Chatchai KLANKLONG

Chef : 1 restaurant

Presentation

Born in Thailand, Chatchai Klanklong grew up in Alsace, where he discovered French cuisine and patisserie. He trained at the Trianon in Saint-Louis (Haut-Rhin), then at the Rendez-Vous de Chasse in Colmar. In 2007, he won the title of Best Apprentice of the Grand Est region, followed two years later by second place in the Best Apprentice of France competition.

Chatchai Klanklong returned to Colmar, first with Michaela Peters, then with Julien Binz. I had a lot of creative freedom, " he recalls, "making dishes with fish from the daily market. Although his mother's recipes were still very much in his blood, the chef had yet to add a Thai touch to his dishes. It was in Switzerland, at the Sonne restaurant, that he gradually allowed himself to be influenced by his origins. As Philippe Bamas' second-in-command, he discovered Mediterranean cuisine, before taking over as head chef. " Thierry Bamas, MOF pastry chef, would drop in from time to time and show us a few recipes, which was interesting. "

But in 2017, Le Sonne closed. " My brother asked me to come and help him with the L'Orchidée project, and I agreed to stay for four to six months maximum for the opening. In the end, I never left," explains the chef. Since then, the two brothers, Chatchai and Kriangkai, and their mother, Khai, have been running the family restaurant. In August 2021, they even opened YAM, a modern Thai bistro nearby. Chatchai was recently awarded the Cuisine de la Mer, des Lacs et des Rivières trophy at the Gault&Millau Tour Grand Est 2023.

I.B.