Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pam Liberda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Pam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The driving mission at Waldo Thai is “changing perspectives one dish at a time.” When the first Thai Place Restaurant in Kansas City opened in 1991 by Ann Liberda, it brought a new, but palatable, cuisine style to the city. It featured a lot of fusion with Chinese methods and ingredients in order to reach diners more easily. After moving to The United States, Pam worked at Ann Liberda’s restaurants, blending family and work and finding a new passion for creating dining experiences.

While Pam Liberda has been in The U.S. for over 20 years, and is raising 2 American daughters – what she really wanted was a restaurant that reflected her background and tradition: a place where she could serve food inspired by her childhood and memories, preserving what Thai people actually eat and the way that they eat it. At Waldo Thai, you won’t find the same classic Thai dishes that you see everywhere; you’ll experience flavors and dishes from Lampang, Thailand, and Lanna Cuisine – which has been passed down through generations from before Thailand was Thailand, when it was the Lanna Kingdom. We are selling a Thai experience as understood by Pam. While the food is at the center, we’ll also teach you how the Thai eat – family style, with spoons and forks, and focus on the use of spices, pastes, fermentation, and preservation that is traditional in Northern Thailand.

Pam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Chef Pam Liberda was born in Lampang, Northern Thailand. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at Mahidol University and emigrated to Kansas City in 1998. After falling in love with Teddy Liberda, who at the time owned the Thai Place Restaurant chain, she decided to give up her nursing career and follow her passions in the culinary scene. She has since helped Teddy open eight restaurants.

Liberda took time to focus on raising their two daughters and providing a stable home environment for her family. With no formal training, she acquired her culinary skills by watching and cooking homestyle dishes alongside her mother growing up. Liberda’s passion for food led her to work with Cerner as the International Station Chef, cooking her international inspired cuisine daily for more than 500 patrons. Now, with her husband Teddy’s help and support, Liberda is running the show, preparing her own authentic, homestyle, delicious Thai food for the guests at Waldo Thai.

Liberda was voted “2021 Chef of the Year’ in Kansas City by Feast Magazine, and “2022 Best Chef” by The Pitch Kansas City.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Authenticity to herself – and always speaking her mind when it comes to flavors, dishes, presentations, and experiences. Waldo Thai has a competitive advantage in the market by pioneering this authentic Northern Thai cuisine focusing on the dishes of Lampang and Lanna. As the first in Kansas City to do so, we have been able to make decisions on what the experience looks like for our guests.

Pam also participates in pop ups and collaborations with local chefs and business owners around Kansas City to both learn new things and to share Waldo Thai’s mission with new clientele. She has consistently shown up with quality dishes and provided guests with exceptional service and experiences to the point that now her reputation speaks for itself: If Pam Liberda is involved; you are going to dine well and have fun doing it.

Treating staff as a family and showing up for their needs and celebrations is another part of the experience Pam is building at Waldo Thai. Staff members are treated with respect and given the platform to speak up, learn new things, and grow as individuals and employees.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After receiving a Bachelor’s in Nursing in Thailand, Pam emigrated to The United States. The shift in culture and comfortability led her to finding work with Thai Place restaurants owned and operated by the Liberda family. There she met her husband and found a new passion for hospitality and restaurateur work, eventually opening Waldo Thai in 2018 as her own concept. While this shift may seem unconventional, the same practice of care and consideration, hardwork and dedication is required across both careers – allowing her to utilize her skill set in new and exciting ways, while paving the way for her daughters to live out their dreams and passions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.waldothai.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/waldothai
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/waldothai
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/waldothai

Image Credits
Interview foreword by Darrell Loo and Venessa Rao