David Thompson to part ways with Nahm at the end of the month
The chef is moving on from his famed Bangkok flagship to continue his work of “exploring and protecting the history and legacy of Thai food” through Aylmer Aaharn, the Thai food group he co-founded in 2014.
Through Aylmer Aaharn, Thompson runs a more laid back restaurant offering, Long Chim, which operates in Singapore, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
Nahm’s final service will take place on 30 May.
“Nahm grew into an extraordinary restaurant with its success acknowledged in so many ways. Even as Nahm’s reputation grew, refined its service and succeeded as a business, the restaurant always retained its sense of sanuk; the pleasure in looking after customers,” says Thompson.
“The application of culinary integrity in the kitchen was never to the cost of the joy in doing what we all loved. This is what I will always remember. It is a rare restaurant that can achieve all of this.”
After leaving his Darley Street Thai restaurant in Sydney, Thompson opened the first Nahm at Como's Halkin Hotel in London 18 years ago, which earned a Michelin star within six months.
He opened the current Nahm at the Metropolitan Hotel in Bangkok in 2011, entering The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013 at No.32 and earning the No.1 spot in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2014.
Nahm is currently No.10 in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and No.28 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Thompson, who also published award-winning cookbook Thai Food, was awarded a lifetime achievement award at Asia’s 50 Best in 2016 for his dedication to Thai food culture.
His Thai food group Aylmer Aaharn currently manages operations across six countries including Thailand and Australia.
