Behind the scenes with Chef Pam, Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024 and the youngest Thai female to receive both a Michelin Star and the “Opening of the Year” award in the same year. Her restaurant, POTONG, is ranked #1 in Bangkok by TOP25 Bangkok Restaurants, and she’s also listed among The World’s Best Chefs. Beyond her accolades, Chef Pam is a dedicated advocate for women in the culinary arts, empowering young female chefs from underprivileged backgrounds and challenging a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Check out our shoot with Chef Pam for Season 5 of DW’s “HER: Women in Asia.”
In the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown stands Potong, a Michelin-starred restaurant that has garnered international acclaim under the leadership of Chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij.
Chef Pam’s story is deeply intertwined with her family’s rich history and traditions. Born into a fourth-generation medicine-producing family, her Chinese immigrant ancestors settled in a five-story building in Chinatown over a century ago. This historic building served as both their home and the site of their traditional Chinese herbal medicine shop, “Potong,” spanning several generations.
Today, Chef Pam honors this legacy by transforming the 150-year-old building into the renowned restaurant ‘Potong,’ seamlessly blending her family’s traditions with her innovative culinary vision.
“If you’re outside on the first floor and look up, you’ll see the original sign.” Chef Pam told us during our interview.
The name “Potong,” which translates to “simple” in Chinese, was chosen by Pam’s great-great-grandfather. According to her grandfather, the name was meant to inspire the family to lead a life of simplicity, embracing happiness, humility, and balance. “For me, it really aligns with what I believe in life,” she said about her decision to open her restaurant under the same name.
Culinary Journey
While pursuing a degree in communication arts, Pam’s interest shifted to culinary arts, inspired by a childhood of cooking with her family. Chef Pam began her culinary journey by enrolling in a diploma program at Le Cordon Bleu Dusit in Bangkok. To further refine her skills, she traveled to New York and studied at the Culinary Institute of America, where she trained under the guidance of the acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
“Over ten years ago, being a woman in a professional kitchen wasn’t something most parents or grandparents supported. I was really lucky because my mom loved to cook, and my dad gave me the freedom to decide. They really supported me,” she said.
Upon returning home, Pam became a judge on Top Chef Thailand and founded The Table restaurant. Her dream of opening her own restaurant came to fruition with Potong, housed in a century-old building rich in familial history.
“So Potong is a place where food can happen in a spiritual level, where the experience here is like a roller coaster and it’s storytelling dining experience. And food is the star but also the experience we want to imprint the experience of the customer being here for a long, long time memory.”
The restaurant’s menu features progressive Thai-Chinese cuisine. Chef Pam describes Potong’s approach to cuisine as a blend of tradition and innovation.
“We aim to create something original and innovative while still respecting time-honored techniques. Our progressive style offers a unique dining experience that respects the past while looking to the future.”
Chef Pam’s 5-ELEMENT Philosophy
At Potong, every dish is crafted around the 5-ELEMENT philosophy: Salt, Acid, Spice, Texture, and Maillard Reaction. Each element brings its own unique touch to the table, blending together to create a harmonious culinary experience.
See Chef Pam’s all Inspiring dishes
These elements work in concert to form a unified taste profile, shaping the exceptional cuisine at Potong. Every dish embodies this philosophy, ensuring a cohesive and memorable dining experience.
Chef Pam won multiple awards for her Restaurant POTONG, including Michelin, TOP25Restaurant, World Best New Restaurant – Conde Nast Traveler, World Culinary Award, TimeOut, KOKTAIL, and many more.
Women-For-Women Scholarship Program
Chef Pam champions aspiring female chefs through the Women for Women (WFW) scholarship, launched with the American Women’s Club of Thailand. This initiative empowers young women from underprivileged backgrounds, giving them skills and opportunities in the male-dominated culinary industry.
Bloomberg’s analysis shows only 6% of Michelin-starred restaurants are led by women, underscoring the need for programs like WFW. The scholarship offers a year-long experience at Potong, with Pam covering all expenses including housing, transport, and meals.
“We want to help people whose lives we can truly impact,” Pam shared. “I believe that three months is not enough time for someone to fully grasp what a restaurant does. Often, they give up after that short period. But to truly understand something, and to discover yourself, you need time to prove it.”
Chef Pam takes pride in leading a strong female team at Potong, noting that about 80% of her kitchen staff, including her sommelier and sous chef, are women.
HER: Women in Asia
Chef Pam’s story will be featured in Season Five of the Deutsche Welle (DW) documentary series “Her: Women in Asia.” It will also spotlight two other remarkable chefs from across Asia, showcasing their unique stories and contributions to the culinary arts.
During our shoot with Chef Pam, she shared her story in an in-depth interview and offered a behind-the-scenes look at her restaurant. We explored the inner workings, from food preparation and team meetings to dinner service, and experienced her deep passion and commitment to her culinary journey. She also guided our team through her favorite Chinatown market, where she sources many of her ingredients and spices.
Third Kulture Productions has collaborated with DW over the last three seasons of HER: Women in Asia to spotlight exceptional women across the region. This series explores the lives and achievements of remarkable women, highlighting their contributions and challenges in various fields.
In previous seasons, Third Kulture featured profiles of remarkable individuals, including:
Stamp Fairtex: A female Muay Thai fighter and mixed martial artist with three world championship titles who found strength in the ring after overcoming severe bullying.
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata: A Thai activist renowned for her work in Bangkok’s largest slum community in the Khlong Toei District. Known as Khru Prateep, she is affectionately referred to as the “Angel of Khlong Toei” or the “Slum Angel.”
JInNy: Director of FPS at Thai ESports and one of Thailand’s leading female eSports athletes, who turned her lifelong passion for gaming into a successful career.
“Anne” Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip: Thailand’s first transgender billionaire who overcame a turbulent childhood to become the successful entrepreneur she is today.
Wandee “Ta” Singhara Na Ayutthaya: A single mother and food stall owner who transformed a decades-old family recipe into a thriving business.
Learn more about the “HER: Women in Asia” series on DW’s Website or on their Youtube Channel.
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