From Texas to Thailand: A Chef Opens an Expat Hotspot in Pattaya

In 1994, Edward Thompson (ET to his friends) boarded a plane in Houston and landed in Bangkok, Thailand. He’d been recruited by a large hospitality and food service company called “The Minor Group,” headquartered in Bangkok. ET was hired as a pastry chef servicing several hotels and restaurants owned by the group. In total, he lived in Bangkok for 14 years.

“I didn’t know if I liked it or not,” he told me. “I was working so many hours I had no time to adjust.” He didn’t even have a permanent place to live for two years.

After a while, Bangkok worked its magic on ET, and he settled into the expat community. He opened a huge sports bar and restaurant right in the middle of one of Bangkok’s most famous nightlife areas called Bully’s. I remember the huge bronze statue of a bull at the entrance that everyone rubbed for good luck on the way to the pool table or dart boards.

“I worked with a great bunch of people in Bangkok,” ET said. “Many of them are still my friends today.”

A few years ago, ET got tired of the bright lights and brisk pace of Bangkok and migrated two hours down the road to Pattaya, a major resort town on the Gulf of Thailand. After some investigation and due diligence, he discovered a niche he thought he could fill and opened Peaky Blinders, a cozy pub serving high-end American Bistro cuisine.

Edward Thompson owns Peaky Blinders pub in Pattaya, Thailand.

ET’s place is a throwback to a time when the local pub was the hub of social activity. Located on Pratumnak Hill between Pattaya and Jomtien Beach, he’s perfectly positioned to serve expats living in the area with good old American comfort food, executed at a master chef level. The brisket sliders should come with a warning label alerting diners to how addictive they are.

During the pandemic, ET stayed afloat by leaning on his expertise as a pastry chef. He continued to work through the lockdowns, supplying pies, cakes, sweet rolls, etc., to hotels, shops, and private parties. His classic apple pie and blueberry cheesecake are world-class. When one of his best patrons asked for a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup cheesecake for his birthday, ET made the cups by hand with homemade peanut butter and dark chocolate. “Decadent” just isn’t a strong enough word for it.

Since reopening after the pandemic, ET has enjoyed a rousing business and discovered another niche he can fill. He has a large party room in the back of Peaky Blinders for office parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, Christmas parties, and any occasion where 10 to 25 people need to eat, drink, and celebrate. His Thanksgiving dinners are booked two years in advance.

Edward’s pub is a popular hangout spot for expats in Pattaya.

“I feel lucky to have opened on Pratumnak Hill,” ET said. “I live on The Hill too, and watching that sunset behind Koh Larn Island every night makes all the hard work worth it.”

“I think it must be the easiest place for an expat to live in Southeast Asia,” he continued. “There are mountains, beaches, and golf courses galore. Shopping malls, movie theaters, music bars, and food, food, food! I’d live here even if I wasn’t in the hospitality business.”

ET went on to say the only downside he’d seen of living in this area was the effect tourism had on the Thai people working in the hospitality business in Pattaya. He feels like many are losing the easy-going, friendly attitude he’s come to expect. They have to deal with some pretty belligerent tourists from all over the globe in Pattaya, and he said it was “beating the niceness out of them.”

Part of his decision to locate his business on Pratumnak Hill was based on this observation. “I like serving expats and snowbirds that have a modicum of civility and etiquette,” he said. “I don’t have the temperament to deal with rude Chinese package tourists.”

“It looks like the Thai government is shifting its emphasis away from these awful package tours and trying to project a more family-friendly atmosphere,” ET said. “The lockdowns also allowed many of the most stunning natural attractions and national parks to recover after years of overuse, and the value of ‘green tourism’ has finally been recognized.”

I asked ET what impact he thought a new high-speed train connection from Bangkok would have on life in Pattaya and the surrounding communities. “If people can get here from Bangkok in half an hour, it will change who many businesses cater to,” he said. “Weekenders and day trippers from Bangkok will be a growing new niche market. I’d like to think my cheesecake is worth a 30-minute train ride.”

I also asked ET what advice he gives to Americans considering a move to Thailand. He gave me a wry smile. “Be the tortoise, not the hare,” he said. “It’s so easy to fall in love with this place because you’ll be overwhelmed with the personal freedoms we all enjoy. It’s natural to want to go all in.”

He tells newcomers to learn the Thai words “cha-cha” (slowly) and “bow-bow” (gently). “Fight the urge to buy property right away. The same goes for starting a business. And if you are a single male expat recognize that the romantic temptations here are strong and persuasive. Try to avoid an ‘instant family’ situation if you can.”

My friend ET … serving delicious food and sage advice.