King Phojanakong
Born(1968-08-18)August 18, 1968
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2023(2023-01-02) (aged 54)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
OccupationChef

King Phojanakong (August 18, 1968 – January 2, 2023) was an American chef.

Early life and education

Born in Manhattan on August 18, 1968, Phojanakong spent most of his life in Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village.[1] His mother, Zosima "Emma" (Arceo) Phojanakong, was a Filipino nurse, while his father, also named King, was from Thailand.[1][2][3]

After attending the Bronx High School of Science, Phojanakong pursued studies at the State University of New York at Purchase and the City College of New York.[1] He later earned an associate degree from the Culinary Institute of America in 1998.[1]

Career

His culinary career spanned positions at notable Manhattan restaurants, including Daniel, Jean-Georges, and Danube.[1]

In 2003, he founded Kuma Inn on Ludlow Street, its name inspired by the Tagalog term "kumain".[1] This establishment was among the early sit-down Filipino restaurants in Manhattan, with only Cendrillon opening earlier in 1995.[1]

By 2009, Phojanakong had launched Umi Nom in Brooklyn, which showcased Filipino food often paired with drinking.[1][4] Umi Nom ceased operations in 2015, and Kuma Inn closed its doors in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Phojanakong's subsequent projects included a pop-up at Jimmy's No. 43 and the Cook Like King cooking classes.[1]

Phojanakong died in Manhattan on January 2, 2023, at the age of 54.[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Risen, Clay (2023-01-08). "King Phojanakong, Pioneer of Filipino Food in New York, Dies at 54". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. ↑ "King Phojanakong | Faculty Profiles | New York Campus | ICE". www.ice.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Meet the Chef: King Phojanakong". Restaurant Business. October 24, 2013. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Umi Nom Tables For Two". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  5. ↑ https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/09/23/pioneer-of-filipino-food-in-new-york-dies-at-54
  6. ↑ McCart, Melissa (2023-01-04). "One of NYC's Pioneering Southeast Asian Chefs Has Died". Eater NY. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
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