Fans of chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng’s exquisite Thai cuisine at Richmond’s Baan Lao restaurant can celebrate International Women’s Month in a momentous dinner collaboration with three brilliant female chefs.

These masters (mistresses?) of Thai cuisine — and it’s not an exaggeration to say they are three of the world’s most influential Thai chefs — will present a tasting menu that ranges from the refined Royal Thai cuisine to the bold flavours of Southern Thailand and the culinary synthesis of Bangkok’s Chinatown.
Guest chef “Pam” Pichaya Soontornyanakij of Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Potong restaurant was named the world’s best female chef in 2025 and her restaurant ranked thirteenth in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025.

She will be joined by Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon of Philadelphia’s Kalaya restaurant, named best female chef in North America last year. Her restaurant ranked seventh in North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025.

Chef Nutcha can, of course, more than hold her own in this company. Baan Lao was named the best restaurant in Canada by the World Culinary Awards in 2024 and 2025 and was ranked twelfth on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025.

The dinners at Baan Lao are two nights only, March 17 and 18, and seating is limited. The cost is a stratospheric $850 per person, but for those who can afford it, this promises to be a beautiful, heaven-sent event and ticket prices include the 22-course collaboration menu, premium wine pairings and a welcome glass of Rothschild Champagne. They do not include tax and gratuity. Tickets are available on Open Table’s Baan Lao site.

Chef “Pam” Pichaya Soontornyanakij, Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng (L to R)
Photo credit: @gastrofilm Less