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About Thai-Foodie

How a Southern Girl Became a Thai Foodie

Before going to UNC-Chapel Hill, I had never eaten much ethnic food. I was from Waxhaw, NC, need I say more?

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So I had never eaten Thai food until my Thai friend at UNC invited me to go with her to a Thai restaurant. I assumed it would taste like Chinese: I had low expectations.

But after my first bite of khaw pad supparod, my life changed forever.

Stir fried rice with chicken and pineapple is more of an American creation than Thai, but that bite was so full of spice, sweetness and savory tingles that my tongue knew it was in heaven and never wanted to leave.

So I didn’t. I chose to move to Thailand after graduating UNC, mainly so I could eat cheap, spicy, sweet, sour, tangy, perfect Thai food every day.

While teaching in Bangkok for two years, I ate spicy street food to my heart’s content . It was in this land of food enchantment  at the church I attended, Newsong Bangkok, that I met Dominic, the hottest of all Thai men. We married across the sparkling river from Thailand’s Grand Palace, and of course had a Thai feast celebration with our family and friends.

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How I Was Forced to Become A Thai Cook

Then two years after my arrival in Thailand, we left and moved back to Waxhaw, NC.

In Thailand, I never had a kitchen since most studios don’t. The street food is so cheap and delicious, why make your own? America is not the same. But non-existent Thai street vendors forced me to learn how to cook Thai—it was the only way for us to get it every day.

So Dominic taught me all the Thai cooking skills he learned from his grandma, I studied Thai cooking websites whose authenticity was Dom-approved, and cooked and cooked.

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How You Can Also be a Thai Food Magician

This site is for all Thai-Foodies, for those who yearn to learn the magic behind Thai food, discover what Thai restaurants do it right, and see how Thai culture fits into it all.

Before cooking Thai food, in the back of my mind I thought every Thai cook was a magician who somehow threw food together in a wok, waved their wands over it, said the magic Thai words and suddenly appeared a creation with the perfect combination of flavors.

I never thought me, a Southern girl, could learn Thai food’s secret potions and tricks.

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But I have, sort of. I’m still a beginner, and in the learning process, but my Thai husband, who like most Thais isn’t afraid to be honest, says he loves my Thai food. So I feel like that says something.

And on September 24, 2012, Thai-Foodie’s sous chef, Rocco Felipe Pengjad was born. He now likes to help me in the kitchen by sitting in his bouncy seat while I hold up herbs and sauces under his nose and ask him what I need to add more of. His usual response is, “Roaraec goagoe…” which I interpret to mean, “You are doing great Mom!”

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I hope I can help, inspire, and learn from you, and together we can savor the wonder and magic behind Thai food.

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  • 25 Thoughts on “About Thai-Foodie”

    1. Pingback: Two Thai Food Tips | Thai Cooking | Thai Food | Thai Flavors | Thai Foodie

    2. spacer Ebs on May 9, 2012 at 3:25 am said:

      Beautiful!

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      • spacer sherri on May 17, 2012 at 2:29 am said:

        Thanks Ebsy! spacer

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    3. spacer Monika on May 17, 2012 at 12:54 am said:

      I’m looking forward to more!

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      • spacer sherri on May 17, 2012 at 2:29 am said:

        It’s coming! Our site will only get better and better. Thanks for your support Monika spacer

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    4. spacer Rochelle on May 22, 2012 at 12:05 am said:

      Oh man, I am beaming with pride over you Sherri! This is so so so cool! You started a food blog, I love food blogs!!! Keep it coming girl!

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      • spacer Sherri Phengchard on June 4, 2012 at 4:37 pm said:

        Thanks so much for your love and support Ro!! spacer

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    5. spacer Dawn on June 6, 2012 at 8:52 pm said:

      Yeah Sherrrrii!!!
      I’m excited to try your recipes sometime!!! Please include some vegetarian dish as well love!

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      • spacer Sherri Phengchard on June 6, 2012 at 9:50 pm said:

        I can’t wait for you to try them too! Leave out any of the meat and add tofu to the recipes I’ve already listed, and you’ve got a yummy vegetarian dish. I also have some delicious veggie dishes on their way too!

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    6. spacer Lana on January 16, 2013 at 2:36 am said:

      Never mind my previous question. Found the answer. Fantastic. You know the love of Thailand well!

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      • spacer Sherri Phengchard on January 16, 2013 at 9:02 am said:

        Thanks Lana! Yup, head over heels in love…:)

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    7. spacer Kimberly on January 18, 2013 at 9:11 pm said:

      What a sweet and adventurous story. And congrats on Family member #3 spacer

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      • spacer Sherri Phengchard on January 18, 2013 at 9:31 pm said:

        Thanks so much! We are so happy to have little Rocco join our Thai-Foodie fam spacer

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    8. Pingback: A Thai-Foodie Love Story | Part 1 | Thai-Foodie | Thai Foodie

    9. spacer Anetta @ The Wanderlust Kitchen on January 27, 2014 at 5:40 pm said:

      Hi there! I just wanted to drop by and say “hi” because I love your site and I love your recipes! My husband and I got engaged in Thailand so your site is just really taking me back, just in time for Valentine’s day spacer

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      • spacer Sherri Phengchard on January 27, 2014 at 10:47 pm said:

        Hi Anetta! How special! I’m so glad my site is bringing you back to when you got engaged in Thailand! I hope you make something Thai on Valentine’s Day and reminisce spacer

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    10. spacer Hanah on January 31, 2014 at 2:33 pm said:

      Sherri! I love, love, love your blog! I need to learn more recipes to cook, so I’ll be checking in as much as I can!

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      • spacer Sherri Pengjad on January 31, 2014 at 5:14 pm said:

        Thanks so much sweet Hanah! Let me know how your cooking goes! I wish you were here for me to make you Thai food!

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    11. spacer Dayna on February 4, 2014 at 2:16 pm said:

      Wow! So inspiring and powerful.
      Can’t wait to catch up on all your posts spacer

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      • spacer Sherri Pengjad on February 4, 2014 at 9:30 pm said:

        Thanks Dayna! Hope you enjoy it spacer

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      • spacer Sherri Pengjad on February 4, 2014 at 9:30 pm said:

        Thanks Dayna! Hope you enjoy it spacer

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    12. spacer Natalie on April 14, 2014 at 5:02 pm said:

      As a Thai American, I am so happy to have come across your website. Your about section completely makes me happy and I love the fact that Thailand has captivated you in ways that could only be imagined. Thank you for this site! I’ll be checking back often for recipes!

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      • spacer Sherri Pengjad on April 15, 2014 at 4:30 pm said:

        Thanks so much for your comment Natalie! Thailand has totally captivated me, and will always be one of my homes. I hope you will enjoy the recipes and that they will take you back to sweet memories of Thailand!

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    13. spacer Anne on August 23, 2014 at 3:41 pm said:

      Great blog, Sherry! People’s knowledge about Thailand and its wonderful food has come a long way (I’m a 40-something Luk Kreung who grew up in NJ surrounded by ignorant folk)! Keep showing everyone the way with this blog! PS. Rocco is absolutely suay!

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