What the State Troopers know

KARE-11 linked to Lt. Eric Roeske's Twitter page. Here are the latest updates:

And here is a more recent picture we found of Anousone.

Anousone, we miss you so much.

Remembering "Ped"

To everyone at True Thai, Anousone Phanthavong was Ped. That is a Lao nickname, and the "p" is pronounced more like a "b." He was devoted to the restaurant and much of his income went to support his elderly parents.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that U2's tour manager came to True Thai to see if we could feed the band and their road company, but there was one condition: Bono insisted that his food be prepared by the owner! I can cook, but I do not do the cooking for True Thai so Ped worked closely with me as we fixed Bono's meal. OK, the truth is Ped cooked Bono's meal and I tried to help as best I could.

As usual, Ped did a wonderful job and the band was very happy. Ped was proud of his cooking and we had many knowledgable customers who would ask if he was working whenever they came in. Ped developed many of newer items on our menu, including X, Y, and Z.

But mostly, I think he should be remembered as a good employee and a good son, a man who cooked for rock stars and who helped introduce thousands of Minnesotans to authentic Thai cuisine. Not bad for a kid who grew up on his own in Laos, somehow managing to make it to the United States to be with his family and his new friends.

True Thai Restaurant will be closed on Saturday from 11 am until 4 pm in honor of Anousone "Ped" Phanthavong's funeral services which will be held Washburn McReavy funeral home at 3816 Penn Avenue North, this Saturday at noon. Afterwards, Ped's friends and family will gather at the restaurant, which will re-open to the general public at 4 pm.

Anousone Phanthavong, 1972-2011

After the restaurant closed Tuesday night, our head cook, Anousone Phanthavong, was killed in a hit and run accident less than a mile from the restaurant.

KARE11:

The accident happened on the westbound ramp from Interstate 94 to the Riverside Avenue just after 11 p.m. 

The State Patrol says the victim, a 38-year-old man from Roseville, was filling up his car with gas on the shoulder of the ramp when he was struck. 

The unidentified motorist that struck him then fled the scene. 

There was construction in the area but authorities do not know whether that played a role in this accident. 

Anyone who may know anything about this fatal hit-and-run is asked to call the State Patrol.

Anousone was an inspired chef and a very hard worker who had lived a very difficult life. He was separated from his parents while growing up in Laos during the years of terrible unrest that followed the Vietnam War. He was reunited with his parents in this country, and is survived by both his mother and father, three sisters and a brother.

Over the years I became very close to Anousone. To me, he was the soul of True Thai, the one person I could always depend on to put quality first. Because he died so close to our restaurant, I know that his spirit will be watching over us just as he watched over our kitchen these last nine years.


True Thai would not have become True Thai without Anousone Phanthavong. He was one of our first hires and our most senior employee, starting work in November 2002, shortly after we opened our doors. In the following months the Star Tribune's Jeremy Iggers honored us for having the "Best Soup" while Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine named us one of the "50 Best Restaurants in Minnesota." These were just two of the countless accolades True Thai won because of Anousone's diligence and exceptional commitment to quality.

Anousone overcame many difficulties and challenges in his life. He was strengthened and comforted by his Theravada Buddhist beliefs. I am proud to say he was my friend, and I am terribly saddened by his passing. Anousone Phanthavong, rest in peace.

[see this post for information about the funeral arrangements]

Cholesterol on a stick

It happens to all of us, but it still comes as a surprise when we look in the mirror one morning and realize, "hey — I'm getting old!" For me that moment came when I began to write this post about the Minnesota State Fair and suddenly realized that this year will mark my twentieth visit to the Midway.

I know I should have used an exclamation point but believe me, this year I am not that excited. Deep-fried butter on a stick? Lard only knows what's next. The Star Tribune says that the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is delivering 60 tons of cheese curds to the Fair this year for deep frying. Compared to butter on a stick, are deep-fried cheese curds the new tofu?

Here is a list of this year's new state fair foods on a stick:

• Chocolate-covered jalapenos
• The Breakfast Lollipop (sausage dipped in corn muffin batter with a side of maple syrup
• Northwoods salad (mozzarella, basil and grape tomatoes drizzled with salad dressing)
• Pizza kabobs
• Pretzel dogs
• White Razzie Puppies (white chocolate wrapped in Belgian waffles with caramel bacon topping)
• Teriyaki chicken

The truth is I was thinking of making up something ridiculous to add to that list, but I could not think of anything more bizarre than what they're already serving. I did try to find a picture of white razzie puppies, but instead of food, Google gave me pictures of little dogs, Sandra Bullock and Salma Hayek. (Sometimes I think Google is weird on purpose.)

