puts it: "We are putting out a message that Thailand is still a fabulous and wonderful place to visit and we want you to come."

And with raffle prizes including a three-day stay in a stunning five star Thai hotel with return flights for two people, you might be there sooner than you think.

Thai Festival, Battersea Park (Chelsea Gate), Battersea, Sunday, August 13, 11am-7pm, £3 before noon, £5 after, visit thaifestival.org.uk