After the recent Miss Universe telecast that globally showcased Thailand’s food and culture, a Filipino chef popular among Thais for his culinary expertise recalls his own Thai experience with much gusto.
Dex Villamin, a known executive pastry chef in Bangkok who spent years working there, is all praises to Thai food and their sense of care about what they should eat.
“You cannot eat better than Thai food in terms of quality and value-for-money. Ninety-five percent of their food are farm-grown,” said the 39-year-old achiever who back in 2008 mentored the champion team at the Culinary Gathering of Cooks held in Bangkok, as well as the first-ever Asian Culinary Cup the following year.
Last year, Villamin, who rose from the ranks working and concocting chocolates for various hotels in Manila, was invited to prepare the feast in line with the cremation ceremony of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyade.
He shared, “I was 23 at the time when opportunity came for me to go to Thailand. The Thais are very happy people and nakita ko ang ganda ng system nila when it comes to preparing and serving food.”
During the Miss Universe coronation, which eventually won by Miss Philippines Catriona Gray, host Steve Harvey delightfully mentioned about Thai food being extra spicy.
“To say that the food here is spicy and hot is an understatement,” the American TV presenter was heard as implying.
Villamin also hails Thailand’s tourism and his stay in that country prompted him to go into revolutionizing farming in the Philippines.
Born out of Batangueño parents, the pride of Lian, Batangas is back in the Philippines for good and is now the CEO of DV Boer Farm which quickly established itself as the foundation of modern farming in the Philippines. It operates nearly 100 Sub-Farms that created profitable livelihood programs and several job opportunities. It is dubbed as the “People’s Farm.”
Villamin also prided himself as a social entrepreneur which he describes as someone sharing his spare and urging the needy to embrace the power of sustainable business. Last November he donated fishing boats to former NPA rebels in Batangas who have turned to fishing for livelihood. “I would happily give them fishes to eat but I want to teach them how to fish, too.”
The chef-turned-farming guru loves Thailand for it had given him opportunities and a comfortable life. But he knew he would comeback to his homeland and share what he learned while making a name for himself in The Land of Smiles.