David Thompson (chef) facts for kids
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David Thompson addresses a plenary session at the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, 2012
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| Born | Sydney, Australia |
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| Cooking style | Thai cuisine |
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Current restaurant(s)
Long Chim Perth, Aaharn Hong Kong, Aksorn Bangkok, Chop Chop Cook Shop
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Previous restaurant(s)
Darley Street Thai, Sailor’s Thai, Nahm London, Nahm Bangkok, Long Chim Singapore, Long Chim Melbourne, Long Chim Seoul, Long Chim Sydney
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David Thompson is a famous chef, restaurant owner, and cookbook writer from Australia. He is especially known for his amazing skills in Thai cuisine. His restaurant, Nahm, opened in London in 2001. It was the very first Thai restaurant to earn a Michelin star, which is a big award for restaurants. Nahm Bangkok was also listed among the World's 50 Best Restaurants for seven years in a row. A food writer named Grace Dent said that Thompson "changed the face of Thai food in the UK."
Contents
David Thompson's Journey as a Chef
David Thompson first visited Thailand when he was in his twenties. He loved the country so much that he moved there. For two and a half years, he learned the Thai language and studied Thai cooking in depth.
Early Restaurants in Australia
After his time in Thailand, Thompson returned to Australia. In 1992, he opened his first restaurant, Darley Street Thai, in Sydney. Then, in 1995, he opened another one called Sailors Thai. Both restaurants were very successful. A hotel owner from Singapore, Christina Ong, noticed his talent. She asked Thompson to open a restaurant in one of her fancy hotels.
Nahm London: A Michelin Star Success
In 2001, David Thompson opened Nahm in the Halkin hotel in London. It quickly became a hit. Within just six months, Nahm made history. It was the first Thai restaurant ever to receive a Michelin star. This is a very high honor in the cooking world.
In 2003, Thompson won the "London Chef of the Year" award. Food writer Grace Dent praised him, saying he changed how people saw Thai food in the UK. She noted that before Nahm, Thai food was often "predictable." Thompson's restaurant brought new and exciting Thai flavors to the UK.
Nahm Bangkok and Global Recognition
In 2010, Thompson opened a second Nahm restaurant. This one was in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Metropolitan hotel. In 2012, he decided to close Nahm London. He wanted to focus all his energy on Nahm Bangkok.
His hard work paid off. In 2014, Nahm Bangkok was named Asia's best restaurant. It stayed on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list for seven years. In 2017, when the Michelin Guide started reviewing restaurants in Thailand, Nahm Bangkok earned a Michelin star.
Expanding His Thai Food Empire
In 2014, Thompson started a food group called Aylmer Aaharn Thai. This group helped manage restaurants in six different countries, including Thailand and Australia. Thompson was also a main chef at the first Wonderfruit festival in Thailand.
In 2015, Thompson was interviewed on a TV show called High Flyers. He also launched a new chain of more casual Thai restaurants called Long Chim. The first Long Chim restaurants opened in Singapore and Perth. More locations followed in Sydney (2016), Melbourne (2017), and Seoul (2018). However, some of these locations later closed. Long Chim Sydney closed in December 2024 due to high rent.
In 2016, David Thompson received a special award. He got the Lifetime Achievement Award at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. This award recognized his dedication to Thai cuisine. In 2018, Thompson left Nahm Bangkok. He then opened a new Thai restaurant called Aaharn in Hong Kong. In 2023, he opened Chop Chop Cook Shop in Bangkok, on Yaowarat Road.
David Thompson's Personal Life
David Thompson is married to his business partner, Tanongsak Yordwai. Tanongsak is from Thailand.
Books by David Thompson
David Thompson has written several books about Thai cooking.
- His first book, Classic Thai Cuisine, came out in 1993.
- In 2002, he released Thai Food. This book is a very detailed guide to Thai cuisine. It covers the history of Thai food, its role in society, and many recipes.
- His third book, Thai Street Food, shares 100 of his favorite street food recipes.
