Ian Krupp
Anajak Thai | Sherman Oaks, CA
April 2024
While studying classical guitar at California State University Northridge, Ian Krupp got a job at Rising Stars alum Michael Cimarusti’s Providence in Los Angeles. At the much-lauded restaurant, Krupp was polishing glasses, bussing tables, and learning about rieslings from Sommelier Drew Langley before eventually becoming the restaurant’s first tournant. He moved to San Francisco and started working at the Acquerello Group’s 1760, where, for the next three years, he learned even more about wine from Sommelier Gianpaolo Paterlini.
Krupp returned to L.A., realized he wanted to focus on wine full-time, and took a sommelier position at Kali. He moved to The Rose Venice, becoming lead sommelier under Sommelier Nathaniel Muñoz for the next four years. Feeling burnt out after working through the pandemic, Krupp finally wanted to lead his own wine program. He took over as the wine director at Scopa, stretching his legs, buying wines, and putting together the list for the restaurant.
In 2022, on a fateful December night, Krupp went out for dinner at Rising Stars alum Justin Pichetrungsi’s Anajak Thai. The meal struck a chord with Krupp, who grew up around the corner from the Sherman Oaks restaurant, skateboarding down Ventura Boulevard and stealing Thrasher magazines from the Borders across the street. After meeting and striking up a friendship with Pichetrungsi, he started working at Anajak Thai on the side until, six months later, Pichetrungsi offered him the role of wine director. Since then, Krupp has taken over the wine list, using his managerial experience to organize the restaurant’s inventory and develop a business plan for the growing program. While rieslings are still on full display, he is also continuing Pichetrungsi’s efforts to demonstrate how Thai cuisine can pair with an even more expansive variety of wines by diversifying the impressive, natural wine-leaning catalog.
