Wonderful and talented Chef Gam came to visit us at Phanganist to tell us about her lifestyle of cooking on Koh Phangan...
Sawa Dee Ka Gam, tell us your Koh Phangan story...
I am from Bangkok and moved here five years ago to open a restaurant with my partner who is from England. After one year I closed this and made my own chef business, ‘Chef Gam’ for private cooking and cooking classes.
I had got bored of Bangkok and wanted a different lifestyle, to do something different that I had never done in my life.
How did you learn to cook such nice food?
I would go with my mum to the kitchen every day, she worked in a restaurant which was packed all the time.
I felt like I wanted to cook like my Mum, to make people happy, I saw people happy and smiling every day and wanted to do this!
My grandmother is a really good cook, in fact my whole family are chefs. When I was in Bangkok I worked in a kitchen of my friends restaurant. I love to eat, I would go to good restaurants, five star places, to eat and then I would cook the same recipes when I got home and people loved it so that’s why I continued.
Chef Gam cooks for private villas all over the island, customers can book her as their private chef whilst on holiday and also can order delivery from her.
‘When customers need me then I go, if they prefer for me to cook at the villa then I go there, I can arrive at 6pm then serve at 8pm. I set the table up nicely and can supply wine, it all depends what the customer wants’.
Gam’s speciality is Thai and Vietnamese food but she can also do European.
‘I don’t like to copy the food what I do is different and the people like it. My friends liked what I was doing with food and said “yes wow” so this made me more ok to do it’.
Popular dishes to order from Chef Gam are the duck red curry and spring rolls, all of which is made by herself.
Fish dishes are also popular like the steamed fish with lemon and thai herbs served with seafood sauce.
Chef Gam uses nature as inspiration for her food and grows a lot of her own ingredients,
‘I grow thai basil at my villa and also chillis and different vegetables. I grow a lot of my own ingredients and buy as much as I can from local people, I know people who have nice fresh produce with no chemicals’.
Gam caters to all tastes and diets, if you are allergic to something then she can create a special menu for you to suit.
Do you cater for special occasions?
Yes a lot on Christmas day or New Year for people at their villas. They’re always happy and say ‘wow’.
I have regular customers who come every year, they are from the UK but live in Hong Kong and like really special food, it’s around twenty people I cook for.
If there is a wedding or if someone is interested in a special occasion then I can set this up and do a special menu.
Chef Gam is always developing her food by using the experience of cooking for people every day.
Gam needs to be booked one day before so she can prepare and get to the location and this also applies for deliveries. She delivers all of the food personally so that you can meet the chef herself!
What do you like about being a chef in Koh Phangan?
Because for me it is different to what I was doing in Bangkok. I’m really happy to be here and anytime I cook I never get tired, I am so happy every day when I can cook for people and make them smile.
What do you enjoy about the island in your free time?
I take my son to the beach and go swimming, I like to spend time with my son the most, he’s three years old now.
I go to party sometimes but I have a son so it’s not like before. I like everywhere, we don’t just use one spot as everywhere is beautiful.
And finally Gam, why should people try your food?
Because I’m good!
You can find Chef Gam’s menu on her facebook page and also book her from there. She also offers private cookery classes!
Bon Appetit!
First lessons are free of charge.
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