Jay Fai: Fire & Soul goes beyond the flames to uncover the woman behind the goggles
Known as the Queen of Street Food, Jay Fai is a true icon in Thailand's food scene. She shot to global fame after earning a Michelin Star and ever since, foodies from all over the world have been lining up just to try her crab omelette.
However, beyond her charcoal-fired woks and signature ski goggles, her life is much more interesting than we realise. With a past filled with struggles and victories over life's adversities, she has managed through her entrepreneurial vision to build her business and provide for her family. And to understand how she came to be in this position, the culinary documentary, Jay Fai: Fire & Soul is the one to watch.
Directed by Arlei Lima, the film first came out in 2021 and spent the next few years making its way through international film festivals. Now, it's finally come home. On May 19, the Thai premiere of the documentary took place at Woof Pack art space – right in time with its worldwide release on the UTOPICFOOD! YouTube channel.
Even if you're not her fan, you've probably noticed she rarely opens up about her life and that's exactly what makes this film so special. With questions gently asked by her daughter, she shares her story in her own words, with a level of openness we rarely see. Her path has been anything but easy or conventional. She left school after fourth grade, never received formal culinary training and even worked as a tailor at one point. Yet, she credits much of her entrepreneurial mindset to the Chinese historical novel Three Kingdoms, saying:
'I was only in second grade when I started reading Three Kingdoms. I think politicians are witless. If you're a politician and you've read Three Kingdoms, I guarantee no one can mess with you. I tell everyone that. Later on, I only got halfway through the book. I didn't have time to finish. I had to work. Even now, Three Kingdoms is still with me.'
If you're a politician and you've read Three Kingdoms, I guarantee no one can mess with you.
Even though she's an icon, there's no denying that many people still perceive her food as unusually expensive. But if you ask her about it, she won't dodge the question. She responds with the same honesty and confidence that's guided her through life.
'Thais often say, 'Aren't you afraid of selling expensive food?' I say, 'I'm not afraid. What is there to be afraid of? I have prices listed. You can choose what to eat. If you think it's too expensive, you can eat something else.' I don't chase anyone away. I want you to eat here. We were born human, so let's give it a try. Why do some restaurants charge more while others are cheaper? They're not the same.'
I'm not afraid. What is there to be afraid of? I have prices listed. You can choose what to eat. If you think it's too expensive, you can eat something else.
And regarding the rumour last year that she was thinking of retiring – turns out, it did cross her mind, but not just yet. The 81-year-old chef reflects:
'Yes, the thought has come up. But I feel like I need to get through this year first. I've already accepted a lot of bookings, even into the middle of next year. As for stopping, I could whenever I choose. But the team at the restaurant has asked me to keep going a bit longer.'
Having landed in Thailand four years after its initial release, you might wonder if this film was made mainly for an international audience. What about local viewers? What can they take away from it? On this, producer Mason Florence shares:
'As we worked towards the target audience, we realised that Jay Fai's fanbase and her guests come from every corner of the world. But the one we didn't want to miss is the Thai audience. We hope more people here get to see the film and, importantly, understand the story in Thai. Along with the language, the cultural concepts come through naturally, making the film borderless. It's really for everyone and even those who haven't had the chance to visit Thailand or eat at Jay Fai's, but can experience it vicariously through the film.'
But the one we didn't want to miss is the Thai audience. We hope more people here get to see the film and, importantly, understand the story in Thai.
