In April 2022, I traveled to Thailand with Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan to follow Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon on a journey home. With big projects on the horizon, Chef Nok was in search of inspiration. We spent two weeks traversing the country, see the whole story on Inquirer.com. Published June 2022.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon laughs while having an afternoon coffee in an old shop in Yantakhao, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Nok traveled from Philadelphia to her home, Thailand, to visit with family and research for her upcoming projects.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon cooks an omelet while surrounded by family in their storefront in Yantakhao, Thailand on Friday, April 15, 2022. "Kalaya is very personal... So it's very important for me to go back home to get inspired," Nok said. "And it's very important for me to go back to my roots to make sure that whatever I'm going to do with my new project will be accurate."
Sticky rice grilled in bamboo leaves in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
During an early morning market, a fish vendor filets a red snapper for Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon (not pictured) in Yantakhao, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. The market in Yantakhao starts very early in the morning to accommodate the schedule of villagers who work on the nearby rubber plantations.
Beef curry and steamed whole pompano prepared by Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon for lunch in her family home in Yantakhao, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon reacts to a fragrant mango at the market in Trang, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. "I've been away from home for a very long time," Nok said. "In order for me to be able to present it in a very correct way... I need to go back. I need to see for myself again, I need time to think, to digest."
People navigate the crowded market on a motorbike in Trang, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Shoppers will often pass through markets on motorbike, stopping at stalls to make their purchases.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon prepares a relish in her family's home in Yantakhao, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. "I went back home this time hoping to cook with my mother, but it turned out that my mother was not well enough to cook with me," Nok said. "So it was me alone in that kitchen with a lot of the memories of us cooking together in our kitchen."
Grilled freshwater prawns at Krua Taen in Ayutthaya, Thailand on Thursday, April 14, 2022.
(center) Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon walks toward a long-tail boat for a morning fishing trip in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Koh Yao Noi is an island in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and Krabi.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon arranges grilled fish in the fisherman's cave in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The fisherman's cave in Koh Yao Noi is where fisherman take shelter from storms while out working.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon flips fish cooking over a fire in a fisherman's cave in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The fisherman's cave in Koh Yao Noi is where fisherman take shelter from storms while out working.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon dresses a Thai oyster at a floating fish farm in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
(right) Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon hugs her mother Kalaya Suntaranon while she was hospitalized in Trang, Thailand on Saturday, April 16, 2022. "My mother's name is Kalaya, which means beautiful lady," Nok said. "She is the most beautiful lady I ever met, super strong and smart and witty and caring and very talented."
(Center) Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon thanks (second from right) Yuwarat Sakornsin and (right) her brother Sittisak Sakornsin after a meal at their restaurant, Baan Nual in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, April 22, 2022.
A Thai dessert called Som Choun at Padung Kaewvichit's cooking school in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, April 22, 2022. Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon took lessons from Kaewvichit while visiting Thailand. Som Chun is a cooling dessert made from Thai fruits like lychees, rambutans, and salak in a sweet syrup.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon walks away from a water buffalo after approaching for a photograph on a farm in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon shows off a piece of wok fried Phuket lobster at Chef Gigg Kamol's restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon talks with a fisherman off of Koh Yao Noi, Thailand on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. "Southern people are all about genuine hospitality and broad smile and food... Southern people are proud people," Nok said of the visit to Koh Yao Noi.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon yawns while on a boat ride to dinner at Nana Rim Nam on Ko Yao Yai, Thailand on Monday, April 18, 2022.