The Great American Recipe : Who is Suwanee Lennon? Age, career and more explored

Spokane photographer Suwanee Lennon brings her remarkable life story to PBS's The Great American Recipe fourth season. The 47-year-old participant is one of eight home cooks chosen countrywide for the culinary competition. Lennon was born in Bangkok and lived in a Thai leper hamlet till the age of 13. She now utilises her platform to help her childhood neighbourhood through her Feed The Hamlet Project.

The Great American Recipe celebrates varied American culinary traditions while delving into the personal tales behind trademark meals. This season's flavours range from Bangladeshi to Filipino food. Host Alejandra Ramos leads the program alongside judges Tiffany Derry, Timothy Hollingsworth, and Francis Lam. Guest judge Al Roker appears in the opening episode.

Each week presents two cooking challenges, with judges selecting winning dishes. The top three contestants advance to compete for the national title. Lennon's participation aims to showcase Thai culture and raise awareness for her village fundraising efforts. The competition airs locally at 9 p.m. every Friday through to August 15.

The Great American Recipe: Suwanee Lennon’s life and career so far

Lennon's journey to The Great American Recipe began in Bangkok, where her unwed mother couldn't raise her alone. Her aunt and uncle, both leprosy patients, took her in at their village in Surin province. Thailand established 14 isolated leprosy communities roughly 70 years ago. These gated settlements housed patients facing severe social stigma.

Despite not having leprosy herself, Lennon experienced the discrimination directed at village residents. She attended school outside the community walls. Despite their poverty, village elders exhibited remarkable compassion by offering her little presents and money as she prepared to depart.

An American sponsor helped her move to the United States when she was 13 years old. Lennon first resided in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, before moving to Spokane.

Today, Lennon works as a photographer and pursues her culinary interests. She married an Air Force pilot who retired in 2022 and now works for a cargo carrier. The couple has two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

Every month or two, Lennon serves as a guest chef at Spokane's Feast World Kitchen. This nonprofit restaurant work supports her village fundraising goals. She also maintains Simply Suwanee, a food blog offering Thai cooking guidance for home chefs.

Lennon launched her charitable initiative two years ago to support elderly leprosy patients in her birth village. Her first solo trip in April 2023 involved cooking with 15 women to feed the entire community for two days.

The following year brought expanded efforts. Her children organized fundraisers through Thai tea stands and art sales to benefit village students. The family traveled together to Thailand in summer 2024. Their donations funded school supplies, uniforms, solar light repairs, and housing construction for a five-person family.

What’s next for Suwanee Lennon?

The Great American Recipe show producers discovered Lennon through social media outreach. Initially suspicious of potential spam, she verified their legitimacy before participating in phone interviews. Her signature dishes include Khanom Jeen Nam Ya (Thai Fish Curry) and spicy laab salad.

Lennon hopes increased visibility will expand her village support capabilities. She hopes to create a cookbook with dishes and anecdotes from her neighbourhood. Her televised appearance on The Great American Recipe is more than just a personal accomplishment; it is a show of support for the often-overlooked leper colony people who created her culinary identity.

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The Great American Recipe airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on PBS and streams on PBS.org.

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