Kankanit Phornpisutikul

Hi, I’m Gift, the founder of ZAABSECRET and a Thai food lover based in Sydney.I grew up in Thailand, and cooking authentic Thai food has always been something very close to my heart. For me, Thai cooking is about much more than following a recipe — it’s about understanding the flavours, ingredients and little techniques that make the food taste the way it does back home.One of the biggest inspirations behind starting my cooking classes came from the people who have tried my food. One comment I hear again and again is, “This tastes just like something I’d eat in Thailand.” I love hearing that, because that’s exactly the kind of food I want to cook.It made me think — why not bring that experience to more people?Through my classes, I want to introduce people to authentic Thai cooking and share the flavours and techniques that Thai people actually use. I want people to experience a little piece of Thailand without having to get on a plane — and, more importantly, learn how to recreate those flavours themselves at home.I’ve worked in hospitality in Sydney for over 10 years and have qualifications in Commercial Cookery and Hospitality Management, as well as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. But my classes aren’t about making you feel like you’re at culinary school. They’re relaxed, hands-on and social. We’ll cook together, taste as we go, talk about Thai food and culture, and of course, sit down and enjoy what we’ve made.My goal is simple: I want you to leave knowing a little more about real Thai food, feeling confident enough to cook it yourself — and hopefully feeling like you’ve just had a little taste of Thailand.