James Beard Award-Winning Chef
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon Biography
Chef Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon is a leading figure in American cuisine, celebrated for her bold and authentic approach to southern Thai cooking. Since opening Kalaya in Philadelphia’s Italian Market in 2019, she has garnered widespread acclaim for her innovative yet traditional dishes, showcasing her homeland's rich and complex flavors. In 2023, she received the prestigious James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award, cementing her status as one of the region’s top culinary talents.
Born and raised in southern Thailand, Suntaranon’s love of food began early, but her culinary career developed later in life. She initially worked as a business and first-class flight attendant for nearly two decades, cultivating her passion for travel, cuisine, and cultural exploration. A turning point came later in life when she met her future U.S. professor husband on a flight to New York City. After relocating to Philadelphia, she decided it was time to pursue her passion for cooking.
In 2010, Suntaranon studied at New York's French Culinary Institute and completed a brief internship in France. She gained experience in Philadelphia’s top kitchens, including the Rittenhouse Hotel with Chef Fred Ortega, J'aime French Bakery, and Jose Garces' pastry kitchen at the Kimmel Center. By 2011, she began cooking for friends and neighbors, eventually leading to the opening of her first Kalaya location, a 32-seat restaurant, in 2019.
Kalaya quickly became a local favorite, offering vibrant dishes like som tam (papaya salad) and khao yam (southern Thai rice salad) based on family recipes. Within its first year, Kalaya was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant and was named Esquire’s Best New Restaurant in America in 2020.
In 2022, Suntaranon relocated Kalaya to a larger space in Philadelphia’s Fishtown, enabling a more elevated dining experience and accommodating more guests. The expanded restaurant earned a spot on The New York Times’s 2023 list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States.
Beyond Kalaya, Suntaranon has become an influential voice in Philadelphia’s culinary community. Her journey from southern Thailand to national acclaim highlights her passion, resilience, and dedication to sharing her heritage. With her cookbook, "Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen," she continues bringing southern Thailand's bold flavors to a global audience.
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Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon Videos
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Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Asian & Pacific Heritage, Hospitality, Non-Fiction Authors -
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Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon for your event is available upon request. Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Mory Sacko, Dominique Crenn, Vivian Howard, Damaris Phillips and Roy Choi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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