F&B LA 2019

Vanda Asapahu
Chef & Owner, Ayara Thai



Vanda Asapahu is the chef and owner of Ayara Thai in Los Angeles. Vanda was born in Thailand to food loving self-taught chefs and moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 5-years old. She learned how to cook by helping her parents after-school with their catering business - grilling meat and parparing sauces - before doing her homework. Vanda received her undergraduate degree in International Development Studies at UCLA. And continued received her master degree in Public Health at Yale University. She worked with non-profit organizations and the United Nations in Thailand for many years. Living in Thailand allowed Vanda to revive old family recipes and travel through the different regions to discover new tastes and inspirations. After cooking with relatives and eating her way through the streets and countryside, it is these old recipes and new flavors that Vanda brings back to share at Ayara Thai.

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