A Culinary Love Story: From Sky-High Romance to Globe-Trotting Adventures

 INTRO:

                  Love can take us on the most unexpected journeys, and for Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, a talented chef from Philadelphia, that journey began 18,000 feet above ground. In a twist of fate, she met her future husband, Ziv Katalan, on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to New York City. What followed was a love story that transcended borders, cultures, and expectations, taking them on a whirlwind adventure around the world. Join us as we embark on this delightful tale of a chance encounter in the sky, a blossoming romance, and the culinary dreams that brought them closer together.

Outlines:

• Soaring into Love
• A Love as Diverse as Their Palates
• From Museum Strolls to Worldly Explorations
• A Relationship Takes Flight
• Round-the-World Romance
• Evolving in the City of Brotherly Love
• The Taste of Success
• Some Things Never Change

Soaring into Love:

Love Takes Flight at 36,000 Feet

Picture this: It's September 2006, and a bustling Thai Airways flight is en route from Bangkok to the vibrant streets of New York City. Among the cabin crew, Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, a vivacious flight attendant with a penchant for taking care of passengers, is making her rounds. Little did she know that this ordinary flight would mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey. As fate would have it, Ziv Katalan, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, steps onto the plane and into Nok's life. He stands out not just because of his distinguished appearance but also because of the spark that ignites between them. Nok recalls that moment vividly, "I remember how he looked, what he did, what he was wearing. It was a chic Bulgari watch with a basic black T-shirt. He placed his TUMI bag in the above compartment while positioned up. As the plane soared towards the Big Apple, so did their connection. Those 18 hours in the air laid the foundation for a love story that would traverse the globe, filling nearly two decades with adventures, laughter, and, of course, delicious food.

A Love as Diverse as Their Palates:

When Opposites Attract and Find Common Ground

Before Nok found her calling in the culinary world, she spent two decades as a business and first-class cabin flight attendant, traveling the world one flight at a time. On that fateful day, she was originally scheduled for a flight from Bangkok to Rome, but fate intervened, rerouting her to New York City.  She was known for her warm and friendly demeanor, always going the extra mile to make travelers feel at home. Little did she know that her simple acts of kindness would set the stage for a serendipitous encounter.  reflecting on that flight. "I spoke with Ziv and the incredibly humorous traveler in next to him for a while. don't misjudge my friendliness , it is me just doing my job." As the flight get close to its destination, a fellow traveler jokily made a  remarked, "If you don’t make the move on her, I will." Katalan, not one to allow  an opening like this to  slip away, seize the moment. Their personalities seemed worlds apart, with Nok's vibrant and outgoing nature contrasting with Katalan's quiet and contemplative demeanor. Yet, in the heart of their differences, they found common ground. Katalan describes it as "an attraction of opposites" but emphasizes their fundamental compatibility, rooted in a shared love for art, travel, food, and family. Their lives were in similar stages of transition, having recently left significant relationships behind. Katalan had separated from his wife of 20 years, while Nok had recently divorced her husband. These shared experiences allowed them to embrace the present moment and see where their connection would lead.

From Museum Strolls to Worldly Explorations:

Love Blossoms Over Art and Adventure

Their first date in New York City took them to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where the sparks continued to fly. Despite their apparent differences, they felt an undeniable ease in each other's company. Katalan, known for his seriousness and sharp intellect, found Nok's warmth and exuberance refreshing. "He’s the smartest man I have ever met," Nok gushes about her husband. In contrast, Nok's larger-than-life personality added a dash of vibrancy to Katalan's life. While he may have described her as occasionally having "a short fuse," he couldn't deny the joy she brought into his world.  they discovered their shared passions for art, travel, and the culinary arts. Their life activities, among's which is a recent separations , further attracted them on a astonish height. Their love story didn't stop at MoMA. That evening, they continued their date with a drink at the Royalton Hotel in Midtown, followed by a delightful dinner at Blue Fin, a sleek Japanese restaurant tucked inside the W New York in Times Square.  I was especially taken aback by the way he spoke statistics. We had so much fun and a lot of good laughs," Nok reminisces. Then, with Katalan taking the train back to Philadelphia and Nok returning to Thailand, their story took flight, transcending borders and expectations.

A Relationship Takes Flight:

Love Knows No Boundaries

A few months after their first encounter, Katalan decided to call Nok to wish her a happy New Year. Coincidentally, she was scheduled to fly to New York in February, providing the perfect opportunity for another rendezvous. This time, Nok felt a hint of reluctance. She was excited about the prospect of spending more time with Katalan, but she couldn't help but wonder if it was too soon to dive into a new relationship. However, she pushed aside her reservations and embraced the adventure that awaited her in the city that never sleeps. Katalan whisked her away to Masa, one of his favorite restaurants, a renowned sushi bar located in the Time Warner Center, near Central Park's southwest corner. "Every taste of it was delicious. We discussed the New York restaurant scene and famous chefs like David Bouley, recalls Nok. I had visited many outstanding restaurants around the world, but none were in New York. We then traded notes and became incredibly close over our shared love of cuisine and travel. Their connection deepened, and the next day, Katalan extended an invitation that would change the course of their lives. He asked Nok to accompany him on a three-week journey across Asia and the Pacific, with stops in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. I admitted to Ziv that I had never dated someone for so long. "Three weeks is a long time," Nok recalls thinking. And I recall him saying, "I am happy to be with you even for three hours, three days, three weeks, or forever." Those three weeks sped by like a whirlwind, a pleasant surprise for two fiercely independent individuals. They walked, talked, and savored delicious cuisine, building a deeper connection with each passing day. Nok remembers a day when he made a navigational error while traveling on the Great Ocean Road. "There was simply a map; no GPS. I was trying to navigate, but I was failing. Yet Ziv was so composed. He was so easy to be around since he never got angry. During that journey, Nok experienced Katalan's nurturing side when he tended to her injuries after a cycling accident in Nha Trang, Vietnam. It was during these intimate moments that Nok realized Katalan possessed all the qualities she had been searching for. He is friendly, sincere, and quite direct. He's wonderfully considerate, compassionate, and smart, but he can also be a pain," she chuckles.

