This May, Chef Angus An, of the award-winning Gastropod, will bring a new and unique culinary experience to Vancouver at Maenam – world-class Thai cuisine served in a modern setting. Maenam will feature techniques and flavours that are authentic to ancient Royal Thai traditions, paired with the freshest local ingredients.
Maenam will replace Gastropod at Chef An’s West 4th location, and Gastropod will continue as a catering and private dining operation with the intention to re-launch the concept in the future.
Chef An worked with and was inspired by David Thompson, the renowned Chef of Nahm in London, the only Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in the world. It was also at Nahm where Angus met his Thai wife Kate. When the two returned to Vancouver, they decided immediately that Vancouver needed a truly authentic Thai restaurant. “We’ve always had two concepts in mind: fine dining and Thai. We’ve been trying unsuccessfully for over a year to find a suitable location for Maenam,” says Chef An. “We felt that given the current economy, we should shift our to focus to the concept that will offer a more casual experience and lower price points.”
“At Maenam, we’ll respect authentic Thai flavours and technique,” continues Chef An. “Thai cuisine should have a locus of flavours that when combined in the right balance creates a depth and complexity unrivaled by Western cuisine. We aren’t going to assume that Vancouver can’t handle real Thai food.”
Maenam’s menu will reflect the components of a traditional Thai meal, which includes a combination of soups, salads, stir fries and curries, accompanied by rice – with each dish offering a different taste of the flavour spectrum and showcasing a different product. Sampling and sharing will be encouraged, and price points will be set so guests can enjoy a full meal for around $30/person.
Maenam will also feature expertly crafted wine, cocktail and dessert selections, created specifically to pair with Thai cuisine by General Manager and Sommelier Tara Thom, Head Bartender Ben De Champlain, and Pasty Chef Celeste Mah. Rounding out the Maenam team will be Sous Chef Emily Waters, who recently returned from seven months of training with Chef Thompson at Nahm.
Gastropod’s final night will be May 2, and the restaurant will close for renovations and re-open as Maenam the week of May 18. Initially, Maenam will be open for Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, with last call for food at 1 a.m. and last call for drinks at 1:30 a.m. The week of May 25, Maenam will open for lunch as well.
