Chudaree Debhakam
{{Short description|Thai chef (born c. 1993)}}
Chudaree "Chef Tam" Debhakam (born c. 1993) is a Thai chef from Bangkok. In 2024, she became the first Thai female chef to be awarded two Michelin stars. In 2025, she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef.
Biography
As a child, Chudaree Debhakam aspired to become a professional athlete. After realizing that she did not have a future to become a professional sportsperson, Debhakam turned her attention to the culinary arts.{{Cite web |title=Chef ‘Tam’ Chudaree Debhakam on coping with pressure, creating change and the beauty of humble ingredients |url=https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/chef-tam-chudaree-debhakam-best-female-chef-asias-50-best-restaurants-2025.html |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=50B - STORIES |language=en}} Debhakam first moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a degree from the University of Nottingham in food science and nutrition.{{Cite web |title=Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam |url=https://www.prestigeonline.com/th/people/40-under-40/chudaree-debhakam-40-under-40/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.prestigeonline.com}} She later moved to the United States to train at the International Culinary Center in New York and to work under Dan Barber at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025 on ‘weird’ plants and her sustainable vision |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3298932/asias-best-female-chef-2025-tam-chudaree-debhakam-her-vision-baan-tepa-bangkok |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
= Top Chef Thailand =
While in New York, Debhakam's family encouraged her to apply for the first season of Top Chef Thailand. She returned to Thailand to appear on the show, where she was the youngest competitor at 24-years-old. In 2017, Debhakam won the first season of Top Chef Thailand.
= Baan Tepa =
In 2020, Debhakam opened Baan Tepa in a historic family home once owned by her grandmother. Baan Tepa specializes in traditional Thai cuisine. Produce for the restaurant are grown on the grounds of the estate. Debhakam's experience at Stone Barns inspired her vision for Baan Tepa, where regional produce is used, and sustainability is implemented through composting and recycling.
In late 2023, her restaurant Baan Tepa received its second Michelin star.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-15 |title=6 restaurants earn a first star in Michelin Guide Thailand 2024 |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3245160/thailand-sees-six-restaurants-awarded-one-michelin-star-and-two-upgraded-two-stars-nations-chefs |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} With the award, Debhakam became the first Thai woman to receive two Michelin stars.{{Cite web |title=Meet Chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam, the World’s First Thai Female to Reach for Two MICHELIN Stars for Baan Tepa |url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/people/chudaree-tam-debhakam-world-s-first-thai-female-two-michelin-stars-baan-tepa |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=MICHELIN Guide |language=en-US}} That year, Baan Tepa received a green star from the Michelin guide recognizing the restaurant's sustainability practices.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=‘Locally sourced ingredients’: what sustainability means for chef Alvin Leung |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3219334/how-michelin-guides-green-star-fuelling-sustainability-restaurant-industry-and-chefs-hong-kong |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} In 2024, Baan Tepa appeared 42 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024: Tokyo’s Sézanne takes No 1, 8 in Singapore rank |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3256828/asias-50-best-restaurants-2024-full-list-sezanne-tokyo-takes-no-1-singapore-takes-8-spots-2-awards |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} She was also named the 2024 Michelin Guide Young Chef award.{{Cite web |title=MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2024: An Ode to Culinary Excellence with New Shining Stars |url=https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/michelin-guide-thailand-2024 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=MICHELIN Guide |language=en-TH}}
= Recognition =
Debhakam has been widely recognized for her impact on Thai and Asian culinary scene.{{Cite web |last=Asia |first=Tatler |title=Tam Chudaree Debhakam |url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/people/chudaree-debhakam |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Tatler Asia |language=en}} In 2025, Debhakam was named Asia's Best Female Chef by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.{{Cite web |last=Ee |first=Jaime |date=2025-03-06 |title=Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam's rise to Asia's best female chef |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/how-asias-best-female-chef-navigated-industry-favours-seniority-and-men |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=The Business Times |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Hendricks |first=Nianne-Lynn |date=2025-02-18 |title=Meet Asia’s best female chef |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/2962738/meet-asias-best-female-chef |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}