In Thailand, you just eat whatever you want, whenever you want. So in 2009, as YouTube was emerging as a more prominent platform, she decided to create a cooking show of her own: "That's kind of when the light bulb went off in my headI no longer have to wait for someone to discover me so that I can put myself on the map," she said. With a little help from her brother and a few tips on how to record a video, away she went with her camera and a kitchen. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 Tbsp of the lime juice. Initially Pai posted one video every month but she kept coming back to it. A video I should've done a long time ago, so thanks to one of our" var addEvent = function(evt, handler) { The bones in the chicken will turn the water into stock by the time the meat is tender. In the wake of Buffalo's recent tragedy on the east side, WBFO brings you a program that unapologetically confronts what led to the shooting. fbq('track', 'PageView'); As someone who is often introducing Thai cooking to people for the first time, do you feel pressure to make your recipes feel more quote un-quote "authentic," or rather, to cater to a Western audience? YouTube viewers turn chefs into unlikely stars - SFGATE text-transform: uppercase; But once I started to have a big audience, I felt a lot of pressure to make it as authentic as possible because I thought, I am the ambassador of Thai food. Advise how to really prepare them They have a son named Kaan. PAILIN CHONGCHITNANT was born and raised in Thailand. As a child, she initially used to help elders in the kitchen and her first ever dish that she prepared was a Thai omelette. I went in and I was shocked because everything was so expensive! Learn how your comment data is processed. Getting back to this idea of Thai and Chinese food often being seen as take-out food, rather than fine dining you interviewed a chef at a Thai restaurant in Vancouver, and he also touched on this idea, and how their restaurant aims to challenge that. WOW, I am so totally grateful! Here are Pais suggestions. If she had known the equipment, set-up and know-how involved nowadays it would have scared her off! Cooking it at home, you don't have to make those specific dishesyou can have the freedom and the flexibility to put your own spin on it. Especially being Thai living abroad, I know so few Thai people. Pailin is also a blogger and an author. It was a blank canvas where she could take her time and tell stories that would never be told on YouTube. She was surprised at its popularity and the use of agar agar. Coconut Jelly A made-up dish she created for her Hot Thai Kitchen YouTube Channel that went viral. . (My personal favorite is her recipe for instant pot massaman curry; the freshly toasted warm spices and rich curry is more soul-nourishing and flavorful than any bowl I've had at a restaurant). While studying in high school, cable TV became available in Thailand and thanks to this, Pailin was able to watch overseas cooking shows. Pai's journey from Thailand to Canada did not have a road map but there was a will and a desire. But as she got older, Chongchitnant realized that there was no clear path for hosting a TV show about a cuisine deemed "niche" by mainstream networks. I love writing the inspiring success stories of people so as to inspire you and help you become successful in life. Unsigned musicians: Enter the Contest by sending NPR Music a video of you playing an original song behind a desk between February 7 and March 13. Most people come to Thai food thinking that it's complex and complicated. Courtesy of Pailin Chongchitnant window.fd('form', { Her team consists of a friend whos in charge of pressing record on the camera, making sure her mic is on and everythings in focus. My family and I have loved eating at Thai restaurants since I was a kid, but for most of my life, I always thought of Thai cuisine as outside of my scope for cooking at home, and maybe subconsciously relegated it to being a "takeout food" because it felt so complex. sm.src = h + s + '.mjs' + v; At the time, there wasnt any good Thai food available in San Francisco, so she decided the world needed to know what true and authentic Thai food was all about which was not Pad Thai! Or if you prefer to watch, here's a YouTube video from many years back where I shared my story. So start by learning about ingredients one at a time and then just start building your knowledge repertoire of what each ingredient does and tastes like, and it'll all seem it'll all fall into place. I made coconut milk by hand, pounded curry pastes and got chilis in my eyes more than once! } Direct and prioritized access to me - Basically you have my personal email. I called her up to dish (pun intended) about the most common misconceptions about Thai cuisine, how food and identity intertwine, and what it means to make your own rules in the culinary world. Getting back to this idea of Thai and Chinese food often being seen as take-out food, rather than fine dining you interviewed a chef at a Thai restaurant in Vancouver, and he also touched