Preecha Boonbutta, Chef & Owner of Im-Oon Thai Restaurant Budapest
- 24 Nov 2023 2:13 PM
Prepared impressive dishes, resulting in return customers, Design unique menus using seasonal products, also catered events.
Currently owning "Im-oon Thai food" restaurant in the heart of Budapest.
1. Where did you grow up, and when did you arrive to Hungary?
Udon Thani Province, Thailand. Udon Thani is located in the northeast part of Thailand. I arrived in Budapest in 2006 because I wanted to gain more and more experience in my field of work (not only from Thailand). I got a position as a Tepanyaki chef which was related to my experience. Later I moved to other countries, and finally, I moved back to Budapest in 2013.
2. Who was the best cook in your family?
My father
3. What is your fondest food memory?
Thai Beef Salad. When I was young, my father usually cooked Thai-style beef salad. I pretended to cook as my father did. This is the first dish that I cooked by myself.
4. What was the first recipe you learned?
Thai-style beef salad.
5. What is your favourite food to eat?
Thai-style beef salad.
6. How often do you 'play with food' to create new dishes?
In Im-oon Thai food, I usually create new dishes every three months.
7. Which chef do you admire most and why?
Chef Chumpon Jangprai, Iron Chef Thailand.
8. When did you start cooking, and why?
Since 1997, I started to cook.
9. What was your funniest kitchen incident?
While I was trying to open the ketchup bottle, it suddenly splashed to cover my face.
10. What was the luckiest moment in your life so far?
While I was staying in Chiang Mai, Thailand (2014), an earthquake happened. My family and I left the building as quickly as we could. Finally, we are here at Im-oon Thai food.
11. How do you like to relax?
Playing the guitar and singing songs with my close friends.
12. What is your most treasured possession?
My family
13. Apart from temptation, what can't you resist?
Just let go as it be.
14. What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Good food.
15. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Ticket validator man.
16. What job would you definitely never want?
Security officer.
17. What achievement in your life are you most pleased with?
I can have my own restaurant just one month before the COVID-19 situation. Finally, Im-oon Thai food is still alive with a “Cooking with Love” vision.
18. What behaviours do you most like in others?
Cheerfully and Happily
19. What would you say is your personal motto?
“Cooking with Love”
20. What is your professional goal for the next 5 years?
I would like to present modernized Thai food as I do in Im-oon Thai food to the whole world. If it is possible, I would like to open new branches of Im-oon Thai food in European Union countries and also the whole world.
21. Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Budapest makes my dream comes true.