Pam Pichaya Soontornyanakij

Chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij is a celebrated Thai-Australian chef who owns and leads Potong, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Born in 1989, she initially studied communication arts at Chulalongkorn University but later pursued her culinary passion at the Culinary Institute of America. After refining her skills at New York's Jean-Georges restaurant, she returned to Thailand to establish her culinary ventures, including The Table and Smoked.

In 2021, Chef Pam opened Potong in her family's historic 120-year-old building, once a traditional Chinese herbal medicine pharmacy. The restaurant offers a 20-course tasting menu that reflects her Thai-Chinese heritage, focusing on the five elements: salt, acid, spice, Maillard reaction, and texture. Potong has received numerous accolades, including a Michelin star and a spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.

Beyond her culinary achievements, Chef Pam is dedicated to empowering women in the culinary industry. She launched the Women for Women (WFW) scholarship program in partnership with the American Women's Club of Thailand, providing opportunities for young women from rural areas to pursue culinary careers through education and internships at Potong.