Nok Suntaranon
Nok Suntaranon | |
|---|---|
นก สุนทรนนท์ | |
| Born | |
| Spouse | Ziv Katalan |
Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon (Thai: จุฑาทิพ "นก" สุนทรนนท์) is a Thai chef and owner of Kalaya in Philadelphia. In 2023, she received the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef, Mid-Atlantic.
Early life
[edit]Suntaranon was born in Yan Ta Khao, a district in Trang province, where her mother Kalaya operated a curry paste stall at a local market.[1][2] Her father had a problematic relationship with alcohol; her mother sent her to Bangkok to live with her grandmother to get her away from the dysfunction at home and give her educational opportunities.[2]
The family lost their house after her father borrowed from loan sharks and used the house as collateral.[2] He died by suicide soon after she graduated from college.[2]
Career
[edit]Suntaranon worked as a business class flight attendant on Thai Airways.[3]
After her second marriage she relocated to Philadelphia and opened Kalaya, named for her mother, in April 2019.[4][5][2]
In 2024, Suntaranon announced the publication of a cookbook Kalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen.[6][7][8] Nok was featured in volume 7 of Chef's Table.[9][10][11]
Recognition
[edit]In 2020 both Esquire and Food & Wine named Kalaya one of the best new restaurants in the country.[12][2] In 2023, Suntaranon received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.[13][14][15]
Personal life
[edit]She was married to the owner of an Italian restaurant in Bangkok.[2] The marriage ended in divorce.[2] She met Wharton School professor Ziv Katalan onboard a flight to New York City, and they married.[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ Sheehan, Jason (2022-10-16). "With Kalaya Fishtown, Iconic Restaurateur Nok Suntaranon's Past Steers Her Future". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Chef's Table: Nok Suntaronon. 2024.
- ^ Herndon, Craig LaBan | Monica. "Chef Nok of Kalaya returned to Thailand for inspiration. We joined her". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ a b Springer, Kate (2023-07-03). "One of Philadelphia's top chefs met her future husband on a plane. And then they traveled the world together". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ a b Herndon, Craig LaBan | Monica. "Chef Nok of Kalaya returned to Thailand for inspiration. We joined her". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ D'Onofrio, Mike (2024-10-28). "Kalaya chef "Nok" Suntaranon is out with in new cookbook". Axios. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Suntaranon, Nok; Jesionka, Natalie; Persico, Michael (2024). Kalaya's Southern Thai kitchen. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publisher. ISBN 978-0-593-58087-5.
- ^ "Kalaya chef's new cookbook is filled with her favorite home recipes – including her mom's curry paste". PhillyVoice. 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Qureshi, Hira (2024-11-22). "Kalaya's Nok Suntaranon stars in Netflix's 'Chef's Table, Volume 7′ this November". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon of Fishtown's Kalaya is featured in new episode of Netflix's 'Chef's Table'". www.audacy.com. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "New episode of 'Chef's Table' visits Thailand with Kalaya chef Nok Suntaranon to show her life, influences". PhillyVoice. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Food & Wine Best New Restaurants 2020". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "The 2023 James Beard Award Winners | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Rose, Joel (June 4, 2023). "Immigrants have helped change how America eats. Now they dominate top culinary awards". NPR.
- ^ Klein, Michael (2023-06-05). "Philadelphians win big at 2023 James Beard restaurant awards". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2024-11-28.