Overall, this documentary knows no borders. Even if you're not local, you'll be moved by the life and soul of Jay Fai. Her journey of passion and perseverance shines through every frame. But don't let us spoil how good this film is, you can catch it for free here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
We visit Rhyl's new seafront food hall and pick the biggest queue
The new Queen's Market in Rhyl has officially opened its doors to the pubic. The long-awaited development includes 16 individual food and retail units, a double-sided theme bar and a large events space, and promises to be an integral community space right in the heart of Rhyl. The food hall and market cost over £12m to develop and received funding from the Welsh Government, largely through its transforming towns programme. The project has also received funding from the UK Government and by Denbighshire County Council. The new glass fronted building certainly looks sleek and contemporary with a mezzanine for additional seating, alongside a nod to the past with a mural, which shows how Queens Street used to look like in days gone by. The venue looks well set up to host a variety of live entertainment and events with a full-size stage and tv screens showing live sport around the venue. However, it was the delicious aroma drifting from the food courts, which we were interested in testing out today. The list of independent vendors is certainly impressive, with a choice that will unquestionably please the fussiest of families. Bad burgers and dirty dogs offer a range of handmade smash burgers and gourmet hotdogs with a variety of fully loaded fries and a range of soft drinks. Go Greek offer a full range of traditional Greek food with souvlaki, halloumi fries and Greek desserts. There is a noodle bar called Kumo Ramen alongside a wide range of Thai food including red and green curries and pad Thai from Kinn Kinn. Fans of pizza won't be disappointed with freshy made, hand-stretched, stone-baked pizzas, from Little Italy pizza Rhyl. Wrapped and loaded offer artisan wraps, with high protein fillings, whilst Street Pot cook up Caribbean delights and feature dishes such as jerk chicken, jerk curry, rice and peas, and fried plantain. Pudz Ice Cream rolls dish out ice cream rolls, freshly made waffles and crepes, which can be topped with classic toppings such as fresh fruit, chocolate, cream and more, as well as their famous fresh milkshakes. Donat DWT, entice you with a full range of glazed and filled donuts. You can wash it all down with spill the beans, who serve up freshly ground coffee, a choice of artisan tea as well as pastries and cake favourites. The full-service bar, which provides drinks for both the events area and the market space is named 'The Spirit of Rhyl' and run by Spirit of Wales distillery, where visitors can even make their own flavoured gin. Now, where do you start with such a vast list of options. The different sweet and savory aromas from each of the vendors played havoc with my senses. We decided to go for the one with the biggest queue, as that was surely a good sign? Although all the vendors looked pretty busy to be fair. Go Greek had a number of pitta wraps, kebabs and special boxes on the menu, which was certainly attracting the customers. When you think of Greek food you probably think of the delicious Greek chicken gyros. Vendors line the streets in all the Greek cities with their vertical rotisserie of meat (either pork or chicken) The name gyro comes from the Greek word for 'turn': the meat is usually cooked on a vertical spit. We ordered a special chicken gyro box for £10, which included fries, salad and tzatziki. They give you a buzzer that will light up and vibrate when your food is ready. I kept staring at the buzzer in anticipation but still got started, when it actually went off. It only took about 10 minutes for order to be ready and that was with a fairly big queue. Our plan was to share the Greek box between the two of us and then grab a cake and drink from a different vendor. The generous Greek portion was easily enough for two people, especially for a lunch time meal. The chicken thighs were marinated and tasted succulent and juicy. The salad consisted of shredded lettuce, tomato, and thinly sliced onion. Tzatziki is one of the most common dips you'll find in Greek cuisine. The cucumber yogurt dip really added a bit of zing to the dish. I could see why the kiosk was proving such a huge hit. Go Greek had desserts such as Baklava or Portokalopita, which is a very popular orange cake. However, in the interest of trying a different vendor, we headed to 'spill the beans' for coffee and cake. Spill the beans had a variety of hot or cold drinks with a small cake menu. The cakes included the usual traditional fare of Victoria sponges, lemon drizzle and tiffin. After a bit of hesitation, I opted for a crunchie brownie, which was surprisingly dense and gooey with a layer of honeycomb on the top. My wife went for her usual fruit scone with lashings of jam and cream, and was certainly not disappointed. She washed it down with