The streets-to-stardom story of Ian Kittichai, Thailand’s most famous chef

The classic rags-to-riches tale of Thailand’s most famous chef could serve as an inspiration to all of us.

There’s perhaps no bigger celebrity in Thailand than Chef Ian Kittichai right now. Sure, he may not act or look like one, with that broad, eager-to-please smile or the geeky red-framed glasses that he slips on whenever he’s in the kitchen, but who else owns over a dozen restaurants around the world – four in New York, eight in Bangkok, one in Mumbai and several more in the pipeline – and cooks in front of the camera?