I’m not a chef.

I’m not Thai.

I’m just a guy who fell hard for Thai food...and decided to take it seriously.

For my 50th birthday, instead of a party, I had a private Thai cooking lesson. I was also able to attend a small, private dinner at the chef’s home, one I’d been hoping to experience after following his Instagram and YouTube for some time. Experiencing the food in that setting, cooked with intention and served at a shared table, changed how I thought about food. What stood out wasn’t just flavor, but discipline: technique, restraint, and understanding why things are done a certain way - not rushing, not guessing and not cutting corners.

That experience also reflected how I’ve always preferred to eat. In 2019, I traveled through Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, a trip largely centered around food. I biked through neighborhoods, ate street food, wandered markets, and enjoyed a one-on-one food tour with a local guide. Spending time that way made it clear how deeply food is woven into daily life and meant to be shared. As often as I could, I tried to meet people, make friends, and share meals with them.

Since that lesson in 2025, I’ve spent consistent time reading, learning, observing, cooking, practicing, and honing the craft. Working through techniques, sourcing proper ingredients, and repeating dishes until they feel understood rather than memorized. That includes pounding curry pastes by hand and making coconut cream from scratch, along with the slower, less visible work of tasting, adjusting, and learning when to stop. And a lot of chopping. A lot, a lot of chopping.

Now, as fundraisers for local charities, I host intimate Thai dinners, cooked with respect for the cuisine and attention to detail. Most components are made completely from scratch, with a focus on execution, balance, and doing things thoughtfully.

Learning about, cooking and sharing Thai food has become a true passion project for me.  Something built slowly, with care, curiosity, and a lot of repetition. My hope is simple: to keep learning, keep cooking, and to share good food with people around a table in a way that feels thoughtful, welcoming, generous, and of course, delicious. 

See you around the table!

Steve