We recently connected with Goi Korrutai Yujaroen and have shared our conversation below.
Goi Korrutai, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
ThaiIsFun Cooking School’s mission is to teach people how to cook authentic Thai food in their home kitchens. Thai food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world and easy to love. Initially, I focused on teaching people who were interested in cooking at home. Over time, ThaiIsFun evolved to educate people on how to eat healthily while having fun doing it! When people know the benefits of the ingredients they cook with, they are more likely to eat more of them. Thai cuisine is also customizable, so any food restrictions or diets can be accommodated. The main component is the flavors, which bring vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and herbs together harmoniously to enjoy healthy meals.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We offer Thai cooking fun; it’s not just a cooking class, it’s also a party! If you want to learn how to cook, you’ve come to the right place. If you want to eat authentic Thai food, this is the place for you. If you want to come to a party, here it is!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
ThaiIsFun started when I put together the Thai language and culture curriculum and proposed it to the community college and community centers in Portland, OR, in 2008. It was a successful launch, and lots of people responded excitedly. I didn’t have my own kitchen or a place, but I made it happen by connecting with the community. That experience landed me a job as an assistant professor at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA. While working at DLI, I bought my own home. Then I started teaching in my kitchen and at the customers’ houses.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I started my first cooking class in Monterey by hosting a Meetup group, as well as building a simple website and Yelp page in 2015. ThaiIsFun began to build its customer base and reputation through five-star reviews and word of mouth. These have brought in more customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ThaiIsFun.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaiisfun/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/5PRjmrabsub
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/atkHv3https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32737-d25242914-Reviews-Thai_is_Fun-Monterey_Monterey_County_California.html
