About Us :: Staff Profiles :: Sri

Sujan

Head Chef

When I was a schoolboy in Lampang in the north of Thailand, I worked part time as a kitchen helper. This gave me a good insight into the workings of a busy kitchen and when I left school, I decided to become a chef. Both my parents were very good cooks and my elder brother had already started training to be a chef so it was a natural route to follow. My first job was in Bangkok in a Thai- Chinese restaurant where I learned all the basics. I then worked my way up in a number of Thai restaurants, eventually becoming sous chef in a 5 star hotel. I moved on to a big hotel in Phomn Phen in Cambodia to broaden my experience and then went to South Africa as the head chef at the most famous Thai Restaurant in Cape Town. After 2 years I returned to Thailand and opened my own restaurant in Lampang .

When I was interviewed in Bangkok for The Thai House position, I asked my elder brother was already in Scotland about Wales. He told me that the climate was good and that the people were very friendly. He also told me about the excellent reputation of The Thai House and so my wife and I packed our bags again and came here in 2006.He was right about the people in Wales but not quite right about the climate- he didn't tell me about the rain! I have now been head chef for 3 months. I'm really enjoying the challenge of maintaining the very high standards and also bringing in some my own ideas. We combine fresh Thai herbs and spices which come from Bangkok every week with Welsh produce from local suppliers. This gives our dishes a freshness and authenticity which I think cannot be beaten.

I was invited to do a cookery demonstration at the opening of the Llanerch Vineyard Food School recently and enjoyed meeting so many keen chefs. When I'm off duty, I practise fruit and vegetable carving which is my special interest.

We are enjoying Cardiff and want to help The Thai House to achieve an even higher profile. I've been a chef for 25 years and so when we eventually return to Thailand, it will be to look after the small teak tree plantation I planted some years ago and enjoy life with my family.