Mom Luang
The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as ''thanandon'' ( th, ฐานันดร), which are accompanied by royal titles.
The Sovereign
There are two styles which can be used for a king in ordinary speech, depending on ...
Sirichalerm Svasti ( th, ศิริเฉลิม สวัสดิวัตน์; ; born 16 July 1953), who is usually known by his nickname McDang ( th, หมึกแดง; ), is a Thai
food expert,
chef
A chef is a trained professional cook and tradesman who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term ''chef de cuisine'' (), the director or head of a kitche ...
, and writer.
Early life and education
Sirichalerm Svasti was born in Bangkok in 1953, his great-grandfather was Prince
Svasti Sobhana
Prince Svasti Sobhana, the Prince Svastivatana Visishtha ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าสวัสดิโสภณ กรมพระสวัสดิวัดน ...
, a son of King
Mongkut
Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
. McDang completed his early education at
Cheltenham College
("Work Conquers All")
, established =
, closed =
, type = Public schoolIndependent School Day and Boarding School
, religion = Church of England
, president =
, head_label = Head
, head = Nicola Huggett
...
(
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean.
The county town is the city of Gl ...
, England),
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...
School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) is the school of international relations at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. It is considered to be one of the world's leading international affairs schools, granting degrees at both ...
, (Washington DC) and at the
Culinary Institute of America
Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals. People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called chefs or ...
(CIA).
Career
McDang's culinary training in New York led to a career as executive chef at
The Reach Hotel (
Key West, Florida
Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Isla ...
), Food and Beverage Director for
Paul Tripp Restaurant Group (Key West Florida), and owner and manager of the
Back Porch Cafe in
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach ( ) is a city on the Atlantic Ocean along the Delaware Beaches in eastern Sussex County, Delaware. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the population was 1,327, reflecting a decline of 161 (11.2%) from the 1,488 counted in the 2000 ce ...
.
McDang returned to
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
in 1993, where he began writing about food and cooking, and appeared on TV cooking shows.
Today, McDang is "...one of Thailand's most recognized and learned food authorities.
He is the author of several best-selling
Thai language cookbook
A cookbook or cookery book is a kitchen reference containing recipes.
Cookbooks may be general, or may specialize in a particular cuisine or category of food.
Recipes in cookbooks are organized in various ways: by course (appetizer, first cour ...
s, host of the popular weekly TV program ''McDang Show'', writes weekly food columns for Thai and English-language newspapers, and consults for a number of companies, including
Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited ( th, บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส) is a regional airline based in Bangkok, Thailand. It operates scheduled services to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, ...
,
Siam Winery, and
Wai Wai instant noodles
Instant noodles, or instant ramen, is a type of food consisting of noodles sold in a precooked and dried block with flavoring powder and/or seasoning oil. The dried noodle block was originally created by flash frying cooked noodles, and this is ...
.
Internationally, McDang has appeared on a number of TV shows and has lectured in Australia and
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. Each year he is invited to lecture at
culinary school
A cooking school is an institution devoted to education in the art and science of cooking and food preparation. There are many different types of cooking schools around the world, some devoted to training professional chefs, others aimed at amate ...
s in the United States about Thai cuisine. The notes for these lectures formed the basis for his first English language cookbook, ''The Principles of Thai Cookery'' (2010).
Chef McDang, himself descended from the royal family, asserts that the difference between
Thai royal cuisine and regular Thai cuisine is fiction. He maintains that the only difference between the food of the palace and that of the common people is the former's elaborate presentation and better ingredients.
Works
Since 1998, McDang has written eight books. He also writes a "McDang Guide" column in the newspaper ''
Daily News'', which presents good foods and great restaurants in Thailand and around the world.
Thai language
*''McDang Cook Book'' (1998)
*Yum Thai Yum Farang Cook Book (1999)
*''McDang Cook Book 2'' (2000)
*''McDang Guide 2001'' (restaurant guide) (2001)
*''McDang Guide 2003'' (restaurant guide) (2003)
*''McDang's Recipes'' (2003)
*''Mcdang Guide'' (restaurant guide) (2004)
*''Delicious Food from McDang's Kitchen'' (2005)
English language
*
Thai television
*McDang Show (MCOT Channel 9, 2007 – present)
McDang Show
*McDang's Kitchen Weekly (ITV, 2003–2007)
*Father & Son Kitchen (ITV, 2000–2003)
*McDang Koo Krua (Channel 5, 2000–2001)
*McDang Plang Ros (Channel 7,1998–2000)
*Krob Chakraval Kitchen (Channel 9, 1997–1998)
International television
*Guest appearance with Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay (; born ) is a British chef, restaurateur, television personality and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall; it currently holds a tot ...
on ''Gordon's Great Escape
''Gordon's Great Escape'' is a television series presented by chef Gordon Ramsay.
Series 1 follows Ramsay's first visit to India, where he explores the country's culinary traditions. Produced by One Potato Two Potato, in association with Opt ...
'', Series 2, Episode 4, (UK, 2011)
*Guest appearance on '' Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations' (United States, 2009)
*Guest appearance with ''Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin
Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin is a Television program, television show where host Jeff Corwin travels to various parts of the world and samples diverse, local foods and learns about the various methods of preparation and attainment of foods.
R ...
'' (United States, 2009)
*Guest appearance on Ishai Golan
Ishai Golan ( he, ישי גולן) is an Israeli film and television actor.
Early life
He was born in Ramat Gan, Israel.
Career
Golan attended Telma Yalin Arts High School in Givatayim. In 1990, he got his first cinematic role at the age of 17 ...
show Street Food Around The World {{Infobox television
, image = Street Food Around The World tv series logo.jpg
, genre = Reality television Adventure Culinary
, creator =
, starring = Ishai Golan
, country = Israel
, language = Englis ...
, Series 1, Episode 5.
*Appears in Taste Takes off to Thailand 2004 (New Zealand, 2004)
*Guest on City Cabs / Letterbox (United States, 2003)
*Guest and consultant for Planet Food Thailand on the UK Travel Channel (UK, 2001)
References
External links
Chef McDang website
{{authority control
Thai chefs
Thai non-fiction writers
Living people
1953 births
Malakul family
Svastivatana family
Georgetown University alumni
People educated at Cheltenham College
Thai male writers
20th-century Thai writers
21st-century Thai writers
Mom Luang
Male non-fiction writers