Foreign chefs preparing authentic Thai food in Bangkok

There are only two Michelin-starred Thai restaurants in the world headed by foreign chefs: Kiin Kiin in Copenhagen, run by Henrik Yde-Andersen, and Nahm in London, the flagship venue of Australian David Thompson.

Now Thompson himself is aiming to have a branch of Nahm up and running at the Metropolitan, in the Thai capital, by July, an article on CNNGo.com says.

Nahm alumnus Dylan Jones has already opened his own restaurant, Bo.lan, in Bangkok, off Sukhumvit Road, which he is running with his wife.

He believes that one doesn't have to be born a Thai to be able to cook authentic Thai food.

“It’s all about the palate,” the Australian chef explained. “Thai food can be quite challenging for someone used to Western cooking, because of the complexity of flavours. But you don’t have to be born into it; you just need to keep an open mind. There are some tastes, like bitterness and astringency, that Western chefs tend to avoid, but they’re crucial to Thai cooking, so you need to know how to use them.”