Interview with Chef John Chantarasak
Chef John Chantarasak, owner of Anglo Thai in Malmesbury, opened the restaurant in November 2024, describing it as a culinary bridge between his Thai father and British mother, using local seasonal British produce to reinterpret Thai flavors. After a decade as a musician and office worker, Chantarasak enrolled in a Bangkok culinary school, earned a French diploma, and honed his skills at Michelin‑starred N. He later returned to the UK, launching pop‑up concepts that grew into a 48‑seat venue now serving nearly 500 covers weekly. He recalls the “penny dropped” moment in Bangkok, cooking with his grandmother on Sundays, and the surprise of receiving a Michelin star within months of opening—a testament to ten years of relentless pop‑ups, supplier collaborations, and a home‑grown Thai herb program. The story highlights a new model for ethnic fine dining in London: leveraging local supply chains to deliver authentic flavors, raising the profile of Thai cuisine, and signaling improving working conditions that could attract the next generation of chefs.
Harrods & Le Cordon Bleu: A Partnership Rooted in Excellence
Harrods and Le Cordon Bleu have announced a joint culinary internship program that places Le Cordon Bleu students within Harrods’ iconic food venues, from the bustling food court to the Georgian 5 restaurant and the production kitchen. The partnership leverages...
Guest Demonstration: Carlo Di Cristo
University researcher Carlo Di Cristo took the stage to demystify sourdough, explaining how a simple mixture of flour and water becomes a living ecosystem of bacteria, yeasts and molds that drive bread fermentation. He emphasized that the spontaneous acidification of the...