Niki & Lake enjoy Lake’s Pad Ped Talay, Spring Rolls, Hae Ghun, Pad Thai, and Thai Steamed Dumplings!

Po Siam
3807 Mount Vernon Avenue
703-548-3925

When did you first become interested in cooking?
For as long as I can remember, I was interested in cooking and preparing meals. I come from a very large family, and while everyone was outside playing, my favorite place to be in was the kitchen. It wasn’t until I started working in banking that I realized how much I missed making good food for people to enjoy. It was then I decided to pursue this field full force, and I’m happy to say I haven’t looked back since.

Who have been your biggest inspirations in your career?
My biggest inspirations are my mom and my grandmother who believed that the root of all good food comes from the quality and freshness of the ingredients. 

What are some qualities that you think a successful chef should have?
Some of the most important qualities a Chef should have are being able to delegate and perform under very stressful, and busy conditions. When everything breaks loose, the Chef is the glue to holding everything together. With that said a Chef must also be creative at the same time.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love seeing people eating, the more you eat, the more I’ll cook. My greatest joys, of course, are when the lines are out the door, and when I hear how delicious my dishes are! On the other hand my greatest stress would be if I don’t see customers in my restaurant.

If any chef in the world wanted to cook for you, who would you want that to be?
Ina Gardner, I love her recipes and the choice of ingredients she uses. If I had the time, I could watch her show all day!

With everything you have accomplished during your career, are you still learning as a chef?
The greatest thing about being a Chef, is not only are you constantly learning and being inspired by your surroundings, but you are able to express that in your cooking. You see your product come to life in a matter of minutes, and you get feedback then and there on whether it tastes good or bad. Loving what you do makes learning that much more fun.

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Potatoes, potatoes all day every day.

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