THAI RESTAURANTS: Behind The Scenes! - HTK Special

You take 45 minutes to make a dish that it takes a Thai restaurant 5 minutes to make...how do they do it? How do they prep, organize, and run their kitchens? In this video I'm taking you behind the scenes of Thai restaurants by visiting my 2 favourite places in Vancouver: Unchai and Maenam. It's an insider's look you probably have never seen before!
Special thanks to the Thai Trade Centre Vancouver for sponsoring this video, and to everyone at Maenam and Unchai for allowing us into your kitchens!
Unchai website: www.unchai.ca/
Maenam website: maenam.ca/
WANT THE T-SHIRT? store.dftba.com/collections/h...
IF YOU LIKE THIS VIDEO, ALSO CHECK OUT:
How Coconut Milk Is Made: • How is Coconut Milk Ma...
How Rice Noodles Are Made • How Rice Noodles Are M...
How Jasmine Rice is Grown • How Rice is Grown in T...
JOIN US ON PATREON FOR BONUS CONTENT: / pailinskitchen
MY KITCHEN TOOLS & INGREDIENTS: kit.co/hotthaikitchen
FOR RECIPES: hot-thai-kitchen.com/
MY COOKBOOK: hot-thai-kitchen.com/htk-cook...
CONNECT WITH ME!
/ hotthaikitchen
/ hotthaikitchen
/ hotthaikitchen
/ hotthaikitchen
----------------
About Pai:
Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant is the author of the Hot Thai Kitchen cookbook, co-host of a Canadian TV series One World Kitchen on Gusto TV, and creator and host of the KZbin channel Pailin's Kitchen.
Pai was born and raised in southern Thailand where she spent much of her "playtime" in the kitchen. She traveled to Canada to study Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and was later trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in San Francisco.
After working in both Western and Thai professional kitchens, she decided that her passion really lies in educating and empowering others to cook at home via KZbin videos, her cookbook, and cooking classes. She currently lives in Vancouver, and goes to Thailand every year to visit her family. Visit her at hot-thai-kitchen.com

[@IamMotionMedia]

One of my first jobs when i was in high school as a young 15yo was in a small Thai restaurant above an old pub. Prior to this I had only had Thai food once. I worked there for 8 years from high school till the end of uni. In that time the owners took me overseas for the first time to Thailand, and the restaurant expanded to having two large independent venues in Sydney. Hard work but rewarding. I grew a unbreakable love for proper authentic Thai food, learnt to cook and prep. Though I no longer work there because Covid19 thought it was time for me to stop (and it probably was) One of the best if not the best cuisines in the world and the nicest people.

[@brittanywilliams8653]

Do you know the name or brand of the sauces used for fried rice? I want my fried rice to taste like restaurant style but I don't know the sauces they use.

[@IamMotionMedia]

@@brittanywilliams8653 i use Tiparos Fish Sauce, Maekrua Brand Oyster Sauce, and Golden Mountain Sauce

[@brittanywilliams8653]

@@IamMotionMedia Is this what the Thai restaurant used?

[@oldbay2]

@@brittanywilliams8653 you need fermented crab paste to give the umami. The mtn seasoning soy sauce isnt what I would use . I would use Maggi instead if you want Authentic Chinese take away fried rice

[@jordanbabcock9349]

@@oldbay2 the comment is on Thai fried rice... Why would they want your Chinese recipe? Oh, yeah, the Chinese are the Eastern Americans. Opposite of Burger King. Everyone wants it your way.

[@korejtorrecampo3933]

she's a food ambassador!! Thailand is lucky to have you, Pai! :)))

[@geode8556]

Hell yeah! Hooyah, Hoorah, Oorah, Hooah!!! So yummie!😛

[@Porscheman1]

What a lovely couple for offering free food during hard times!

[@BaronSamedi1959]

It is the prepping that takes most of the time. And the clean-up afterwards.

[@ccxfrank109]

Life of cooks brotha

[@swordchaos1181]

Eating all that stuff is the fastest tho haha

[@aandiejacob9798]

guys thanks so much for mentioning the thai select thing! I've been struggling to find authentic thai restos in Montreal and now I have at least a baseline guide! Although I've gotten quite good at thai homecooking at this point, sometimes its nice to have the rarer ingredients!

