I can understand Thailand's apprehension in allowing farangs to work in jobs that would otherwise go to a Thai. If they opened that spigot many more farangs would follow with the same agenda. The US should take a cue from Thailand on that one. However, we farangs do dump a lot of money that we've earned elsewhere into the Thai economy. Also, if you've retired to Thailand, chances are you have an income that is also being absorbed into the Thai economy. My point is that we really don't get a break here other than being granted the permission to stay in the kingdom. It would be a plus to see a bit more flexibility on the part of the Thai government regarding working farangs.

Nice change - A simple uplifting story.. Then you start reading the comments to dampen your spirits.

It doesn't dampen mine.

There are great articles on TV and lots of good information here, but there are a lot of people who should just keep their trite,

xenophobic, racist, paranoid, negative opinions to themselves. And it appears, lots of them.

You learn to skip by them, and in time you do a lot of skipping.

I agree, its sad how many people here can make something negative about this article, in which there is nothing offensive

unless you are a xenophobic, paranoid dullard with too much time on your hands.

Also, saw a farang food-vendor in Chinatown / Yaowarat area about six months back.

Pad Thai, like Spätzle, just a bit more sugar.

It's obvious, you don't cook.

An alien working without a work permit is subject to imprisonment for a period of up to five years and/or a fine from 2,000 baht to 100,000 baht. If an alien accused of working without a work permit agrees to leave Thailand within 30 days, he may settle the matter with only a fine. An alien with a work permit failing to comply with certain provisions of the Alien Working Act is subject to a fine of up to 10,000 baht. An employer hiring an alien without a work permit is subject to a fine from 10,000 baht to 100,000 baht per alien, and an employer hiring an alien outside the scope of his work permit is subject to a fine of up to 10,000 baht per alien.

Alien Working Act. I hope the ad was worth it.

Street vending is a proscribed job. It doesn't matter if it's cooking Thai food, carving kebabs or selling handicrafts.

Tell that to all the ASEAN nationalities staffing street stalls along lower Sukhumvit in BKK, or all the Middle Easterners with sidewalk shwarma stands in the same area. Same people and places there, day after day and month after month.

I certainly wish the guy in the OP well, and am glad he can share something with his wife. But it's not negativity to fear and expect that Thai Labor or Immigration will end up causing trouble for this guy. It's just the reality of the way things, and limits on foreign employment, work here.

If I was him, the OP article would be just the kind of publicity I would NOT want.

Pad Thai, like Spätzle, just a bit more sugar.

I like Spätzle. I cook Spätzle with onions stir fried until slightly brown and like Pad Thai, I make room in the middle of the pan and crack an egg (or 2) then using spatula to mix the yoke and white part together. I mixed Spätzle and onions over the mixed egg. I waited until the egg stick to the Spätzle and check under the egg if it is nicely golden brown, then I would flip the egg to the other side and using spatula to stir the content to break apart a bit. sprinkle some salt and little sugar mix it at the end.

ah, but what about the chili, fish sauce, beansprouts, nuts and shrimp, pork, or chicken

He may very well be one of the very few that has eventually obtained Thai Residency foregoing the need for a work permit plus visa.

To all the "work permit" comments the story quite clearly states:

The Swiss man said he mastered the skill to cook pad thai three years ago and has been "helping" his wife earn a living by cooking the dish in their hometown ever since.

So if all he is doing is helping his wife why should he need a work permit?

i was under the impression (gathered from talking to many farang business owners) that even sweeping crumbs off a table or answering a ringing phone was classed as 'working' and would result in being deported........surely they didnt ALL lie to me?

...and while youre here maybe someone can throw some light on the indian suit sellers that work alone without 4 thais and the indian restaurants that are full of indians but no thais......how does that work?

Good luck to Tony and my utmost sympathy for all the miserable people that always manage to put a negative spin on any topic at, all bah humbug to you all. All the best to Tony may you keep on cooking with no dramas.

good on him looks happy and making a contribution to he society he lives in.

i think the part that shocks me the most, like it does some other people , is a Swiss guy named Tony Smith!

Maybe the immigration officers will try his pad thai and then decide for themselves what to do next.

Didn't think that cooking is a prohibited profession in Thailand.

http://www.thaivisa.com/330-0.html

No, it is not a prohibited profession. There are many falang cooks in Thailand, but if he doesn't have a "Work Permit" then his cooking will end and this happy story will end up doing the reverse of what was intended.

So long as he only cooks and doesn't take money or give the food directly to the customer as that would probably be shop attending which is prohibited.

It would be sad if anything happened to someone who is obviously just trying to take part in Thai everyday life. Unfortunately those are the rules and even if many get away with it as he appears to have done so far it only needs one person set on revenge to spoil it all.

I hope for the best for him and his wife.

Another falang make pad thai in Bangkok.

So how can make it for the visa? I don't think him have 2 mil bath and 4 thai for working......

