Growing up in Bangkok, my favourite time of the day was when I heard my mum or dad calling me: “Tess! à Table!”
My brother and I would scurry downstairs to the dinning table. It’s a fervent ritual for four of us to gather at dinner, not only sharing good meals but also stories of our day with the family. After school, no other moments are more anticipated than this precious repas. I was fortunate to be born in a mixed cultures: my dad, a Belgian who makes the best béarnaise and has a knack for a variety of sauces, is the weekend cook; my Thai mum is the one who takes the helm of the kitchen. Hailing from the south of Thailand, she can come up with both fiery “gaeng som” and fancy European dishes. My taste buds have developed according to my parents’ appreciation for food and their passion for cooking.
But it’s not until I moved to Amsterdam to study a university course in Fashion and Branding that I began to prepare meals on my own. No sooner than I had started cooking, I found myself happily entertaining my roommates and friends with my humble feasts. By the first summer of my freshman year I flew home and on the recommendation of my mum, because they are always somehow right, I landed on a a six-month F&B internship at one of Bangkok’s most celebrated hotels, Mandarin Oriental. From here, I knew I wanted to be in hospitality and went on to pursue a diploma course in Restaurant and Hotel Management at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.
Over the course of two years at EHL, my training had taken me to major “food capitals” of the world; New York, Paris, and upon graduation I decided to settle in London. Wherever I go, I’m always on the lookout for original and authentic places to eat – a penchant I had since my childhood in Bangkok, well known for a countless number of great eateries usually tucked away in nondescript areas.
I started my Instagram tess.a.table whilst living in Paris, and now blog, as a platform and diary to share these places with all the people who have a keen appetite for travel and authentic cuisine as I do.
When I’m not travelling or eating out, I enjoy cooking/eating with my boyfriend in our London flat.
Projects
- La Folie - Marketing for Pop Up Restaurant in LausanneSince my inception at EHL, I have participated in many projects that are instrumental to my future career development, among the highlights are: being part of a team work for the concept week whereby a pop- up restaurant based on the theme of Les Années Folles was created, and an 18-month individual assignment of a hotel renovation in London which resulted in a complete business plan with a professional website - presented in front of external and financial hospitality experts.
Work history
Business Development Account Manager
- London, United KingdomFull Time
Sales and account management for high-demand UK cities to expand outreach in the UK market.
Sales Marketing Coordinator
- London, United KingdomFull Time
Organising exchange events (London, Paris, Oslo, Stockholm), supporting sales team in following regions -UK & Ireland, Benelux, & France.
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Skills
- Admin
- Hospitality
- Branding Identity
- Fashion Branding
- Pop-up Restaurant
- Sales
- Marketing
- Business Development
- Account Management
- Photography
Education
Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Hotel Management
- Lausanne, Switzerland
Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Bachelor IN Fashion Technology
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
One year in International Fashion & Branding, Bachelor of Fashion Technology
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Awards
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Habitat for Humanity & Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver award,
2009 (Received from Bangkok Patana School)