Manita Bunnagitkarn

Cha Yen Thai Cookery Bio:

Manita Bunnagitkarn, award-winning chef and founder of Cha Yen Thai Cookery and Kala Thai Cookery, spent her formative years training in the culinary arts under American celebrity chef Todd English and at École Ducasse in Paris under the iconic Chef Alain Ducasse in pastry arts.

Manita’s vision is to fuse her precise fine dining techniques with authentic Thai cuisine. Inspired by the spirit of French chef Julia Child, Chef Manita aims to continue the tradition of creating and reimagining fine Thai cuisine, offering her customers a truly unique dining experience.

Boxfish Bio:

Boxfish is a seafood dining venture led by award-winning chef Manita Bunnagitkarn, a seasoned restaurateur and culinary innovator known for Cha Yen Thai Cookery and Kala Thai Cookery.

Her formative culinary years included professional training under American celebrity chef Todd English and advanced study at Ecole Ducasse Paris, experiences that shaped her disciplined approach to craft, technique, and ingredient-driven cuisine.

At Boxfish, Chef Manita centers the menu around ocean-to-table freshness, highlighting premium seafood prepared with care and intention. Her culinary philosophy blends the refinement and attention to detail of fine dining with the bold, vibrant character of Thai cuisine — creating seafood dishes that are elevated, contemporary, and deeply rooted in flavor tradition.

Inspired by the spirit of culinary pioneer Julia Child, Chef Manita continues to explore and reinterpret heritage and craft. Boxfish offers guests a refined yet welcoming seafood experience that celebrates culture, technique, and the beauty of simple ingredients prepared exceptionally well.