Contrasts of star apple inspire founder

 
He founded his Cainito Homemade Restaurant about two years ago to fulfil his dream of owning and running a restaurant business.
“I would like Cainito Restaurant to be a choice for people coming to Chiang Mai, as they want to experience our foods and atmosphere,” said Worapol, 38.
Located on just over 1 rai (1,600 square metres) on Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 5 in Chiang Mai, the restaurant can seat 50-80 customers.
“The star-apple plant has a specific contrast character in its leaves, which have both green and golden colours in each one,” Worapol said. “I used that contrast to initiate my restaurant concept, which has many contrasting characters, starting from its architectural design and decoration, which combines both loft and vintage [styles] in one place, to foods and customer segments.” 
He said Cainito offered a diverse selection of foods, representing another contrast. 
“We provide desserts and at the same time can serve alcoholic beverages. We offer clean foods to health-conscious customers and at the same time can cater to those who want heavier meals.” 
He said the restaurant also provided other options, including Northern foods, noodles, steaks and salads. It can serve different demands of customers from an individual to a group with 20-30 members, even if they all want different kinds of foods.
“A factor behind my success is giving priority to the demands of customers and trying to adjust our offerings, both foods and services, to such demands,” he said.
Worapol has been cultivating a career in the restaurant business since he was only 17. As a victim of the bursting of Thailand’s economic bubble, he discontinued his studies as he ceased to be supported by his family, which operated a grocery shop in Jomthong Chom Thong district in Chiang Mai. 
At that time, Worapol started working as a dishwasher in the kitchen of a restaurant in Chiang Mai. After that, he climbed up the restaurant-career ladder from being a waiter to reception and then a manager when he was 21. 
He then became a DJ at a pub and restaurant so that he could support his university studies until graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from Chiang Mai University in 2009. He then continued studying for a Master of Business Administration degree at the same university for another two years.
Worapol joined Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) in 2006 as assistant business development manager responsible for the Chiang Mai area, and worked for the company for 12 years. 
His last position at the company was business development manager, in charge for the company’s sales and promotions in Chiang Mai.
Worapol set up his own restaurant in December 2014, after finding that Nimmanhaemin Road was a perfect location. 
Near Chiang Mai University, the area attracts a diverse range of people, from tourists to students, teenagers, and middle-class folks.