Meet Your Chef

Celebrated chef Air Jantrakool has taken the helm at Sita at Mountbatten Hotel. Sita showcases Chef Air’s decades of expertise with a menu that celebrates the depth and vibrancy of Thai cuisine.

Pacharin “Air” Jantrakool, a revered figure in Sydney’s Thai culinary scene, brings over 35 years of experience to Sita. A protégé of acclaimed chef David Thompson, Air’s mastery of Thai cuisine has been showcased at some of Sydney’s most esteemed venues, including the iconic Sailors Thai, where she worked with Thompson for 15 years, as well as Chon Thai, Betel Leaf, Tapioca, and Noble Canteen.

Born in Chiang Mai, Air’s cooking is deeply personal, shaped by her Northern Thai heritage and a childhood spent preparing meals for her large family. Now, through a partnership with JDA Hotels, Air is infusing Sita’s menu with the bold, authentic flavours of her homeland. “Sita is more than just a restaurant – it’s a love letter to the food of my childhood,” says Air. “Each dish is made from the heart, as if I were cooking for family. JDA Hotels has given me a space to share these flavours with Sydney in an environment that values authenticity and warmth.”