Dear Reader,

Please meet my culinary teacher, Khun Ton. In 2008, she emerged the winner of the prestigious Thailand culinary competition, an achievement that would forever change the trajectory of her life and the lives of those fortunate enough to cross her path.

I first had the privilege of meeting Khun Ton that very year, a serendipitous encounter that would prove to be a turning point in my culinary journey. I was always curious about Thai cuisine since my trip to Thailand as a missionary. I have always wanted to learn the art. As the winner of the competition, she had earned the title Exxecutive Chef and the teacher in one of the best Thai restaurants in Thailand. Her culinary prowess was undeniable, but it was her ability to impart knowledge that set her apart.

Khun Ton was the beacon of Thai cuisine, and under her guidance, I delved into the intricacies of this exotic culinary art form. It was she who introduced me to the concept of the Thai flavor trinity – the harmonious blend of sweet, sour, and spicy that gave Thai food its unique and unforgettable taste. She also emphasized the importance of balance, a hallmark of Thai cuisine that separates it from the rest.

She would taste each of our food, and critique everyone. In Asian cuisine, even more so than other cuisines, different chefs can produce very different results. The chef's palette makes all the difference. That's why, it is extremely difficult for a foreigner who did not grow up cooking Asian food to produce the authentic Asian flavours. Our palettes are trained from young. I remember she always liked my palette.

As the years passed, Khun Ton's influence continued to shape my culinary skills. I became a devoted student of her art, but it wasn't just me who benefited from her expertise. My children, in their teenage years, had the privilege of learning from her as well. Khun Ton was not just a teacher but a mentor, passing down her knowledge and passion to the next generation.

However, destiny had other plans for her. Soon after teaching me, Khun Ton decided to leave the restaurant she taught in, where she had once shared her wisdom and embarked on a new journey. She opened her own restaurant and culinary school, realizing her dream of creating a space where her culinary artistry could flourish.

Before the pandemic cast its shadow, I made it a point to visit her restaurant at least twice a year. Each visit was a culinary delight, and every time, I would enthusiastically talk about returning to her classroom to continue my culinary education. I even wrote to her about creating a series of Youtube videos on her teaching Thai cooking. Yet, the demands of life, especially as a parent, always seemed to get in the way.

Last week, I eagerly returned to her restaurant, hoping to rekindle the idea of her teaching culinary courses once more. As I walked in, I was greeted by familiar faces among her staff, and to my delight, Khun Ton herself. She appeared unchanged, her passion for food, and her food radiating from her as always. But it was a bittersweet moment when her staff informed me that she had ceased teaching culinary courses.

Her restaurant had grown from a humble eatery tucked below a bridge to one of the most celebrated dining establishments in Thailand, as per numerous Google glowing reviews. Some say her restaurant has the best food in Phuket. Khun Ton had achieved remarkable success, but it came at the cost of her availability to teach. The demand for her culinary expertise had skyrocketed, and her time was now dedicated to her thriving restaurant.

My attempts to persuade her to return to teaching were met with gracious but unwavering resistance. And while I understand that she should be in her 60s now. Khun Ton had moved beyond her role as a teacher, focusing on the culinary empire she had built. While I celebrated her accomplishments, I couldn't help but reflect on the missed opportunities to learn from her once more.

The story of Khun Ton serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of seizing the opportunity when we encounter a good teacher. In life, these opportunities are often fleeting, and for many reasons, we may never have the chance to learn from them again. A great teacher can inspire, guide, and elevate us in ways we never thought possible, cutting short the often arduous learning curve. With Khun Ton, it was the best US$100 I spent to learn from her.

I have always believe that everybody has something to teach me, whether it is a Thai culinary champion, a michelin star restaurant chef teaching in Le Cordon Bleu, or a teacher in a shopping-centre culinary school who has less cooking experience than me. There is value in learning the little tricks that I may have missed out or forgotten.

By the same token, when I know something, I am always eager to impart the knowledge I gained through either hard work or paid tuitionfor, so that another person who is the 'old me' can get on to the next step because I get them across their hurdle.
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What about you? What can you coach or teach someone so that you can make their lives a little better? Everyone has something they know better than others. Everyone has something to teach. What would you teach, whose life would you change because they met you?

Regards,
Pamela Lim