Aaron Hooper
Executive Chef

Award winning Chef Aaron was honored at the 2008 HAPA (Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards) as Top Chef in Thailand. He was born and raised in Oregon on the west coast of America, an area well known worldwide as a hotbed of talented Chefs and some of the finest restaurants today. Early in his culinary career, he worked in Switzerland under renowned French Chef Fabrice Stephany. In 2000, Aaron attended the esteemed New England Culinary Institute, earning an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts and graduating at the top of his class. This positioned him for a job back on the West Coast in one of the top 5 restaurants in San Francisco, the Wolfgang Puck-partnered restaurant Hawthorne Lane where Aaron worked hand in hand with rising star Chef, Bridgette Batson.

Well versed in classic French, Italian, Asian, and Californian cuisines, Aaron focuses on using only the very freshest ingredients to prepare stunning, honest, culinary works of art. Coming off rave reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Weekly and other California press, he was offered an opportunity to open the very well reviewed Tiramisu in Bangkok for friend and Master Italian Chef /Restaurateur Pino Spinoso. Here Aaron wowed local press with his modern light approach to Italian cuisine unlike what had been before seen in Bangkok. He garnered impressive reviews from magazines such as The Bangkok Post, Elle, Sawasdee magazine, Big Chili, and BK magazine. He also did TV spots for The Nation Channel. Following his success at Tiramisu, he arrived on Phuket working at the Watermark Restaurant, where again his menu received great reviews.

After a brief consulting stint in Shanghai, China, Aaron returned to Phuket to join the Baan Rim Pa Group as executive chef at Da Maurizio Bar Ristorante and, soon thereafter, Joe's Downstairs. His light, fresh cuisine has been well received and he has proved a tremendous asset to the Baan Rim Pa Group.

Thanin (Tonino) Permsab
Da Maurizio & Joe's Downstairs Restaurant Manager

Thanin or "Tonino" as he has come to be known, speaks not only Thai and English but also Italian, self-taught with a little help from Maurizio of Da Maurizio. Originally from Phang Nga, he moved to Phuket several years ago where he attended catering school and trained in some of the top hotels and restaurants on the island. He joined Da Maurizio Bar Ristorante in May, 1995 as a Captain and was soon promoted to Restaurant Manager. A few years ago he added Joe's Downstairs to his responsibilities.

Tonino can be seen roaming up and down the stairs between the two restaurants making sure all of his guests are being taken care of and enjoying their dining experience. His great personality and warm smile makes all the guests feel welcome. Nothing is too much for Tonino to try and ensure his guests are happy.

Tonino loves to assist his guests with their special requests, not only from the menu but with advice on their holidays in Phuket. He is quite familiar with all the dishes in both restaurants and is always happy to recommend a good wine to accompany your meal.