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Sukit Niramitcharoenwong, Head Chef at Simply Thai
by
on Friday, October 02, 2009 12:00 AM
How long have you been a chef at Simply Thai?
Ten years - from the very start. The Singaporean owners knew my culinary teacher and came to Thailand to recruit me. I followed them to Shanghai and began working at the original Simply Thai location on Dongping Road.
You must have seen a lot of changes in the restaurant, which one is the most striking to you?
The change in local tastes. Before, people weren't so familiar with Thai food so they wanted something simpler and lighter. But now they want more authentic, richer foods, full of flavor and spice.
What is the secret behind Simply Thai that has helped it maintain and expand its popularity?
The inspiration behind the business. The two Singaporean owners love Thai food. When Simply Thai first opened, there was no other Thai restaurant in Shanghai and they just kept building on the restaurant's success with lots of promotions and seasonal specials, making sure to always keep it fresh for the diners.
Thailand is a very popular travel destination but what reason would you give to go?
J.J. Market - a weekend market in Bangkok. You can buy everything there, from everyday food and supplies to jewelry and souvenirs. Each visit you'll find something new because vendors change their stock every few months. It's not like a lot of markets that try to lure foreigners; there are many foreigners there but there also lots of locals, so you know that it's good value and quality.
Sounds like you miss Thailand. Will you go back or do you think you'll be in China for another ten years?
I'd like to retire to Thailand. I'm enjoying China, but I miss my country.
Speaking of enjoyment - what do you do to enjoy Shanghai?
Get out! I like to travel around the towns and cities on the outskirts of Shanghai, like Suzhou and Hangzhou. It's nice to take a break once in a while from all the people, especially because many of the places I visit have so much history and some really beautiful temples, very different to the ones in Shanghai.