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6yPRUR135aY

Removed a post containing wrong information, some off-topic posts, and the replies to them.

To all the "work permit" comments the story quite clearly states:

The Swiss man said he mastered the skill to cook pad thai three years ago and has been "helping" his wife earn a living by cooking the dish in their hometown ever since.

So if all he is doing is helping his wife why should he need a work permit?

i was under the impression (gathered from talking to many farang business owners) that even sweeping crumbs off a table or answering a ringing phone was classed as 'working' and would result in being deported........surely they didnt ALL lie to me?

...and while youre here maybe someone can throw some light on the indian suit sellers that work alone without 4 thais and the indian restaurants that are full of indians but no thais......how does that work?

I'd certainly be interested in that answer as well. Indra shopping centre has dozens of Indians selling cameras and the like. How is it done?

Likely the "Smith" was for the exact same reason as everyone has mentioned.

although the cops will think he has no money, so leave him to it.

I always thought pad Thai was a wretched mix of sweet salty and Pung Chu Loty

Indra shopping centre has dozens of Indians selling cameras and the like. How is it done?

Probably Thai nationals.

Indra shopping centre has dozens of Indians selling cameras and the like. How is it done?

Probably Thai nationals.

So I was told. Buying up ID cards from Kanchanaburi

Pad Thai, like Spätzle, just a bit more sugar.

It's obvious, you don't cook.

Yup, I'm one of those talentless farang. No noodle cart start-up for me.

kind of reminds me when I was playing guitar in front of a store a few years ago, all these Thais looked at me and one even commented to the other "wow, I didn't know falangs could play guitar so well." It is amazing sometimes the low esteem "khon Tang Chart" are held to

So there is a Farang who can cook Thai food, we just have to find the Thai who can cook Farang food now.

His wife owns a restaurant so maybe he has a wp. Wp can be very liberal in there wording. He can be a manager involved in all aspects of the business including advertising and promoting the restaurant. Thats the approach i would take if i were him.

It would depend on what he's doing I suppose. Shop attending is prohibited so the cooking would be OK but giving food to and taking money from customers I would guess wouldn't be. Some have mentioned street vending but it looks to me as if this is a more permanent site but then again it depends on the definition of street vendor. The laws are a bit vauge so it's difficult to be certain. I says his wife already owns a restaurant in Bangkok so if there are Thai workers there and it's part of the same company that might mean it's more likely he has a wp.

I hope he is within the law as it would be sad if this turned out badly for him and his wife.

So there is a Farang who can cook Thai food, we just have to find the Thai who can cook Farang food now.

there is this restaurant I have heard of Called "Uncle John's" in Bangkok, apparently the guy is Thai and cooks really good western food....anyone know this restaurant or have ever tried the food

His wife owns a restaurant so maybe he has a wp. Wp can be very liberal in there wording. He can be a manager involved in all aspects of the business including advertising and promoting the restaurant. Thats the approach i would take if i were him.

It would depend on what he's doing I suppose. Shop attending is prohibited so the cooking would be OK but giving food to and taking money from customers I would guess wouldn't be. Some have mentioned street vending but it looks to me as if this is a more permanent site but then again it depends on the definition of street vendor. The laws are a bit vauge so it's difficult to be certain. I says his wife already owns a restaurant in Bangkok so if there are Thai workers there and it's part of the same company that might mean it's more likely he has a wp.

I hope he is within the law as it would be sad if this turned out badly for him and his wife.

I was always under the impression that even with a work permit, a foreigner couldn't legally cook, unless it was for some International Hotel chain like Four Seasons of Something....although they seem to do it all the time...I'm happy for the guy personally and just shrug off all the sorry old sots who wish him bad

"Many customers said they were impressed to see a farang (Caucasian) who is extremely capable of cooking pad thai, the fried noodle that has become one of the most iconic Thai dishes."

Yes dear Thai people, no need to be rocket scientists as most of you are.. or think that you are...

Didn't think that cooking is a prohibited profession in Thailand.

http://www.thaivisa.com/330-0.html

Street vending is prohibited.

He's not on the street, read where they say " food stall".

His wife owns a restaurant so maybe he has a wp. Wp can be very liberal in there wording. He can be a manager involved in all aspects of the business including advertising and promoting the restaurant. Thats the approach i would take if i were him.

It would depend on what he's doing I suppose. Shop attending is prohibited so the cooking would be OK but giving food to and taking money from customers I would guess wouldn't be. Some have mentioned street vending but it looks to me as if this is a more permanent site but then again it depends on the definition of street vendor. The laws are a bit vauge so it's difficult to be certain. I says his wife already owns a restaurant in Bangkok so if there are Thai workers there and it's part of the same company that might mean it's more likely he has a wp.

I hope he is within the law as it would be sad if this turned out badly for him and his wife.

Honestly i dont really understand the list of forbidden jobs. Plenty of falangs running auctions and i dont really see any restriction about accepting money. I know several restaurants with falang waiters.