Phant (pronounced “Pon”) Worakul is from Thailand and grew up in a food business family watching his mother and sisters cook daily. He was cooking by the age of nine and had mastered home-style Thai cooking by the age of 17 when he joined the family business. Phant came to California in 1987 to pursue an education in engineering. While he was a student, he catered home-style Thai meals around Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area, and continued to cook and cater for friends and family while working as a mechanical engineer. In this highly food-conscious area, word spread about “Chef Phant” (pronounced “Pon”) and his delicious, visually beautiful meals. People also responded with raves to Worakul’s friendly and accessible talks about all aspects of Thai cooking.  As the popularity of Thai food has increased dramatically, so has demand for Chef Phant’s cooking and instruction. Phant is the founder of Thai Essence, providing Thai cooking workshop, cooking session, chef for a day services and cooking demonstration to various culinary school and culinary event in California. He is also a cookbook author of Classical and Traditional home-style Thai Cooking on taking the mystery out of Thai food with home-style Thai cooking techniques. He has created many exotic dishes using Thai ingredients and fresh herbs that satisfy the American style of eating while maintaining the authenticity of Thai food. He is a Chef instructor, Cookbook author, and a formal restaurant owner of Thai Essence in Petaluma, California.