Fearlessness is the key – Hathairat “Chef Jeiw” Urapanthamat

The blazing fire from a large griddle can be seen from a distance, as Hathairat “Chef Jeiw” Urapanthamat, is grilling a piece of Australian rib-eye steak in the kitchen. Her cooking style deeply reflects her flame of passion and her 15-year experience as a female chef in various fine-dining restaurants.

“Being a chef, to me, is not really an aspiration, but rather destiny and a dream.”

Female chefs in the fine-dining world

Hathairat’s dream of becoming a chef began when she was young, as she spent most of her free time in the kitchen and wandering around local markets in Bangkok. Despite her love for cooking, her mother didn’t necessarily agree with her career choice. Hathairat revealed that her mother would prefer her youngest daughter to work as an office lady, widely perceived to be an easier job for women.

“My mom thought that the chef’s job is very tough,” she…