Round-the-World Romance:

 Love Takes Them on Global Adventures

With their bond solidified during their three-week adventure, Nok and Katalan embarked on a unique style of dating – rendezvous in cities across the globe. Los Angeles, London, Tel Aviv, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan – these cities served as the backdrop for their love story. Sometimes, their meetings were as brief as an hour at the airport during a layover. Yet, their dedication to each other knew no bounds. Ziv once traveled through London on his journey back from Ireland, and I was invited to London, so we connected there for a single night, Nok explains with a smile. For 1.5 years, preserving a transnational relationship needed careful preparation and cooperation.We were able to maintain a global link in this fashion for 1.5 years. We were able to make it work. In Paris or London, we even handled to survive for a day, she elaborates. However, as the proverb says, life has its own designs. In 2008, Thai Airways ceased its flights to New York, complicating Nok's visits to Katalan. To overcome this challenge, Katalan proposed a practical yet heartfelt solution – marriage. "Ziv answered, "Well, OK, then you need to be married in order to receive a green card.Since we are both older, it was doable and practical. However, a lot of love went into it, says Nok. Katalan acknowledges the practicality of the decision but also underscores its romantic essence. "It was romantic but pragmatic at the same time. I wanted something that would enable us to keep this going as long as we both wanted – the longest runway possible."

Evolving in the City of Brotherly Love:

From Flight Attendant to Acclaimed Chef

On August 8, 2008, against the stunning backdrop of SALA Phuket, a Thai beach, Nok and Katalan exchanged vows, surrounded by friends and family. They celebrated for ten days in a luxurious pool villa, marking the beginning of their married life together. Following their wedding, they continued their long-distance relationship while Nok pursued her career as a flight attendant and managed her restaurant. However, change was on the horizon. In 2009, Nok bid farewell to her career in the skies, paving the way for new adventures. A year later, she closed her Italian restaurant in Bangkok, which she co-owned with her ex-husband, and made the life-altering decision to move to Philadelphia. With her days freed from the confines of flight schedules, Nok spent her time shopping for ingredients, cooking, and sharing food with her neighbors in her new American home. In 2011, Nok embarked on a culinary journey of her own, enrolling at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, which later became the French Culinary Institute. It was a pivotal moment in her life, where she discovered her true calling in the culinary arts. "Every day was like a dream to me – just cooking and eating in different restaurants in New York – and I also had my internship at Jean-Georges (a two-Michelin-starred French restaurant in New York)," she shares. "Ziv was the person who told me that I am a very talented cook – I never thought of myself as a great cook, but he believed in me." After culinary school, Nok briefly ventured to France for an internship, a journey that ended prematurely due to a chef's behavior. She then returned to Philadelphia, where she embarked on a new culinary path. In 2015, Nok launched a catering company that would lay the foundation for her restaurant, Kalaya Thai Kitchen, which opened its doors in 2019.

The Taste of Success:

From Humble Beginnings to Culinary Stardom

Kalaya Thai Kitchen quickly became a culinary gem in Philadelphia, garnering rave reviews and accolades. Nok's soulful and authentic southern Thai cuisine, combined with her warm hospitality, captured the hearts and taste buds of diners. In June, Nok received the prestigious James Beard award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, a testament to her culinary prowess and dedication. Her restaurant's evolution reflects her commitment to excellence. Recently, Nok relocated Kalaya Thai Kitchen to a larger, more modern space, where towering palm trees and contemporary Thai artwork pay homage to her Southeast Asian heritage. "Nok usually has a plan; there are continuously 20 projects in the works. She is just an incredible businesswoman, the most outstanding individual with leadership qualities, and she has the power to positively impact people's lives, says Katalan with pride. Named after her mother, Kalaya celebrates the flavors and traditions of the food Nok grew up with in Trang, a small city in southern Thailand. "I was a really impoverished child. Because my family gave up so much of their lives for me and because my mother is the source of all my inspiration, I am who I am today, says Nok. "She’s tough. She’s a hard worker. She’s super smart and super caring. I wanted to name the restaurant after her so we can talk about how amazing she is every day."

Some Things Never Change:

Love Continues to Flourish

Fifteen years into their marriage, Nok and Katalan continue to prioritize travel as an essential part of their relationship. While their demanding schedules sometimes prevent them from traveling together as frequently as before, each journey holds a special significance. "I no longer take travel for granted. Now that we are older, slower, and have a broader viewpoint, it is incredibly important, Nok thinks. "Our travel patterns and conversations have changed, but our bond is strong. We are still the same – restaurants, museums, and markets are still part of the plan." In a world that often rushes by, Nok and Katalan have discovered the true essence of love – that it knows no boundaries, transcends differences, and thrives on shared passions. Their love story, from a chance encounter in the sky to globe-trotting adventures, reminds us that love is the most extraordinary journey of all.