"In 1989, the late Amy Chanta opened her first Chat Thai restaurant. Many outposts followed, and her popular take on larb, noodles, and stir-fries made other Thai restaurateurs — like Yok Yor’s Mek Phungsamphan — realize there was a large audience for their cuisine. She helped launch Thai Town in 2013 and, with daughter Palisa Anderson, cooked the final staff meal for Noma Australia’s pop-up in 2016. On her farm, Anderson grows holy basil and multiple kinds of garlic, which add a fragrant punch to her dishes. Chat Thai’s success opened pathways for exciting Thai eateries across Sydney, from recent arrivals such as Porkfat to older favorites like Caysorn." - Lee Tran Lam