Season three of The White Lotus is now well underway, bringing its signature sharp, satirical wit and dark humor to a new backdrop of pristine natural beauty: Thailand.
Like Maui and Sicily before it, season three has showcased its site’s most dazzling landscapes—including its tropical beaches, lush rainforests, and towering limestone cliffs. But for James Beard Award-winning chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, who hails from Thailand, the Southeast Asian country’s true beauty runs deeper than its spectacular setting.
Photo: Courtesy of Nok Suntaranon
“Thailand is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and not just the beaches and ocean cliffs, but from a food and cultural standpoint as well,” says Suntaranon. The chef helms Kalaya in Philadelphia, an ode to Southern Thai cuisine named for her mother and spotlighting dishes like lamb massaman curry and tom yum, a spicy-sour lemongrass soup crowned with giant river prawns. (Some of these recipes are featured in her cookbook, Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen, and were also featured on her episode in season seven of Chef’s Table on Netflix.)
Suntaranon is happy to see Thailand take center stage, noting, “I cannot wait to watch and see where I grew up on TV.” But beyond seeing her beloved homeland in the spotlight, the chef hopes the White Lotus effect inspires travelers to experience the Land of Smiles firsthand.
Below, the chef shares her go-to stops whenever she visits home. From the sprawling maze of vendors at one of the world’s best markets to the first and only Michelin three star restaurant in Thailand, here are Suntaranon’s essential places to eat, drink, and stay in Bangkok.
Photo: Courtesy of Wana Yook
