Michelin-star chef Supinya “Jay Fai” Junsuta has refuted claims that she is going to shut down her renowned Bangkok restaurant next year, emphasizing that despite her age, she is in excellent health and continues to cook for up to 15 hours daily.
In a recent interview with ThaiNews, she clarified that the reports were incorrect. The question about her retirement arose after a reporter noted that she was already in her 80s.
Jay Fai clarified, “Then I said I had a project in mind. From that one answer, the stories grew.”
“Not yet. Next year I will remain in business. I won’t quit,” the owner of the one-star Michelin street food restaurant stated.
The seven-time Michelin star winner also shared plans for an extensive cooking schedule across various countries, clearly indicating she is not stepping down anytime soon.
Despite being 81, Jay Fai is still energetically involved in her culinary pursuits, standing and cooking for as long as 15 hours a day when her restaurant is operational.
Located on Mahachai Road in the Phra Nakhon district, her establishment is open from Wednesday to Saturday and is always crowded. The eatery was visited by many celebrities, including Ed Sheeran, Lisa from Blackpink, Gordon Ramsay, and Anthony Bourdain.
False rumors about her retirement and the subsequent closure of her restaurant next year even led Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to express her intentions to visit before its supposed shutdown.
Jay Fai expressed her deep honor at the prospect of hosting the prime minister at her modest restaurant.
