Tourism, Covid & Secret Recipes with Chin From Chili Paste Food Tours [S5.E14]

Greg interviews Chin Chongtong, the founder of Chili Paste Food Tours, a food-based tourism company in Bangkok. Khun Chin first relates her difficult early days as an untrained tour guide, giving informal tours around Bangkok, having to negotiate both massive floods and military coups that shut down half the city. After getting a formal tour guide certificate from the Thai government, she and a friend developed the concept of food-based tours around Bangkok and occasionally other parts of Thailand. Chin is known for her highly specialized tours and her ability to seek out the most unique or hole-in-the-wall locations serving hard-to-find-food for any audience - vegetarians, spice-lovers, or those who are simply adventurous and want a surprise. Greg and Chin then trade some behind-the-scenes stories about being a tour guide, in particular the need to be flexible and to have backup plans for every eventuality.  Obviously operating a business that relies on tourism right now is not easy, and Chin explains how she’s adapted during Covid. In a city famous for having a million food options, it’s great to have Chin and a company like Chili Paste Tours to do all the legwork and research for you!  Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.