David Thompson
Widely acclaimed as an expert on Thai food, for many years David has researched Thai culinary
techniques and ancient recipes which has led to a greater appreciation of Thai food in the West.
David was born in 1960 in Sydney, Australia. In 1986 he travelled to Thailand and instantly became
enamoured of the country, its people and their culture. A year later he moved to Bangkok. During
his stay he met, an elderly women, Khun Sombat Janphetchara, whose mother was attached to one
of the palaces of Bangkok and thus heir to a tradition of great culinary refinement. David learnt
from her the fundamentals of Thai cookery. Through her, David developed an increasing regard and
understanding of Thai cooking, “...it is one of the world's great cuisines, although somewhat unrecognised
and often bastardised." he says.
In 1991 David returned to Sydney to open his first restaurant, the Darley Street Thai. The Sydney
Morning Herald voted it the ‘Best Thai Restaurant’ every year that Darley Street Thai was open - a
formidable eight years in a row.
In 1995 David embarked on a new venture in The Rocks area of Sydney, and called it Sailors' Thai.
Sailors' was a more informal, relaxing restaurant where the food is less complicated but nonetheless
authentic and delicious.
In 2000 David was awarded the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide’s Professional of the
Year. Yet despite this, David decided to close Darley Street Thai after 8 successful years and moved
back to Bangkok.
At this time David was approached by Christina Ong to open a restaurant in London.
Nahm was launched at the Halkin hotel in July 2001 to great critical acclaim. Fay Maschler of the
Evening Standard who wrote one of the very first reviews gave Nahm her highest scoring “David
Thompson produces dishes more sagacious, undulating, bewitching and boisterous than any you will
find even in Thailand”
In 2002 Nahm was awarded a Michelin star, which it maintains today: making it the first Thai restaurant
ever to be awarded a Michelin Star. In 2003 David was voted “outstanding London chef” at
London’s leading restaurant awards ceremony: the Tio Pepe ITV restaurant awards.
David has also produced the most comprehensive guide available to authentic Thai cookery with his
first book “Thai Food”. Published in late 2001, it has won practically every culinary book award
worldwide over the following year, including, the Andre Simon book of the year award, the Glenfiddich
cookery book of the year, and Guild of Food Writers in the UK. A James Beard award, an
International Association of Culinary Professional award in the US, the Gourmand ‘Foreign Cookbook
of the Year’ in France and in Australia, at the World Media Awards, the Jacob’s Creek Award
for Best Food Book.
Thai Street Food, David’s new book was published in October, 2009
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