It would not be far-fetched to dub Kulapat “May” Kanokwatanawan the dessert princess of Thailand’s epicurean scene. To make a dessert shop successful in the midst of a health-conscious craze requires not only unrivalled baking skills but also genuine passion for desserts. Apparently, Kulapat has no problem in those arenas. She’s the brain behind After You, a dessert cafe famous for its indulgent Shibuya Honey Toast. The cafe’s name has become something of a nickname: a definitive part of who she is. AfterYou now has 15 branches, all of which are noticeable from the long queues forming in front, a regular occurrence at After You since the opening ofthe maiden branch at J Avenue back in 2007. Kulapat’s portfolio now also has Japanese-style shaved ice shop Maygori at The Commons and a series of dessert cookbooks called May Made. What makes her success story particularly inspiring is the fact that she did not have formal culinary training: it was a learn-as-you-go kind of experience, gained through trial and error since she was a teenager getting busy in her kitchen at home. She has featured in Australian Harper’s Bazaar as one of “20 foodies you need to be following on Instagram”, with the description, “For those with a sweet tooth in need of a sugar fix, @Mayafteryou allows you to consume the most decadent of desserts without the calories.”Kulapat is not in it just for the money and fame. She also believes in giving back to society in a way that truly makes an impact. AfterYou joined Food4Good earlier in 2016, which supports Baan Nokkamin Foundation, the Foundation for Children with Disabilities, and Sahathai Foundation, making sure that the children in these projects are adequately fed. At the end of 2016, Kulapat took her company public in a well-received IPO, not only giving her fans a chance to queue for desserts but also to own shares in the company.
