We are
husband and wife Jitsada and Sandy and we opened Chang Thai in May 2007 (about
6 weeks after we got married - crazy, yes!). Jitsada is head chef and Sandy is front-of-house.
Customers always ask if we met in Thailand but actually we met in London (Shepherd's Bush to be precise!)
Udon Thani isn't well-known
to tourists but is a major business centre and you might pass through it if
you're travelling from Thailand to Laos or if you go off the beaten track a bit and visit the historical sites and
temples in the area. If you want to find out more, see the Tourism Thailand
site at:
Sandy is from London and worked in marketing and teaching before opening the restaurant. Since the birth of our son in 2008, she now works part time front-of house as well as doing the 'office' work. So you won't
often find us working together as one of us is usually looking after our son.
Jitsada is
Thai and is from Udon Thani in North-East Thailand(also known as Isaan or Esarn) a region famous for its fiery-hot food packed
with strong flavours such as fermented fish paste. He trained with his dad, also a chef in London, before taking the plunge and opening Chang Thai
We've had great support from our families and friends and couldn't have got this far without them - so thank you all!
