The Yawk Interviews

Yawk chops up chilis and fires down IPA's with local celebrity Iron Chef Max.

Written by Cornelius J. Kensington | Chiang Mai, Thailand | May 1, 2022

On a lovely, sunny afternoon before starting work at Yawk Community Bar, we had a chance to sit down with Max for a moment and chew the fat over a couple of cold Beer Lao IPA's. Max, as you no doubt well know, is your rockin' iron chef at Yawk Bar, creating off-the-chain, off-the-hook, and out-of-bounds taste sensations for Yawk's super patrons. A wizard in the kitchen, and a stone cold killer at the pool table, we talked about a plethora of subjects all related to Yawk's magnanimous super chef - the Mad Max Man.

Where are you from, Max Master?

Chiang Mai.

Do you have a nickname?

Max. [Max laughs] A doctor called me Max because when I was born I was a chubby baby. So, the doctor said, this guy is Max.

How did you join Yawk Bar?

I knew Nat from before, so when Serena and Nat opened the bar, Nat said, come on, dude! Come work here in the kitchen.

Where did you and Nat meet?

I met him at another bar about 3 years ago.

How long have you been at Yawk Bar?

From the first day. [Max laughs] When it was small, new Yawk. Now it's big, established Yawk.

What's your favorite thing about working at Yawk Bar?

I totally enjoy meeting new customers, new people, every day. It's a real treat. Every day you can meet new, friendly people and have fun. It's a great job and a great place to work.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Yawk?

All the times I spent with Pinky (Serena). Anytime we are working together, happy, feeling good, having fun - that's my favorite. Pinky is the best, and spending time with her is awesome. I think everyone feels that way.

What is the most you've ever drunk at Yawk?

I got super crazy wasted drinking beer mixed with vodka. [Max laughs and groans] Oh man, that was nuts. I will never mix those two ever again. Beer and vodka, holy hell. I've never been so shitfaced before.

What is your favorite food at Yawk Bar?

The tom saap! Spicy pork soup. That's my favorite. I could eat that almost every day.

I thought you would say laab pla - the fish salad.

Yeah, that's good, but that is kinda on the "secret menu". I can only make that secret dish when we have a lot of fish, like extra fish. Tom saap I can count on every day.

What makes Yawk Bar the best?

Pinky, of course! She is the best. And I think she sets the tone, or the example. So the best thing is the great atmosphere at Yawk Bar. By that I mean, the friendly team and the great customers. I like how everyone gets along well with one another and we all have fun with one another at work. That's not just the team, but also the customers. When I see everyone laughing and having a good time, I feel like I'm at the best place.

What's your favorite sports team?

Manchester United - of course!

What's your favorite color?

Black, like the night.

What's your favorite hobby?

I like screwing around with electronics, like security cameras. [Max laughs] I like taking them apart, seeing what's inside of them, putting them back together, setting them up. So, tinkering with electronic stuff. I like that.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

In the mountains in Switzerland. I'd have a chalet and a workshop where I could fiddle with electronics all day. Maybe outside in the snow I'd have a jacuzzi also, for nighttime activities.

If you could shop at any store in the world for free, which shop would it be?

That's an easy one: Adidas. I love all things Adidas. I'd buy all their stuff. Every day I'd have new Adidas on. I'd be a walking Adidas fashion show every day.

Where is the perfect place for a date?

Camping in the mountains together, that's the best I think. Like Mon Cham, for example. That's very beautiful and romantic.

What's the most romantic thing you have ever done?

I ordered matching clothes for me and my special someone, so when we went out, we had the same clothes on. Very romantic and cute.

What is the perfect partner for you?

Tall and with a polite, ladylike disposition. Also, they shouldn't have any boundaries. They should be free and open to anything. Oh! And maybe most importantly, they shouldn't be interrogating me a lot, like asking, "Where are you? Where did you go? Who did you go with?", you know, asking a million questions like this.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Hell no. [Max laughs]

What is the best advice you have ever received about being happy or successful in life?

My mother probably gave me the best advice. She said, stay positive, no matter how hard things may get, just always hang on, stay positive, persevere, and you will get through any bad moment, and you will prevail.

What's the best compliment you have ever received?

My mom said you are good at what you do, keep kicking ass.

What is the most daring or dangerous thing you have ever done?

Vodka and beer? [Max laughs] No, probably driving the motorcycle, doing like 110kph in the city. Cuckoo bananas. Those days are over.

Yawk Bar Ultimate Quiz

1. If you add blue to yellow, what color do you get?

Uhh...green?

Correct!

2. Moo kata or shabu?

Shabu.

Correct!

3. You're a football fan. Which city hosted the last World Cup?

Uhh...

Incorrect

The answer we were looking for was Moscow. Geography, a killer for the Yawk Team.

Moscow, fuck! [Max laughs]

4. How do you make goong che nam pla?

Oh yeah! I know this! You peel the shrimp, then flay it and clean it, and marinate it in fish sauce. Then you add bitter melon, garlic, and chilis. Boom! Done!

Correct!

5. How do you cure a hangover?

A vodka beer hangover is incurable, but for a normal hangover, just drink a lot of water.

Correct!

We also would have accepted drink a beer, drink pickle juice, drink a bloody mary, or smoke a jay.

Yeah, those work, too. Or, before you sleep, eat soup or maybe fried chicken and pickled vegetables. That helps.

6. Thai history - What is the name of the kingdom between the Sukhothai and Thonburi Kingdoms?

Oh, fuck me.

Boo answered this one correctly.

Oh, man! I don't know.

Incorrect

The answer we were looking for was Ayutthaya.

7. What country or city has the sexiest men?

Spain

Correct!

We also would have also accepted America, of course.

8. What is the name of the planet between Earth and Jupiter?

Oh my God! The red one? Matt Damon?

Correct!

Not bad, Max Man. 6 out of 8.

Boo beat me?

Boo beat you. Don't worry, Boo beats everybody. Last couple of questions. What's your favorite word?

Dayuum! [Max laughs]

What's your least favorite word?

Umm, uhh - these words.

What sound or noise do you love?

Rain.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Banging noises.

What's your favorite curse word?

Cocksucking motherfucker! [Max laughs]

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you reach the pearly gates?

How did you get in here?

That's afternoon beers with the Mad Max Man. You'll see Super Max at Yawk Bar, probably in the kitchen cooking up a storm and churning out hot, steamy, delectable plates of killer bar food. Be sure to try any and all of his super dishes (maybe if you're really lucky you can get the off-menu fried fish salad), and perhaps if he has a little down time from kitchen duties, you can challenge him to a game of pool. He's always up for a game and a good time at Yawk Bar.