on this idea, and how their restaurant aims to challenge that. You don't know about lemongrass? Pailin "Pai"Chongchitnant is a trained chef, creator of the YouTube channel Pailin's Kitchen with over 1.5 million subscribers, author of Hot Thai Kitchen, and a TV show hoston Gusto. It's going to be maybe some expensive seafood. You throw it into a dish. It's just so pervasive, this idea that Thai food or Asian food in general should be cheap food. } It also puts the people making the food at a higher level too, because if you think of the food as being something cheap, you kind of group the people cooking them in that light as wellthat they're all just immigrants doing cheap labor work back there. Imoved toSan Francisco to attend culinary school to further my skills atLe Cordon Bleu, and continued to work in the restaurant industry. Pais brother knew of his sisters dream of a cooking show and, like any good big brother, he laid it out for her with some real talk. Hello folks, I'm Naveen Reddy. She has 1.6 million subscribers on her YouTube channel by the name, Pailin's Kitchen. font-family: "FuturaBT-MediumCondensed", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; However, at the end of the day content still rules. And with each video, Pai was cooking less in restaurant kitchens and cooking more for her YouTube viewers. PS. Our audience comes to us for rigorously tested recipes, science-driven cooking techniques, robust equipment reviews, and stories that offer cultural and historical context to the foods we love to eat. In the beginning, I didn't really think much of it. Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! Cook the mushrooms for a minute or so. Pailin Chongchitnant grew up cooking with her family in Southern Thailand. He has more than half a million subscribers on his eponymous YouTube channel. What role does Thai food play in your understanding of your identity? This beautiful location is Tewa Boutique Hotel in Bangkok. It's huge. Hot Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Cuisine with Authentic Recipes to Hi. She could of saved money but not going to the cooking school and just done a tie cooking show online. He suggested I started a cooking show on YouTube, and "maybe one day someone will discover your videos and then put you on TV." To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. Why San Francisco? var v = '?v=' + Math.floor(new Date().getTime() / (120 * 1000)) * 60; I think the main issue with people's familiarity with Thai cuisine right now is they really only know what's available on restaurant menus, which is actually very limited. The authentic is something the Thai people do, and there are many different ways to go about doing it. Hot Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Cuisine With Authentic Recipes To Make At Home, Hot Thai Kitchen YouTube Channel that went viral, 1 lb Chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, bite-sized pieces, 1 stalk Lemongrass, bottom half only, smashed and cut into 2-inch pieces, 10 slices Galangal, sliced into thin rounds, 23 Thai chilies, crushed just until broken. What are some of the things about Thai culture that you wish people knew more about beyond just Thai food? I was afraid no one would find my video, so I emailed it to everyone I knew (I think today that's called spam? Hot Thai Kitchen." Technique-wise, it's quite easy. It's still all Thai. She also started working in pastry shops. removeEvent(evts[i], logHuman); She moved to Vancouver to . if (window.removeEventListener) { Derek Lucci. So start by learning about ingredients one at a time and then just start building your knowledge repertoire of what each ingredient does and tastes like, and it'll all seem it'll all fall into place. What role does Thai food play in your understanding of your identity? Explore the world of Thai cooking with Vancouver YouTuber Pailin Early No-Ad: How to Eat Thai Food CORRECTLY! | Pailin Chongchitnant on What role does Thai food play in your understanding of your identity? Are there any specific food traditions that you like to take part in during the holidays, or just in general when you're sharing a meal with loved ones? They got married in January 2018 in Bangkok. Born and raised in Southern Thailand, Chongchitnant graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in San Francisco. So to approach Thai food, the best way is to start by approaching ingredients, because once you're looking at an ingredient and familiarizing yourself with it, you realize it's just another herb. I maintained my interest in cooking throughout my teen years, but with the introduction of cable TVI also discovered "cooking shows.". (function(w, d, t, h, s, n) { Yes, you can easily cancel or upgrade your pledge at any time. She loves miniature versions of kitchen utensils. Then I posted another one a few weeks later, and another. While there, she realized how shed taken the Thai food she grew up on for granted. She was inspired by cooking shows hosted byJamie OliverandNigella Lawson. formId: '61d3141ba247a7a541995903' As someone