Chef Jet is internationally celebrated for his culinary expertise. He is an Emmy and James Beard nominee. He is also a best-selling author who grew up in the first family of Thai food. Jet was appointed as the inaugural Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine by the Royal Thai Consulate, the first-ever chef to represent his country’s culture and cuisine.
His culinary operations include serving as vice president Culinary of Pei Wei Group’s 130 restaurants as well as the managing partner of Dragon Tiger Noodle Company, in Las Vegas. His food reaches millions of people a year. Jet appears as a co-host of Iron Chef America and recurring judge on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay and Guy’s Grocery Games. As well as an array of shows ranging from the Today, MasterChef, Rachel Ray and he holds six culinary Guinness World Records.
Sun Health sat down with Chef Jet and asked him a few questions about his favorite subject – food.
“I think food plays into living longer, healthier more purposeful lives,” Jet said. I have traveled to many senior living communities and I have parents who are the age of many of the residents at The Colonnade.”
For Jet, food is a time to socialize, connect and entertain.
“A lot of people watch me on TV or watch the other celebrity chefs that Sun Health brings in as part of the Celebrity Chef Series,” Jet said. “It’s dopamine and happiness and happy hormones vs. stress hormones. Food really does all that. It’s therapeutic.”
He added that doing presentations are a lot of fun.
“I really have a dream job being able to come to Sun Health and connecting with people,” Jet said. “I come from a culture that respects and has deep reverence for their elders and I missed this opportunity with my grandmother and grandfather. So, this is a way for me to re-live it. It’s therapy and hopefully somewhere up there I am connecting back with my grandparents.”
Chef Jet worked with the culinary teams to plan out both the food demonstration and a meal for all of the residents at the community featuring Jet’s signature dishes.
