Canadian Celebrity Chef Michael Smith Stranded In Thailand While Filming 'Chef Abroad'

Posted by Jess

michael smith chef Well maybe 'stranded' is not the best word to describe the circumstances that celebrity chef Michael Smith has found himself in today. Michael Smith had just finished wrapping up filming of an episode for the Food Network in Northern Thailand when all of a sudden massive government protests and unrest broke out at Bangkok's International airport. Michael Smith and his film crew were scheduled to leave Wednesday and head to Hawaii to film another TV episode, but with the airport now under a siege of protest and with a military presence beefing up, it looks like Michael Smith the chef has now become Michael Smith the citizen journalist as he watches Thai history unfold from his airport hotel room. To get an idea of what Michael Smith is dealing with today, check out this recent video report filed from the streets of Bangkok.

Michael Smith has also been filing email reports with the Canadian media of what he is witnessing from his hotel room.

"It seems peaceful but there's also a sense that this thing can go bad in a hurry," Smith wrote in an e-mail to CBC News.

"There have been grenade attacks throughout the day," Smith wrote. "They have taken over the control towers and we doubt we'll be leaving through this airport. Throughout the crowd there are piles of tires as if some folks brought one or two along to burn. The barricades are being manned by some tough-looking guys in balaclavas. We have also seen lots of young tough guys bringing in sticks, batons and golf clubs."

Let's hope Michael and his Chef Abroad film crew get out of Thailand safely soon so that he can go back to doing what he does best, being a truly great Canadian chef.

Here's a great interview with Michael Smith from a little while ago.