Perseverance, discipline and self-encouragement are the keys – Chudaree “Chef Tam” Debhakam

When they announced the awards, I was very shocked. We weren’t expecting anything more than really just retaining the one star that we had, and that was our goal. It was never in our minds that we’re going to strive for a second one.

Chudaree “Chef Tam” Debhakam recalled the moments leading towards the announcement, during the 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand Ceremony, when her restaurant “Baan Tepa” was awarded two Michelin stars, making her the first Thai female chef to receive two-star status.

Retaining one Michelin-star is already a challenge for any restaurant, as losing a star could indicate that the eatery has failed to maintain its standard and quality. Having already earned a star in 2023, Chudaree and her team were anxiously waiting to hear the announcement, and started to worry that their restaurant might lose their single Michelin-star status.

“They would…