a small americano with hot milk, whilst I went for the intriguingly titled 'mango and dragon fruit' drink. It turned out to be a bit like a blue passionfruit squash but it did the job of quenching my first after the rich chocolate brownie. The place was very busy with a real buzz in the air, helped as it was the start of the summer holidays. We walked around the vendors and noticed Aber falls gin and Conwy brewery were selling their wares, alongside a sweet shop and a soon to be opened sandwich kiosk. Upstairs, there were dart boards, shuffleboards and table top football games to entertain the whole family. The new 'Queens Market' offers a variety of street food from independent vendors, all under one brand new shiny roof. The designers have a done a good job of preserving its proud past whilst embracing the future. These kinds of Artisan markets have done well in other parts of the country, and I must admit, I was more than impressed with the entertainment options and variety of choice on offer in the revitalized food courts of the Queens Market. The Facts Go Greek Special Box £10 Sill The Beans coffee Scone £4.00 Brownie £3.75 Americano £3.35 Mango and Dragon refresher £3.75 £14.85 Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 10am to 10pm Sunday 10am to 8pm Atmosphere- Busy and buzzing due to the start of the summer holidays Car Parking- We managed to get the last spot available in a rather small car park to the right of the building £1.50. Disabled Access- Full disabled access and toilets. Service- Order at your vendor of choice and grab a buzzer Overall- We tested the food courts at the brand new revitalized 'Queens Market' in Rhyl. Queens Market Sussex Street Rhyl
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
‘Global sensation' Netflix movie tops chart with 106 million views
Steve Charnock Published July 24, 2025 1:32pm Updated July 24, 2025 2:55pm Link is copied Comments Film fans, gather 'round. Netflix has delivered another top 10 movies list for the week. And it's a menu featuring a cocktail of animated wonders, heart-stopping thrillers, dumb-founding documentaries and a dose of Tyler Perry's cross-dressing chaos. Whether you prefer subtitles, swordplay, supernatural pop idols or just want to witness Madea's latest disaster, this ranking reflects Netflix subscribers' loves across the genres. Strap in for a tour through what's making waves on the world's most popular streaming service right now…(Picture: Netflix) This Thai action‑horror flick exploded onto Netflix globally in its first week thanks to its martial arts‑infused zombie carnage. It's not your average undead romp, either. Choreographed Muay Thai meets dystopian grimness here, with emotional punches landing alongside physical ones. Critics praised the intensity but some flagged that the character arcs are on the thin side. Still, with its stylish violence and high‑energy pace, it's a welcome jolt for anyone bored of the standard watered‑down zombie fare - or just curious as to what K‑zombies might look like (Picture: Netflix) A quiet indie flick that snuck into Netflix's top 10 for the past week, this Maine‑based drama combines fall foliage with emotional isolation. It never attempts to provide the viewer with flashy spectacle, this is all about subtle performances and introspective pacing. To the point that it might just feel a wee bit like it's plodding unless you're really in the mood. Yet it drew in over 4 million viewers over the last seven days, possibly because people love looking at New England scenery. Not unforgettable, but oddly soothing for a film about a 12 year-old boy trying not to die in the wilderness (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock) Next up we have a Brazilian comedy‑drama from director Felipe Joffily that passes as a more-than-watchable flick. It's charmed audiences across the world with its messy familial twists and warm humor. Thankfully, its blend of romance, subtle laughs and tear‑jerking sincerity feels earnest rather than forced. It boasts a cast that sparkles with chemistry, though critics were quick to point out that it has more than a few predictable plot points. At roughly 5.5 million weekly viewers, it's clear the appeal lies in watching ordinary chaos unfold with genuine heart. And maybe in reminding yourself that your own family gatherings could always be worse (Picture: Netflix) Charlize Theron reprises her immortal warrior role in this sequel that Netflix viewers have been enjoying over the past couple of weeks. Expect slick fight choreography, a touch of existential angst and a franchise that seems to have legs. Critics say it glosses over character development in favor of all-out action, but if adrenaline is what you want from your next movie pick, then this delivers in spades. Who said you can't age gracefully with a double-headed axe in your hand? Probably no one. But if anyone ever does, show them this action flick to prove them wrong (Picture: Netflix/AP) Netflix's South Korean psychological thriller set in a pressure‑cooked apartment building has captivated audiences