OUR TEAM – Baan Lao

Nutcha Phanthoupheng, Proprietor & Executive Chef

Born in the countryside region of Isaan in Thailand, Nutcha was raised living the authentic ‘farm to table’ experience, using only local, fresh, organic ingredients at home. She has been privately trained by Michelin star chefs in Thailand, received her Thai Cuisine diploma from The Blue Elephant in Bangkok, certification from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok Cooking School, and her food carving certificate from Bussaracum Royal Thai Cuisine.

Her commitment to fresh farm and field-to-table ingredients, life-long immersion in traditional Thai cuisine, and exceptional training with some of the best Thai chefs in the world guarantee each guest a mouth-watering meal that will please your eyes, nose and palate.

Pier-Alexis Soulière - Master Sommelier, Wine Consultant

Pier-Alexis has been providing world class wine service and enhancing guest experiences at some of the most prestigious Michelin star establishments, and across three continents, from Montreal, to London, Sydney, New York City and California. In 2014, he was named World Young Sommelier of the Year, and in 2016, he became one of very few to earn the Master Sommelier title before the age of 30; a title held by only five individuals in Canada and 257 worldwide. In 2017, he was named Quebec’s Best Sommelier by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and one year later was awarded Best Sommelier of the Americas by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale.

Lena Pan - TAC Certified Tea Sommelier

Lena Pan is a Certified Tea Sommelier, professionally accredited by the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada. Born in China and raised in Japan, Lena brings a unique cultural lens to her work in tea. Her academic journey led her to Canada, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics followed by a Master of Food Science.

Lena joined the Baan Lao team to develop a tea pairing menu for Chef Nutcha’s “Afternoon Tea Thai Experience at BAAN LAO” for the summer of 2024.

Lena will be on site every Saturday and Sunday during our Afternoon Tea from May 4 onwards.

Del Tamborini - TAC Certified Tea Sommelier

Del Tamborini joined the Baan Lao team to create the tea pairing menu for Chef Nutcha’s two menus launched in the summer of 2022, “Taste of Baan Lao” and “From The Fields of Thailand To The Shores of Canada”. He has also contributed to our diverse menu of teas offered on our beverage menu.

You can often find Del at our Baan Lao tea cart, meticulously preparing his tea pairings for guests.

A Certified Tea Sommelier with over a decade of experience in the tea industry, Del spent seven years as instructor of the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada’s Tea Sommelier Certification Program at Vancouver Community College.

Emmanuelle Viennois - TAC Certified Tea Sommelier

Originally from France, Emmanuelle is a Certified TAC Tea Sommelier® with the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada.

Emmanuelle was our first Tea Sommelier at Baan Lao and curated some of the incredible tea selections available on our beverage menu.

Committed to contemplative practices, she also works as a meditation guide, conducting Mindful Tea and Appreciation workshops.

Kaitlyn Stewart - Beverage Consultant & Cocktail Creator

Kaitlyn Stewart began bartending to help pay for her university education but fell in love with the craft, discovering her passion was creating great experiences and exceptional drinks for her customers.

Kaitlyn loves to shake up a wide selection of innovative yet approachable drinks, incorporating local spirits and seasonal ingredients, making her the perfect choice to create Baan Lao’s signature cocktails and mocktails you’ll find featured on our drink menu.

Well known in Vancouver and beyond for her talent, Kaitlyn was named World Class Bartender of the Year in 2017, during the World Class Cocktail Competition in Mexico City.

Patrick Ellis - Sake Curator

Patrick Ellis was honoured in 2018 in Kyoto, Japan with the Saké Samurai designation, a rare title bestowed on him by the Japan Saké Brewers Assoc.

He now brings his unparalleled expertise to Baan Lao Thai restaurant.

With a career dedicated to promoting Japanese saké and culture globally, Patrick has curated a saké list that seamlessly complements Chef Nutcha’s exotically complex and intricate cuisine. Drawing on saké’s natural umami richness, he artfully elevates the dining experience, creating pairings that enhance and harmonize with the vibrant, multifaceted flavours of Thai dishes. Fluent in Japanese, Patrick bridges cultures through his passion, ensuring each sip tells a story of tradition, craftsmanship, and discovery. His approach reflects not only technical mastery but also a deep respect for celebrating saké’s timeless elegance and versatility.