Hot Basil Thai Cafe is owned by Matt Malahan and Juntimar Kedjumnong. Matt and Juntimar met in 1997 at the International College of Hospitality Management. They moved together to Providence. RI so that Juntimar could pursue her Master’s degree at Johnson & Wales University while Matt attended Northeastern University in Boston. After graduating they spent one year living in Miami, FL where Matt worked in the kitchen of the Five-Star, Five-Diamond Mandarin Oriental hotel. After returning to Connecticut to be closer to their families they found a void in the quality of Thai food offered in the area and decided to do something about it. Both Matt and Juntimar have a background in Hospitality Management and Matt has spent more than 10 years working in the restaurant industry. Juntimar was born in Sukhothai, Thailand and came to the U.S. in 1991 to pursue her education. Matt and Juntimar have recently taken two trips to Thailand and have eaten their way from her hometown of Sukhothai to Bangkok to Ko Samui and more.