globally this week. A man discovers unsettling secrets beneath his new home. Think claustrophobia meets urban paranoia. Film reviewers applauded its tense atmosphere and sharp production design, though some found the specifics of the 'mystery' a little predictable. Still, if you enjoy slow‑burn dread rather than CGI jump scares, Wall to Wall offers a stylish and unsettling ride through your worst neighbor‑from‑hell scenario (Picture: Young-Uk Jeon/Netlix) Maybe you thought this anthology docuseries had already peaked with the wonderfully titled Poop Cruise. But this Trainwreck exploring the 2009 'Balloon Boy' hoax may just prove otherwise. It brings to life a truly odd story that's a perfect storm of ridiculousness with serious implications. Critics were mixed: some saw it as sensationalist, others found it illuminating. Watch it if you've ever wondered how the internet and tabloids turn absurdity into spectacle and allow ridiculous lies to snowball into something quite extraordinary (but still extremely stupid) (Picture: Netflix) This Rotterdam-set Dutch buddy‑comedy climbed into Netflix's top five mostly due to its big laughs and even bigger stunts. Two mismatched cops fumble through crime scenes, slapstick disasters and heartfelt confessions, all before you can say 'slightly cliched plot'. Critics called it silly but effective at delivering crowd‑pleasing chaos. If you're after uncomplicated laughs with a fair few explosions, this pairs well with popcorn and fairly low expectations (Picture: Netflix) Tyler Perry's diva grandma returns in this sun‑drenched matrimonial adventure in the Bahamas. As always, Madea is equal parts troublesome gran and moral compass, stirring up family drama when her nephew's daughter marries a rapper she barely knows. Critics like to dismiss the franchise as broad throwaway slapstick, but Perry's audience just loves that familiar chaos. It's comfort viewing. If your comfort involves exaggerated accents, hugely unflattering dresses and fairly easy jokes, that is (Picture: Netflix/Everett/Shutterstock) This German thriller has a smart premise: out of the blue, a mysterious brick wall encloses an apartment building, leaving residents trapped inside. Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee anchor the film with a fair bit of emotional realism as panic and paranoia start to spread. Movie writers lauded its clever premise and escalating tension, though some said the resolution of the film feels a little contrived. And not super well executed. Hence its 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Picture: Netflix/Sasha Ostrov) This animated gem - called 'a global sensation' by the movie website Bloody Disgusting - has slowly but surely turned into a cultural phenomenon in its fifth week of being available. Since first landing in Netflix's top 10, it's racked up an incredible 106 million views, with almost 26 million of those in the last week alone. The premise: the stars are a K‑pop girl band by day and demon‑hunting superheroes by night. It's frantic, flamboyant and occasionally baffling. Arden Cho's lead voice performance went down so well it even rallied fans to try and keep the movie at top spot until a sequel gets greenlit by Netflix. Surely, given the incredible success of the thing, that decision isn't far off…? (Picture: Netflix)
Reuters
3 days ago
- Reuters
Three-Michelin-star Paris restaurant Arpege switches to plant-based dishes
PARIS, July 25 (Reuters) - French chef Alain Passard, known for his mastery of roasting techniques, has decided to drop almost all animal products from the menu at his three-Michelin-star restaurant, Arpege. The decision follows his earlier move to eliminate red meat from Arpege's dishes in the early 2000s. Passard's updated menu excludes meat, fish, and dairy, although honey sourced from the restaurant's own beehives will remain an exception. Passard said he was motivated by his passion for nature, adding that using seasonal vegetables would also reduce the restaurant's environmental impact. Passard, 68, rose to fame for his roasted dishes, including "poulet au foin", or chicken cooked in hay, but has since become a leader in Paris's growing vegetable-based dining scene. "Everything I was able to do with the animal will remain a wonderful memory," Passard told Reuters. "Today, I'm moving more towards a cuisine of emotion, a cuisine that I could describe as artistic. It's closer to painting and sewing... Today I'm a different chef." Arpege is the first restaurant with three Michelin stars in France to move to plant-based food, joining the ranks of Eleven Madison Park in New York, which made a similar transition under chef Daniel Humm. On the menu is a "mosaic" of tomatoes, flamed aubergine with melon confit, and a dish made up of carrot, onion, shallot and cabbage. The priciest set menu costs 420 euros ($493) and lunch costs 260 euros. Some countries have seen consumers turn away from meat in recent years. At the Paris Olympics last year, organisers set out to cut the amount of meat served to athletes and spectators. ($1 = 0.8526 euros)
