PONGTAWAT CHALERMKITTICHAI

In January 1968, Chef Pongtawat “Ian” Chalermkittichai was born into humble beginnings as the only son of eight children in a working-class Bangkok neighborhood.

After working and attending culinary school in London and Sydney, Ian worked his way up in the kitchens of Bangkok’s venerable Regent Four Seasons to become the first Thai national Executive Chef in 1998. In 2001 he started filming his cooking show, Chef Mue Thong (Chef with the Golden Hand), which is presently viewed in over 50 countries. In 2004 he relocated to New York City to open his highly acclaimed restaurant, Kittichai. In March 2008 He again made Thai culinary history by opening his beloved Murmuri restaurant in Barcelona Spain. In September 2008 he created the international food and beverage management and consulting firm, Cuisine Concept Ltd., which currently serves clients across the globe.

Upcoming on Chef Chalermkittichai’s horizon is his first cookbook for the English-speaking world as well as another signature restaurant in 2010.

Chef Ian is no newcomer to the culinary arts in Thailand, he has participated in the Thai culinary national team at the culinary Olympics in 1996 in Berlin, Germany, where he and he’s team won many medals. Then in the WACS Global chef contest in Melbourne in 1998 he represented again Thailand and became 2nd runner up in this world class competition. He is an honorary member of the Thai Chefs’ association and has been judged in a various contests in the past.