"It's like being a doctor," she says.

"You need to know the basic knowledge and then find your specialization."

She moved from Sydney to Bangkok in 2009, after 12 years of learning how to cook.

Theeraphong became executive chef of the three-starred Michelin restaurant, Osha, in 2015.

"I think I was the first female executive chef in the hotel industry in Thailand because I have an international education and I'm specializing in Thai cuisine," she says.

Thai food's distinctiveness comes from its spices and herbs, she says.

"I want to bring Thai cuisine to the whole world, and not just the food, but also Thai hospitality and our culture," says Theeraphong.

The modern Thai restaurant Keaami opened in Beijing's Chaoyang Joy City at the end of last year, as Theeraphong's first foray into China.