[@steveholman3451]

This is a two year old video but it’s FANTASTIC.!! Wow, thank you, learned a lot and it was entertaining! 👏🏻

[@traveladdicts2019]

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone as excited as the Unchai owners being told they were chosen the best Thai restaurant in Vancouver (over Maenam!). A sweet follow-up to your terrific profile of two great, and very different, restaurants.

[@TheSilent333]

It makes my heart happy to hear about people helping others during these times. If I was anywhere near it, Unchai would have my business without any doubts. Thanks for this amazing look into professional kitchens! I've always been curious about it!

[@gialuanthang7716]

I love episodes like this because I get to see things I think I would never have a chance to. That salad from Unchai definitely have me drooling like crazy.

[@Snake-filledChimp]

I really like and respect Unchai for focusing on doing a few dishes amazingly well over doing lots of dishes just "OK". I think a lot of restaurants fall into that trap by puting variety over quality - they stretch themselves too thin and the quality suffers, and customers pick up on that right away.

[@andrewsasala6841]

This was so freaking cool to watch! Their setups are so different to the restaurants I’ve worked in, I’m jealous!

[@taylorbarringer]

I love how happy you were to see a restaurants dry storage! Haha Its awesome to see the ingredients and products they use. There are so many kitchens I'd love to be able to peek in and see what they are using.

[@browniepopkens]

K.Pai's expression after tasting is gold. Specially when she says sth out loud in Thai, that means the food is really hitting the spot!

[@NoxiousBlueCloud]

Thanks Pai for delivering content while still being responsible.

[@jetlee9536]

I love Thai food and Thai people

[@demoiselledelamontagne]

Your "out-of-the-kitchen" videos are always so informative and interesting. I learn so much from them. Thanks, Pai!

[@michaelbrooks7096]

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing both restaurants but Unchai was a winner for me - small, intimate with a couple of passionate people serving authentic fresh Thai. Well done Pai, stay safe during these horrible times. Hope you’re all well.

[@gummydogs]

Amazing insight. You don't see kitchen tours this in-depth even on the big food TV shows.

[@terencecarter7793]

You can tell Angus worked with David Thompson, from his prep down to the presentation. Food looks fantastic.

[@patrickrowland2833]

Fascinatingly wonderful, thank you for sharing!

[@Coopdog-dp5eq]

This was great! I loved the contrast/compare with the two restaurants. The idea of the couple wanting a small modest place and doing everything themselves... Awesome!

[@obamas007goat]

I would love to see this kind of restaurant docu-series more often

[@crushivintage]

Pailin is so great! Her channel is full of good advice and great recipes with lots of practical advice to cook Thai food at home. It's literally a channel of great cooking lessons for some of the best meals on Earth. Great job! A+++++++++++

[@pawspaws101]

What great operators of a restaurant!!! So organised and clean and confident enough to let camera's out the back in prep! Very impressive!!!

[@malangpou]

I really love this episode! It's fantastic seeing how overseas thai restaurants look like.

[@firstclassdrip]

Love looking at Thai cooking through this lens! Thank you

[@helmadewit4005]

Thank you so much,I love the Thai kitchen and have many cookbooks (including yours) and just ordered the cookbook Maenam, can’t wait to start cooking!

[@hidavidhuang]

What a great tour! Thank for making it possible.

[@living6a916]

Beautiful Restaurants great people . Thank you all !!!

[@Peter-cm8vi]

hey guys, great video. I learned so much from the professionals. It seems that high quality fresh ingredients and good preparation is the key to a great final product.

[@stephentfchan]

A meaning video to support good local restaurants at this hard time❤️

[@ConnieGao]

I almost never comment even though I've been following this channel and have cooked several recipes already. This video is AMAZING! I'm so glad to see beneath the hood at professional thai kitchens and think about what they are doing and the type of ingredients and techniques that could be applied to home cooking. Pailin you are a treasure!

[@ericbarthe21]

Loved the rice cooker test - she is really a good marketer - and great chef/teacher. Thanks for your great cooking school.

[@HowToCuisine]

It's bringing me back when I was a chef in a Thai restaurant! Thank you for this video! 😍🔔❤️

[@bullymama369]

I love this! The extra tid bits of knowledge you just don't get anywhere else. Thank you!

[@david-iam]

Why are all my favorite food KZbinr in cities not local to me? I'd be crazy enough to jump into the car, drive down there and order the same dish so I can properly watch this episode again. Well done! Was a treat to see the behind the scene.

