AKIKO

She was born in a Thai market. In Saraburi, to be precise, 150 kilometers north of Bangkok. Her mother runs a stir-fry stall. Her father sells coffee. The little girl grows up amid a bustling culinary scene, surrounded by aromas, colors, sun-ripened fruits, fried shrimp, and sizzling noodles. For breakfast, she feasts on sticky rice, stir-fried noodles, dried meat, fragrant soups, and many other delicacies.