SPICY, sour, salty, sweet, and umami; if there are words that best explain the flavors of Thai dishes, they can be summed up ...

But lately, its food scene has become just as much of a draw. It was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2015 and has evolved over the past decade with a set of fine-dining destinations.

At the age of 22, he took a month-long solo trip to Thailand that changed everything. While exploring street markets in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Porter fell in love with the country's culinary culture.