who is often introducing Thai cooking to people for the first time, do you feel pressure to make your recipes feel more quote un-quote "authentic," or rather, to cater to a Western audience? Follow. He said, No one will put you on TV, so just do it yourself and put it on YouTube. This was back in 2009. font-family: "proxima-nova", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; This video was a suggestion from one of our Discord members and I thought it was a great suggestion. The card was illustrated by a Thai designer, and the design is based on my recipes . pailin's kitchen husband But if you're seeing people doing really incredible work, you all of a sudden know that, oh, these quote unquote immigrants are chefs and artists and people with high skills and abilities just like all the other well respected chefs in other cuisines. } Hot Thai Kitchen | Pailin Chongchitnant on Patreon Jan 21, 2018 at 3:56 PM Introducing Mr. Vancouver YouTube Chef Pailin Chongchitnant's Tom Yum Soup "I got really excited about the possibility of being able to do this without anybody's permission.". Her YouTube channel also teaches Thai words and highlights the cultural background of each dish. f.parentNode.insertBefore(sm, f); As someone who is often introducing Thai cooking to people for the first time, do you feel pressure to make your recipes feel more quote un-quote "authentic," or rather, to cater to a Western audience? Please help me find this info if you can. for (var i = 0; i < evts.length; i++) { Find out more on my Patreon Page here! Pailin Chongchitnant (@hotthaikitchen) Instagram photos and videos For more than 12 years, Pailin Chongchitnant has hosted the YouTube cooking show Hot Thai Kitchen. The Tiny Desk Contest is back! Her latest book, Sabai, is filled with 100 . Oh man, I have felt a lot of pressure. Chuck D of Public Enemy explores Hip Hop's political awakening over the last 50 years. })(window, document, 'script', 'https://assets.flodesk.com', '/universal', 'fd'); Simmer for 35 minutes to infuse. They also highlight the cultural background of each dish; from steaming bowls of tom kha gai to crispy coconut corn fritters, Chongchitnant weaves stories from her own life and childhood into each video. Pais brother was watching the videos back in Thailand, and with his film industry experience he thought her show really had potential. The first two weeks were rough, but soon enough she was able to get by pretty well. For more than 12 years, Pailin Chongchitnant has hosted the YouTube cooking show Hot Thai Kitchen. Pailin Chongchitnant has always felt at home in the kitchen, and fondly recalls spending her childhood afternoons squeezing fresh coconut milk and grinding pork. She co-hosts the Canadian cooking show One World Kitchen. Thai recipes are everywhere on the internet,but I want to share something more: a true understanding of the steps and the ingredients, and even the cultural background of the dish. He had an idea though. Occasionally I share recipes and food videos that are outside of Thai cuisine because, hey, I love cooking ALL kinds of foods and I was actually French trained. We don't even use the oveneverything happens on the stovetop, more or less quickly. After living for a few years in the United States, as Pailin got permanent residency in Canada, she moved back to Vancouver, Canada. It shouldn't bethere should be a whole range. Eggplant Stir-Fry A dish that comes together very quickly, its a much different way to prepare and eat eggplant compared to baking it in the oven like Eggplant Parmesan. Pailin Chongchitnant - RIS When Pai finished filming her first video, she realized she wasnt done yet. If you want to be updated on my new work such as my upcoming cookbook or a new video release, sign up for my newsletter here! Thank you. He is a graphic designer and much like her, Craig also has Chinese ethnicity. After high school I headed for the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada to study nutritional sciences (only because it was the only food-related major available). On our show we've been interested in exploring the relationship between food and identityfood is often something that people take pride in as a signifier of where they come from, or alternatively, something they might feel some sense of shame around based on negative stereotypes or experiences. That's when she started being able to envision what pursuing a career in food could look like. SO honoured to have your support. Seeing Thai restaurants on the street feels like I'm not quite alone, because I know there are Thai people behind those places. I am interested what brand of cookware she is using . I just had a personal experience with this the other daythere's a new Thai restaurant in Vancouver that just opened, and I wanted to check it out. Enjoy the well-researched articles!!! You know, tradition is something we don't really do. And I feel like there's so much more to being Thai. I actually watch her and other shows, to help me cook at home to save money from going to restaurants. This was just an interview