A native of Bangkok, Thailand, Preech Narkthong moved to the United States as a teenager and took his first job in the kitchen at the newly opened Century Plaza Hotel in 1966. After learning hotel-style trade, Narkthong opened his own restaurant in the historic Wilshire District of Los Angeles.

In 1996 a mutual friend introduced Narkthong to Chef Suzanne Tracht who had recently opened her first restaurant, Jozu, in West Hollywood. “It was the equivalent of love-at-first-sight”, Tracht says of their initial meeting. Narkthong has the glint of a Thai sage in his eye, runs his kitchen in Spanish and can execute a perfect Passover Seder or Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving. In partnership, Tracht and Narkthong are a committed, insatiable duo.

Together in 2001, Tracht and Narkthong opened Jar whose critical and popular acclaim continues to mount through the culinary world. Tracht credits Narkthong for his inspiration in utilizing Asian ingredients in her contemporary American Chop House menu and introducing her to the unique sources that give her menu a signature touch. From the diverse use of products on the Jar menu as wild Short Tail Snapper and Beef Tendon to Ong Choy (Water Spinach) and Okanawa yams, Narkthong’s presence is not so much an influence as an integrated part of Tracht’s style.

Narkthong and his wife have one grown son and live in a mid-Century home in Sherman Oaks.