In a recent and rather abrupt shake-up that's rippling through the Bay Area food scene, Chef Intu-On Kornnawong has stepped away from her role as chef and partner at the Oakland gem, Jo's Modern Thai, a restaurant recognized by Michelin with a Bib Gourmand award. The announcement came via a social media post from Chef Intu herself, who revealed her departure as having taken place on October 18, thanking her supporters and expressing gratitude for her time at Jo's Modern Thai, as she posted on Instagram.
Celebrated for delivering a Californian twist on Thai classics, like the inventive barbecue brisket drunken noodles and the standout pork lamb burger, complemented by makrut lime mayonnaise, Jo's Modern Thai under Chef Intu garnered substantial praise, even as it expanded horizons with the planned launch of a new brunch hotspot, The Peach, which aimed to fuse American breakfast favorites with Asian flair, and then plans were marred by Chef Intu's departure it was not immediately clear how this would affect the restaurant's anticipated trajectory.
Details surrounding the chef's decision to leave Jo's Modern Thai and The Peach surfaced in an interview with SFGate, where Kornnawong cited "a difference in the directions and visions of the restaurants" with business partner Kao Saelee as the impetus for their "amicable parting of ways." Subsequently, Jo's Modern Thai announced a temporary two-week closure in late October for what they called "unforeseen circumstances" and the need to "complete important upgrades," leaving fans of the establishment eager and somewhat anxious about its future.
Before her rise to culinary acclaim in Oakland, Chef Intu developed her chops at the renowned International Culinary Center. He cut her teeth in Michelin-starred establishments, including San Francisco's Kin Khao. Her journey started in her hometown in Thailand's Issan region. During the pandemic, she also curated her pop-up, Intu-On, offering Thai drinking snacks reflective of her heritage.