we did with Pailin. You've been learning a. Pailin (Pai) Chongchitnant (@pailin.chong) - Instagram So to approach Thai food, the best way is to start by approaching ingredients, because once you're looking at an ingredient and familiarizing yourself with it, you realize it's just another herb. (w[n].q = w[n].q || []).push(arguments); There were so many opportunities for extra-curricular activities that allowed me to explore my interests and grow beyond the classroom. Most people come to Thai food thinking that it's complex and complicated. Cooking up food and identity in Pailin Chongchitnant's "Hot Thai Tom = Boil, soup; Ka = Galangal; Gai = Chicken I always loved the days my high school cafeteria had tom ka gai on the menu. You just have to get to know some of these building blocks a little bit. I tried to look hard at her videos but couldnt read the name on the handle of the saucepan. How do you feel about that perception of Thai cuisine? If you're wondering how I went from being a kid in southern Thailand to teaching Thai cooking in English language to millions of viewers from around the world, read my story below! Chef and YouTube host Pailin Chongchitnant. How to Order (or Cook) Thai Food for a Balanced Meal - Serious Eats Sawaddee ka, thank you for stopping by, and nice to meet you! I would appreciate if you could teach me how to make the jello If you think Pai has a team or army at her disposal, youd be wrong. Published: 28 December 2021. The Bridge connects music lovers with music makers and engages in the community, supporting musicians, venues, and listeners. A post shared by Bee | Rasa Malaysia (@rasamalaysia) Bee is the founder of Rasa Malaysia, a popular blog that features more than 1,000 Malaysian, Asian, and American recipes. Video creator. But then interestingly, when I talk to people and they ask me, "Where are you from?" Ms. Chongchitnant grew up in Hat Yai, near the southern border with Malaysia, where she ate pad see ew made with egg noodles instead of the standard rice ones; later, the family moved to Bangkok . About Pailin Chongchitnant Become a patron to 372 Unlock 372 exclusive posts Be part of the community Connect via private message Language: English (United States) Currency: USD What is Patreon? Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. After attending the University of British Columbia, she made her way to Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in San Francisco, and began cooking for both Western and Thai restaurants. .section-subscribe div[data-ff-el="root"] form input[type="text"] { Pailin Chongchitnant is a leaper and a dreamer. This is what people are going to think Thai food is, so I better make it authentic. } else if (window.attachEvent) { There's something about picking apart meat in crab shells, it's more of an activity there's action involved in this eating rather than just just putting the food in your mouth. But when I came across Hot Thai Kitchen, that quickly broke down those notions and made Thai cooking seem a lot more approachable. This month, Ethan Adeland profiles Vancouver'sPailin Chongchitnant, the charming host of the YouTube Channel, Pailin's Kitchen, and the author of the Hot Thai Kitchen Cookbook! Cooking shows hosted by Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson offered her a dream: to one day be the host of her own cooking show. Add the oyster mushrooms. How do you feel about that perception of Thai cuisine? Chef and YouTube host Pailin Chongchitnant. Pais words of advice for anyone whos ever thought of starting a YouTube channel or simply creating one video is to just start. And although YouTube viewers expect polished videos, they also crave real moments of just being yourself because thats when the walls come down and true connections are made. Growing up in Thailand, Pailin Chongchitnant spent her childhood with the kitchen as her playground. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop, but it is still a male-dominated genre. When Pai was 12 years old, her family sent her to New Zealand to work on her English. (Remember this was over 20 years ago). var removeEvent = function(evt, handler) { (function(w, d, t, h, s, n) { But despite reveling in a new world of Western cooking, Chongchitnant missed being immersed in Thai food. She grew up in Southern Thailand, and when she was in high school, cable TV became available to her. In 2012, Pailin started publishing videos on a regular basis and thanks to this, her YouTube channel started growing. Because Thai food is still relatively unknown, Pai accepts her role of helping people and spends huge portions of her week answering questions on YouTube, email and anywhere viewers find her. var v = '?v=' + Math.floor(new Date().getTime() / (120 * 1000)) * 60; She also got featured on The New York Times. /* Slickstream Engagement Suite Embedder */ "One World Kitchen" Sweet and Sour (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb Again, action is required. Chongchitnant's recipes (of which there are hundreds, free to access online) aim to offer a deeper