Chef Dhanapol "Oak" Marprasert is a well-known figure on New York’s Thai scene, moving seamlessly from recreations of street classics to modern interpretations. His spark in the kitchen, however, came from a humble source: his mother.

Marprasert was born in Washington, D.C., into a Thai army attaché family, which later moved to Bangkok's Samsen neighborhood. After his father’s passing, his mother supported him and his two siblings by always keeping food on the table, with an eager Marprasert always ready to assist. To this day, her spirit stays with him. “Whenever I cook, I always think about my mother,” remarked Marprasert.

After graduating from culinary school in Bangkok, Marprasert returned to the States, landing in Tennessee in 2014. He began his career in a Thai restaurant, s

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