[@unstoppablefoodie]

Well Done! Great perspective in the two types of local Thai Kitchens in your area. The passion & love of Thai cooking/food was on full display at both locations. So many pro-tips. Learned so much in 25 minutes. Thank you for sharing!!

[@krisanamartin5583]

Unchai ! Your curry looks amazing with a lot of herbs. Awesome! Good choice for wonderful restaurant!

[@CurliQueCowGrrrl]

I just saw this and it is THE BEST! So interesting and informative to see behind the scenes. Thank you Chef Pailin and Vancouver Select Thai restaurants! Now I really have to visit! 😋😋😋😊

[@sh3n3ng]

coconut cream grilled corn!, that's so simple and makes so much sense! gonna try it soon.

[@pgacree1601]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I love that you highlighted the contrast between a smaill, mom & pop restaurant and the larger, high end restuarant. Both equally care about the quality of the food they create. I wish I lived in Vancouver!

[@rtongcn]

This was so well produced! You’re such a warm and welcoming presenter. I kept thinking you should have had a nice glass of wine to go with all the dishes at Maenam.

[@randallbrown229]

Can't wait to travel again... great !!! video...This is where I will eat for a week!!! Thank you everyone.

[@zacchie]

What a interesting look behind the scenes, thank you for showing us! :) Everything looked so delicious 😋

[@tnwhy111]

We went to Maenam when we visited Vancouver last year because I saw it on one of your instagram posts - definitely did not disappoint and was one of our favorite meals of the week. Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes!

[@heyitscalvin]

It’s an excellent perspective going behind the scenes of these restaurants. Thanks for this video Pailin!

[@aminzairi51]

i love your channel and seeing how it grows is so inspirational. i love Thai food, people, culture so friendly and always smiling. Love from Malaysia

[@John-xg2vj]

This was very informative. It will help me up my Thai cooking. I was glad to see I use many of the same ingredients as well. Thank you.

[@BackDownSouth]

I watch all your videos, but this was one of the best for me....Thanks for this one.......Love the backroom peek...

[@taroshibuya7011]

Such good hearts to give food away. Please support them!

[@Joe_Murphy-REV_Realty]

I loved this so much!! Thank you, Pailin.

[@bobdilokjeerapan681]

love this episode krab!!! appreciated how far they take the food to the next level!!

[@belindakho]

This was an awesome video- you did a great job interviewing the restaurants. Can't wait to try them next time I visit Vancouver.

[@eugene_the_great]

Really enjoyed this video! Getting to look behind the scenes was fun!

[@shirleywong4684]

This was amazing. I wish I was in Vancouver right now! Thank you for sharing! ❤️

[@mrs.b6793]

HTK, thank you for taking me with you. I love this kind of content. It inspires the Chef inside me to chase my dream of having a restaurant. Tips, advice and informations are really essential for a frustrated restaurant owner like me! I can never thank you enough. 💕 P. S. I still miss mini whisk and mini spatula! 😂

[@nell1343]

Thank you for all that you do. You seem to have a lovely personality!

[@stevenhall1097]

Looking amazing as always Pai.

[@Diphallia]

This video was fantastic! Loved the restaurant view, it’s inspired me to take my Thai cooking to the next level!

[@philafflack1298]

Pai! this is a great video! thank you so much! I have your book, now may have to order maenam's!

[@robertbrudd4180]

Absolutely wonderful!

[@tanluwils1736]

Awesome video! I took a look at the merch store for the first time and love that "Let's get started!" on your mug!!!!!!!!!

[@joelow6086]

I love these kind of Thai food. They are aromatic and delicious and they make me hungry. Thanks for sharing this video Pailin.

[@dunniam3168]

Thanks so much for sharing this video. 😋😘🙋‍♀️

[@peterdoe2617]

Always a pleasure to see the same ingredients that I use! My favourite thin soy sauce is Healthy Boy Brand. Black soy, too. As a fish sauce I got recommended "Megachef" in Caboolture, Australia. Only to find that our local asia store in Pinneberg, Germany, offers it too ;-) Just sent a link to this vid to a friend in Canada. This "look behind the scenes" was really fantastic!

[@Ollonskog]

This was super interesting and informative, thank you!