understanding of the steps and the ingredients that make Thai cuisine so distinct. . Bristol Palin and her now ex-husband Dakota Meyer had a blazing row on Monday's episode of Teen Mom OG: Meet the Moms. I just had a personal experience with this the other daythere's a new Thai restaurant in Vancouver that just opened, and I wanted to check it out. font-size: 11px !important; Good question. After graduation I started working as a cook in professional kitchens, and by this point I was convinced that I wanted to devote my life to cooking. Ad-free & early access to videos - You get to watch my YouTube videos early and uninterrupted by ads or any mid-roll sponsor messages. .section-subscribe div[data-ff-el="root"] form label { ", "Prik nam plathe ultimate Thai condiment made from fish sauce, chilies, and a squeeze of lime. And a live cookalong with me! n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; Your email address will not be published. w[n] = w[n] || fn; Bring chicken stock and salt to a boil, add the chicken. Pailin Chongchitnant (@HotThaiKitchen) / Twitter }; But when I came across Hot Thai Kitchen, that quickly broke down those notions and made Thai cooking seem a lot more approachable. On our show we've been interested in exploring the relationship between food and identityfood is often something that people take pride in as a signifier of where they come from, or alternatively, something they might feel some sense of shame around based on negative stereotypes or experiences. At this tier your name will be in the credits at the end of the videos! Her aim is to demystify Thai food with easy-to-follow and authentic recipes. That kind of bothered me after a while, because the only thing that they know about Thailand or Thai people is that it automatically goes to Thai food. color:white; As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I have also published a cookbook that lays the foundation for Thai cuisine, with another one coming in March 2023. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. "Hot Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Cuisine" is not only beautifully designed and full of great recipes, but it is also the perfect supplement to the Hot-Thai-Kitchen.com website. There should be medium things so people can go have a nice meal for their birthday if they want. sn.noModule = true; But if you're seeing people doing really incredible work, you all of a sudden know that, oh, these quote unquote immigrants are chefs and artists and people with high skills and abilities just like all the other well respected chefs in other cuisines. It's huge. Would it be posible if I came to Vancouver at the cost you would charge me Chongchitnant's recipes (of which there are hundreds, free to access online) aim to offer a deeper understanding of the steps and the ingredients that make Thai cuisine so distinct. I'm here to demystify Thai cuisine and help you cook great Thai food at home. I do go out to dine sometimes, but its nice to cook at home and to know what is going in for sure. Seeing Thai restaurants on the street feels like I'm not quite alone, because I know there are Thai people behind those places. and I say I'm from Thailand, the first thing they'll say is, "I love Thai food." Next thing you know I had a few "subscribers," and I didn't even know what they were at the time! This is what people are going to think Thai food is, so I better make it authentic. Initially, her YouTube channel was just a hobby for her and as she used to be busy working as a chef, she used to post videos infrequently. gtag('config', 'UA-20468476-2'); Summer Thomad : NPR But then interestingly, when I talk to people and they ask me, "Where are you from?" Hi Claude gtag('js', new Date()); In the beginning, I didn't really think much of it. }; var sn = d.createElement(t); It's just so pervasive, this idea that Thai food or Asian food in general should be cheap food. Thanks to her love for cooking, her education and career all revolved around cooking and food. It's still food the Thai people eat and make. Professionally-trained chef known for sharing Thai cuisine on herPailin's Kitchen YouTube channel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But I think what that actually means is that it's unfamiliar. During studying in high school, as she was attracted to cooking shows, she wanted to grow up to have a cooking show. It adds some flavor, just like rosemary. In a mortar and pestle, pound garlic and chilies into a paste. color:white !important; Pailin did her schooling from RIS Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok, Thailand. (PS. She admits that the bar has been raised by YouTubers everywhere, including herself. I still want to present the food in an authentic way, but I'm not going to stress out over an ingredient that I can't find, or a technique that's just not practical to do in a condo. Cooking up food and identity in Pailin Chongchitnant's "Hot Thai Kitchen" December 28, 2021 When chef Pailin Chongchitnant realized that cable television wasn't ready for a Thai cooking show .