Chef Ian Kittichai : Founding Partner
Chef Pongtawat “Ian” Chalermkittichai is Thailand’s first international “celebrity chef”. An unlikely candidate, Ian came from humble roots pushing a food cart through his Bangkok neighborhood as a child. Fate guided him to a culinary school scholarship, a French fine-dining apprenticeship in Sydney’s legendary Claude’s, and then pushed him to become the first Thai national in the world to become the Executive Chef of a 5-star hotel, the legendary Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.
With a weekly cooking television show since 2001, Chef Mue Thong (Golden Hand Chef), which can currently be seen in over 70 countries around the world, his audience is truly global. Chef Chalermkittichai created the celebrated NYC restaurant, Kittichai Restaurant, in 2004. In 2008 he left to form his global food & beverage management and consulting firm, Cuisine Concept Co., Ltd., through which he created Murmuri in Barcelona and currently advises an impressive roster of 5-star hotels, restaurants, and food company clients worldwide. In 2010 he opened Thailand’s first gastro pub - Hyde & Seek Gastro Bar - in Bangkok and then his third signature Thai restaurant - KOH by Ian Kittichai - at the Intercontinental Marine Drive Hotel in Mumbai, India. In 2011 he opened Ember Room in New York City and re-launched Spot Dessert Bar, both with Chase Restaurant Group. Chef Ian released his first cookbook for the Thai language market in 2011 and will release an English version in 2012.
Keep up with Chef via his website, www.ianchalermkittichai.com.
Frederic Meyer and Avril Prod : Founding Partner
Frederic Meyer is originally from Paris. In 1999 he was appointed Director of Research and Development of the Blue Elephant Group based in Belgium. In 2002 Meyer opened the Blue Elephant Cooking School in Bangkok.
In 2004 Meyer left Blue Elephant Group and created Avril Production, representing major international DJ stars, such as Claude Challe, Martin Solveig, Sephane Pompougnac, and producing music compilations in Thailand. Presently Avril represents its DJ’s in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe and produces compilations for clients such as The Ritz Paris, Six Senses, Starwood, Sofitel, etc. Avril’s compilations are sold in over 62 countries around the world. In 2011 Meyer joined forces with Chef Kittichai to create Issaya Siamese Club.
To find out more about Avril go to www.avrilprod.com
Hans Bogetoft Christensen : Interior Designer
Hans Bogetoft Christensen is originally from Denmark and studied menswear design and tailoring on London. He has been living and designing in Asia for over 20 years and is the force behind home décor companies Rice for Asian Design, Cocoon, and Ginger. Based in Chiang Mai, Rice for Asian Design has been designing and exporting décor to international clients such as Habitat, House of Fraser, Zara Home, Laura Ashley, Crate & Barrel, William Sonoma, Neiman Marcus, and Urban Outfitters since 1997.
In 2003 Christensen established The House restaurant in Chiang Mai and then expanded the property in 2008 to include Ginger & Kafe to showcase Ginger fashion and home décor. Presently Ginger also operated 15 “shops in shops’ throughout Thailand in prestigious locations such as Siam Paragon, Central Department Stores, and Emporium.
To learn more about Christensen and his projects, please go to www.thehousethailand.com.