A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US….
We are passionate about Lao cuisine, and very excited to introduce you to its intriguing flavours and fascinating cooking techniques. We are a husband and wife team, with many family members by our side. We use only the freshest local ingredients, and aim to give back to the community by supporting local producers and suppliers.
Joy Ngeuamboupha
Joy grew up in a village a few hours from Luang Prabang, the second youngest of nine brothers and sisters. By Western standards, his life has been very challenging: as a child he was left to fend for himself, finding foods in the forests and learning to cook with his father in the rice fields. He was sent to Luang Prabang by his father at eleven years old, on his own with fifty cents and instructions to find a Wat (temple) and become a novice monk; the best way for a village boy to gain a good education. It was the first time he had left his village, seen a large town, or seen a foreigner. Despite this difficult start, Joy flourished in the temple and completed high school.
Joy took naturally to a variety of skills including the art of cooking. He still enjoys cooking alongside his sisters, sharing family culinary traditions. Upon leaving the Wat, Joy took up opportunities in the hospitality industry. He met Caroline in 2001 and inspired in her a love of Lao culture, people, landscape, and of course, food…
Caroline Gaylard
After travelling and living around the world, Caroline decided to settle in Laos. The beauty of Luang Prabang, and friendly people were the drawcards for her. She worked as a teacher, then travel-guide writer, reviewing restaurants and hotels in Laos and Thailand. At that time Luang Prabang offered many ‘Asian style’ generic eating places, but not a welcoming place with traditional Lao food where visitors could learn about the unusual tastes, and the customs and traditions of local cuisine.
Inspired by Joy’s creative cooking, the pair decided to offer travellers a user-friendly experience of local food and be a resource for local produce, food tastings and events in Luang Prabang. Tamarind: a Taste of Laos was opened in December 2005. They have two children, Raffi born in 2007 and Willow born in 2011.
Team Tamarind 2019
Many of our team are family members of ours, and there are a few other family groupings as well. Several staff have been with us for well over ten years.
Souk Ngeuamboupha
Souk is Joy’s younger sister, and has worked at Tamarind since we opened. In September 2007, we were invited to be guest chefs at the Sheraton Grande in Bangkok. Souk learned a lot from the experience, which is also the first (and only) time she has left the country, or been in an aeroplane or elevator. She has a naughty sense of humour & is a lot of fun to have around.
Morn Ngeuamboupha and Moh
Morn is one of Joy’s older sisters, a key member of the kitchen staff, an excellent cook and a wealth of knowledge about Lao food. Before joining the Tamarind team, she cooked for a popular street stall. Her husband Moh works at the cooking school. They have a beautiful daughter called Noyna.
Keum Vilaiphon and Porn Douangthai
Keum has an enthusiasm for sharing his love of Lao food. This passion and his sense of responsibility has ensured his rise through our Front of House team to Manager. Keum’s lovely wife Porn is one of our head cooks in the restaurant kitchen. They have a son named Phoutasin.
Somporn Panyavong
Somporn is one of our senior Front of House staff. With his infectious smile, sense of humour, and passion for Lao food, he makes a fun and inspiring teacher for our family cooking classes.
Nee Chansouda
Nee, one of our longest-standing employees, has moved up through the ranks from kitchen to Front of House to Assistant Manager. Although a little shy, she does love meeting our customers and improving her English. She is most unusual, being one of the few Lao people who does not like spicy food!
Bep and Sack
Bep and Sack are Joy’s nephews, the sons of his oldest sister. They both work and live at Tamarind’s cooking school. Bep is an excellent and resourceful cook. His younger brother Sack assists the chef during the cooking class. While he has never had formal language teaching, his English is improving monthly.
Sit.
Cooking class teacher extrordinaire!.
Yoxa
The face behind the emails, Ms Yoxa! She was born in the south of Laos but educated in the US. In Laos an X is usually pronounced as an S, so if you’re wondering how to pronounce her name, it’s Yo-saa.
Cooking class team.
Some more members of Joy’s extended family round out the cooking class team, as well as a father and son from a distant village, who live on-site.