From Borneo to Bangkok – Choosing A Culinary Career with Michelin-starred Chef Michelle Goh

On this episode, Ragnar speaks with Michelle Goh, Chef at Michelin-starred MIA Restaurant in Bangkok. She shares her journey from Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney to becoming the youngest Malaysian female chef to earn a Michelin star and one of Asia’s top pastry chefs. Hear her story and insights on Episode 119: From Borneo to Bangkok – Choosing A Culinary Career with Michelin-starred Chef Michelle Goh.

Michelle delves into her early interest in cooking, moving to Australia to hone her skills, experiences working in top-tier restaurants, and valuable insights on building a strong kitchen team. Hear her inspiring story, from a child watching Jamie Oliver to the first Sarawakian chef to earn a Michelin star, and important advice for young people choosing a culinary career.

  You have to get across the finish line as a team or you’re not going to win the game.

Chef Michelle Goh

Tune in and LEARN:

• Inspiring Career Trajectory: Discover how Michelle’s early fascination with cooking shows sparked a lifelong passion that led her to become a Michelin star chef.
• Navigating the Culinary World: Gain insights into how she overcame challenges as a young female chef in a male-dominated industry and learn how her experiences shaped her inclusive leadership style.
• Creating a Culinary Community: Understand Michelle’s dedication to fostering a positive kitchen environment that emphasizes teamwork and mutual support, charting a new way forward for kitchen culture.
• Innovative Culinary Philosophy: Hear about the unique blend of European and Asian influences that define MIA’s menu, reflecting both her classical French training and modern inspirations.

Resources

 It is a great career to get into. I don’t think that I would change anything if I had to do it all over again. I would still do it exactly the same.

I do think that for anyone who is looking to be a chef, I would recommend you to choose where you work and choose your mentors, because you have 10 to 15 years to really absorb and learn, and during this time in your career, it’s the most important time in your career to really gain knowledge for yourself.

Chef Michelle Goh

Explore Chef Michelle’s restaurant and work at www.miarestaurantbkk.com.

Read more about Chef Michelle and her experience at Le Cordon Bleu Syndey here,

Be sure to follow Chef Michelle on Instagram @rokin_shells and MIA Bangkok @miarestaurantbangkok.

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About Chef Michelle Goh

 When I was back home and I was going to high school every day, it felt like I was waiting for something to happen, waiting for life to start, waiting to go somewhere else. When I moved overseas and had gone to Le Cordon Bleu, and I was finally given the opportunity to cook, it felt like it was the first time that I belonged. It was the first time I was surrounded by likeminded people who shared the same passion, who had the same mindset. And that was the sense of community that I was looking for.

Talented pastry chef Michelle Goh was born and raised in the small town of Kuching on Borneo Island in Malaysia.

She joined Le Cordon Bleu Sydney at the age of 18 and worked under well-renowned chef Anna Polyviou at the Shangri-La Sydney before joining 3-hatted Rockpool now known as Eleven Bridge by Neil Perry in Australia.

Her experience also includes working for Pollen under Jason Atherton in Singapore before settling at the land of smiles and joining two Michelin-starred restaurant Suhring where she was put in charge of the pastry section at the young age of 23.

Rising through the ranks of the global culinary scene, she became the youngest Malaysian female to earn a Michelin star. Her career has traversed continents, including her notable work in Australia, Singapore, and currently, Thailand, where she co-runs the Michelin-starred restaurant, MIA, in Bangkok.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Chef Michelle for joining us.

World on a Plate is supported by Nestlé Professional and our podcast sponsors.