Chef Pongtawat “Ian Kittichai” Chalermkittichai

Despite being one of Thailand’s most prolific chefs whom represents Thai cuisine on the world stage, Ian’s humble beginnings date back to childhood days when he pushed a cart through the neighborhood to sell food his mother made. Rising along the ranks after graduating from culinary school in Sydney, Ian became the first Thai national to become Executive Chef of a five-star property in 1998 at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok (currently Anantara Siam Bangkok). Best known for combining authentic Thai cuisine with a global standard of contemporary hospitality, Ian has founded and partnered in restaurants around the world, including Spot Dessert Bars in New York, Issaya Siamese Club and Namsaah Bottling Trust in Bangkok, and Tangerine at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore. Besides getting designated as Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French Republic for his outstanding contributions to gastronomy and agriculture, Ian is also a television personality usually seen on shows such as MasterChef Thailand, MasterChef Junior Thailand and Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil.