celebrity chef series
Story by Shaila Creekmore,
Photo by Dero Sanford
The Woman’s Discovery Center and Occasions Publishing Group will once again partner to present the third in a series of Celebrity Chef Dinners with Sai Kattaviravong as the featured chef.
On Tuesday, June 22, guests will watch as Sai prepares a traditional Thai meal and then enjoy dinner alongside the downtown Jonesboro restaurateur.
Sai is owner of Sai Thai Cuisine located at 211 South Main Street. Opened in March 2008, it was the only Thai restaurant in Jonesboro at the time and quickly became a favorite downtown eating spot. The restaurant features menu items such as fire-fried rice, pad Thai, basil chicken and beef, Sai’s spicy beef salad, red or green curry, Thai spicy seafood and Masaman pineapple. For this cooking demonstration, Sai will be sharing several Thai recipes that attendees can prepare at home, including at least one signature dish.
“We are excited to have Sai cooking for us for the third Celebrity Chef Dinner,” said Faye Cox, executive director of The Women’s Discovery Center. “She will bring a unique flavor of cooking to the kitchen, something new for the traditional southern cook to learn.”
Seating for the evening is limited to 30 guests and reservations are $50 per person. Proceeds from the event will help provide additional programming at the center, and also go toward the operation of The Women’s Professional Clothes Closet.
While this is the final Celebrity Chef Dinner for 2010, the center plans to use funds from the three programs to host other cooking classes and demonstrations later this year.
“Holding cooking classes has been highly requested here at the center and we are planning to offer classes for both the beginner and the experienced cook who would like to learn specific techniques or dishes,” said Cox. “The Celebrity Chef series has been so well received that we will continue it, likely in the same time frame in 2011. The opportunity to interact with the chefs in a small group setting has been really beneficial to the attendees. They’ve been able to have their questions answered on the spot, not only about the evening’s menu but about other culinary dilemmas as well.”
Food for the evening’s meal will be furnished by sponsor Hay’s Super-markets. OL Events is providing linens, table settings and appointments. Gift certificates for all attendees and a special door prize will be provided by Cooking Now/The Lower Deck. A special booklet of the evening’s menu with all recipes will also be provided.
Celebrity Chef Dinner will be held Tuesday, June 22, at The Woman’s Discovery Center, 1413A Market Place Drive, at 6 p.m. For more information or for reservations for the program, call 933-9939 or 219-2488.
Where did you learn to cook? I learned to cook by watching my mom since I was about 7 years old. She is constantly in the kitchen.
If you were not a chef, what would you be? I would probably be a stay home mom and spend more time cooking for my family and friends. Maybe I would do some traveling.
What is the first thing you remember cooking as a child? My favorite thing to cook as a child was Ramen Noodles.
Who in your life has influenced your cooking the most? My mom inspires me a lot. She is a very strong woman and raised seven kids by herself. When she would cook, it seemed like she would make enough for an army.
What is the main difference in cooking Asian food verses traditional American cooking? We use a lot of different spices and most of our ingredients are fresh, things that are hard to get around here.
What is your favorite kitchen tool? My mortar and pestle. It’s one thing a Thai household can’t be without it.
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
My husband’s favorite, our signature dish, spicy beef salad. Every time I cook something, he would always ask, “Where’s the beef?”
What is your favorite dessert? Thai sticky rice with mango.
When you are at home, what is your favorite comfort food? Thai spicy papaya salad. Yum!