[@TracysHomeGarden]

Love love Thai food...with so many common ingredients to Vietnamese cooking! The fish sauce! Who does not love fish sauce?! People with ❤️...giving away free food during COVID lockdown is truly awesome...such a great way to give back to the community! 😍😋🇨🇦

[@ditackett]

Thank u for that. When I watch mark weins do his videos the cooks on the streets in Thailand amaze me so it was really neat to see how they do it in a restaurant in a foreign country. Thank u

[@tehetracy]

Yum loved seeing the behind the scenes of maenam! I went when I visited Vancouver because I remember you recommended it at one point ☺️

[@SL-vs7fs]

Pai,loved loved loved this video! I got so many tips and ideas out of this. Thank you!

[@SBinVancouver]

That was fun, what a contrast between the two! I have both of the cookbooks; Maenam uses some pretty obscure ingredients and labourious techniques. Will have to try Unchai soon... half hour walk for me.

[@foevachanster]

Thanks for doing this! Prepping is the hardest part! Kudos to the chefs and sou chefs. You are such a good host and i look forward to more of these videos! Stay safe ❤

[@GusDeru]

Khun Pai, thank you for sharing the video! We'd definitely visit both places next time we are back in Vancouver!

[@heidifink991]

That was a great video, and I have two new restaurants on my list to check out. Thank you, Pai!

[@midori1954]

Thank you for all the insights.

[@pedrovision6987]

Wow...your videos are like being in a class...THANK YOU!!

[@2454605]

I love your content, Pai. Love seeing behind the scenes and how they do it in pro kitchens. I learned a lot! Andrew

[@tom4wlt]

Great video. Love to see more "field trips." It's nice to see chefs innovating and adapting Thai cuisine with local ingredients. I will definitely have to try the grill corn with the papaya salad. Here's an idea for a future video: Unchai Shrimp Salad or your own version.

[@vinhnhan2096]

This video came out in such a right timing since we are in town (from Toronto). Came to Maenam last night, ordered the exact same food in the video and a pad Thai and everything was so bomb. The grilled corn salad def is my fav. Thanks Pailin!

[@tonychan4526]

This is one of your best of many good episodes. Love your stuff.

[@prinyamusic]

Amazing behind the scenes, loved it!

[@wendyjennings1502]

Holy Basil...reseeds like crazy in my area! Glad to hear it is used so much with food. I've only used it for tea. Thanks for this video.

[@gregsoutdooradventures5423]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you Pailin!

[@michaelnardmann3208]

Awesome idea supporting local restaurants during these times! btw. fish sauce with the 3 black crabs is very good.

[@AleriaCarventus]

This is so cool! As a Vancouverite myself, I'll definitely be making a trip to these restaurants.

[@thevincechong]

This is such a great video, so informative, very juicy. Well done 💯

[@elizabethlarose3632]

Loved this video....thank you

[@living6a916]

You have taught me so much. Thank you.

[@MLLL1234]

Looks delicious and would love to see your take on these recipes on the show!

[@winkipinki007]

Wauw... super clean kitchen. 👌💯 and how sweet to share food 👍

[@davidjustdavid3955]

Looks good. clean and organised. Miss working in a thai kitchen, everyone is quiet and calm even when busy. No tantrums ❤🇹🇭

[@EricsonHerbas]

Thanks for showing us home cooks what happens behind the lines. Great editing too! Lots of “pro” tips here.

[@timivers8823]

Very cool video! All your videos are great. Your excitement, and energy is so refreshing. I'm a retired chef and binge watch your videos. Your recipes are delicious too! I crave the flavors of some that I made.

[@tomekcezet2148]

Loved the video! I only wish I could ever visit both of these places to try these mouth-watering gorgeous dishes.

[@Meatrose]

Thanks for the upload, it was really nice to get to see how they operate. Also, I think I'm going to expand my collection and get that book. :)

[@minnydew]

Now I know where to go for Thai food when I go back to Vancouver. Thank you!

[@matthewmaclellan]

this was so great! thanks for showing us behind the scenes at some local institutions. notes from a local: i've seen very pliable palm sugar at east west market and sunrise market. and have seen fresh baby corn at sungiven foods very occasionally!

[@droolalot5795]

I've been with you for 5 years and your production is great

[@RavensRules]

What a great video. Excellent quality

[@michaelminasian4891]

This is one of the coolest videos that you've ever done!! Love Maenam