Bio – Montha McGinnis

Montha McGinnis, the owner and manager of the Siam Bistro, has been involved in food preparation since her youth in southern Thailand where she prepared food for the workers employed by her father. Shortly after she arrived in Canada, Montha completed a diploma at the Humber College in Nutrition and Consumer studies. She then completed a general arts degree at the University of Guelph.

Once settled in Ottawa with her husband and two children, Montha began teaching Thai cooking classes for the Ottawa Board of Education. Several of the guests at the Siam Bistro are “graduates” of these Saturday morning classes. Almost ten years ago, Montha took the next step and decided to purchase the Siam Bistro. She continues to teach Thai cooking, on a part-time basis for the LCBO and Loblaws. Again, graduates not only cook Thai food at home but visit the restaurant. Montha showed her determination to continue to build the Siam Bistro by re-designing the restaurant after a devastating fire on September 2, 2005. Her clients are very pleased with the new look of the restaurant and are also reassured that the excellent kitchen and serving staff have all returned. Montha hopes to serve excellent Thai food to appreciative clients for years to come.