Chef’s Table Event at Yi Peng Thai Dining – A Luxe Summer Night of Artisanal Thai Flavors [CLOSED]

[PERMANENTLY CLOSED - Store No Longer Operating] 

A warm summer evening set the stage for an intimate and unforgettable chef’s table experience at Yi Peng Thai Dining in CityCentre. What many expected to be a traditional Thai dinner transformed into a sophisticated parade of artisanal small plates, each crafted with bold flavors, rich textures, and a sense of culinary storytelling.

From the moment the dishes began arriving—one after another in elegant progression—the night took on an electric, joyful energy. The short ribs and crispy chicken were standout favorites, decadent without being heavy, balanced by refreshing sips of sweet Thai tea and fresh coconut water lightly iced with slivers of coconut meat.

Chef Jett brought charisma and passion to the table, engaging guests with lively conversation and insights into Thai cuisine. Meeting him, along with his wife and the talented culinary team, added a personal touch to an already immersive dining experience. Their hospitality, warmth, and cultural pride elevated the evening into something far more meaningful than a simple dinner.

The event sparked wanderlust—visions of Thailand, fragrant penang curry, and kaffir lime leaves drifting through the mind long after dessert. Equally delightful was reconnecting with longtime friends and celebrating the evolution of Houston’s food community, where creative and culturally rich gatherings continue to flourish.

Event Highlights:

• Artisanal Thai small plates

• Slow-braised short ribs

• Crispy chicken with bold seasoning

• Sweet Thai tea & fresh chilled coconut water

• Intimate conversations with Chef Jett

• A lively, cozy summer-night atmosphere

Review

Sara I. (Aug 18, 2022):

“Well. What can I say? All my favorite platinum folk already wrote essays upon essays about our grandeur Thai inspired evening in City Centre. It was a cosy summer night as we noshed upon food that was as big & bold with flavor, as our conversations were.

I adored the bold and spunky energy at the table—full of laughter, honesty, and depth. I kept thinking we would eat typical Thai cuisine that night. But that was far from our reality… we were gifted with artisanal small plated meals that were decadent yet rich in taste. My favorites were the short ribs and crispy chicken. Thai tea was quite sweet yet refreshing in between savory meals. Their fresh coconut water was great as well. A bit of coconut meat and lightly iced, it was perfect in this summer season.

Chef Jett was enthusiastic, energetic and fun to speak with. His name is quite huge in this city and it was lovely to finally meet him. His wife and the rest of the culinary team were friendly and informative as well. Thanks to the Thai cultural ministry in their initiative to feed us and tickle our taste-buds & minds.

Now I have a strong longing and impulse to visit Thailand and nosh on penang curry that's sprinkled with just the right amount of kaffir lime leaves. Aside from my wanderlust daydream, I had a great evening catching up with old-school friends. With summer finally ending (I think), it was a great initiative catching up and learning about prospective events and the growth of the community.

Much has changed in the past decade... nostalgia of days gone by… but so much growth and fun still ahead. Cheers!

PS — Thanks for the lippy balm, mints, and other cute little gifts. The remembrance of a fun night will linger longer than the taste of those mints.”

Category: Food Events, Chef’s Table Experiences 

Location: Memorial / CityCentre, Houston 

Tags: Yi Peng Thai Dining event, Houston chef’s table, Thai fine dining Houston, CityCentre food events, Thai cuisine tasting menu, Houston summer food events