As a restauranteur, I feel obliged to try some of these local delicacies, but as public health nurse I think I should picket the Fair and hand out fresh apples and oranges to people as they go in. I do not think I would find many takers. State Fair goers know what they want, and that they want it on a stick. Maybe one of these years we'll get a Glaxo booth where they can sell deep-fried statins on a stick!

Here are some related posts I have written about State Fair food:

• Squid Eggs on a Stick!
• Corn, but not on the cob or on a stick
• Street food

In closing, I swiped this chart of some Asian-style food on a stick from "MissionControl":

Yes, I know. These are all way too healthy for the Minnesota State Fair. (sigh)

See you on the Midway!

Fake true Thai

I do not get angry very often so before I explain why I'm mad at Trader Joe's "True Thai Tom Yam Soup," I should probably say something about why I named my dining establishment True Thai Restaurant. In Thailand, people say "true Thai" like an American would say "made in America." To be "true Thai," you must be true to everything that is Thailand. That is not an easy thing to do.

What is Thailand? Thailand is the biggest, most fertile agricultural exporter in Asia (not counting India, China or Japan and yes, Burma is bigger but mountains don't count and Indonesia is also bigger but it's broken up into all those islands). There are 64 million Thai. A quarter of the people in Thailand are not entirely Thai. Most of those are ethnically Chinese, a few (like me) ethnically Vietnamese, or Lao or Cambodian, and the rest are members of hill tribes, much like the Hmong before they came to the U.S. But the influence of Thai culture on everyone who lives in Thailand is enormous.

People have lived in Thailand for 40,000 years! Modern day Thailand emerged from the ancient Khmer Kingdom in the 1200s. Thailand is unique among Asian countries in that it was never colonized by the West. Japanese cooking is influenced by the Portuguese. Indian cuisine was subject to British preferences as are some Chinese dishes. Europe changed everything about Asia except Thailand, so when someone says something is true Thai, that means something.

So, about this so-called "True Thai Tom Yam" Trader Joe's is peddling. [I am sitting here tapping my foot as I write this post because I am not amused.] Read the label! True Thai cooking does not include wheat flour as the second most used ingredient! (Water is Trader Joe's primary ingredient.) Thais do not cook with wheat, wheat flour or wheat anything! We are a rice-based culture. We make our bread from rice, our pastry from rice and if it goes into an oven, it probably has rice in it. Thailand grows rice! Thailand does not grow wheat!

I will be fair. The rest of the ingredients (spinach excepted) are very similar to what True Thai Restaurant puts in our Tom Yum soup. Trader Joe is missing some key ingredients and I have my doubts about the quality of some of their spices, but I cannot forgive them for putting wheat in their so-called Tom Yam. Americans with Celiac disease know that Thai restaurants are safe to eat at (watch out for soy sauce but otherwise we're gluten-free). Trader Joe's Tom Yam is not gluten-free, and, frankly, it's not Tom Yum — it's just another rip-off fake Thai food from a German company doing business in the U.S.

True Thai Restaurant works very hard at using only authentic Thai ingredients in our dishes. ข้าวสาลี (wheat) is not an ingredient you see on Thai labels. Wheat is an ingredient you see on Trader Joe labels and I do not think they have any right to call anything they sell true Thai.

OK, I am less mad now but that is partly because I've been listening to music today and it's hard to be mad when you're listening to Sade.

We get referrals

OK, even if dozens of you hadn't stopped by the cash register to tell me who U2 was, I think I would have figured it out. Tonight we're catering another concert because U2 referred them to us! And yes, I have heard of Sade and I have been known to sing along when Smooth Operator comes on the radio.

The show is at the Target Center and John Legend is opening, but I don't think we're feeding him. There may still be tickets available ($50-150 each!).

I can't make the show, but I am definitely going to buy a copy of Sade's The Ultimate Collection!

We get catering jobs

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of rock music. We had a very busy Saturday afternoon because we got a big, big order to prepare food for some band playing at the University of Minnesota's new football stadium tonight.

Is it weird that I don't know who U2 is? Are they bigger than Celine Dion?

This is probably why no one comes to True Thai for the music but that's OK because no one goes to rock concerts for the food.

Hot enough for you?

Wow. The heat index Tuesday afternoon hit 122°F! That's the most Minnesota has felt like Thailand since I moved here.

Anna's tips for hot weather:

1. Remember to drink lots of fluids
2. Don't leave the dog or the kids in the car while you're shopping
3. Get out of the kitchen and go out to eat in air conditioned restaurants

I don't think this qualifies as a Public Service Announcement, but it is my first blog post since July so I think that counts for something. Back in Thailand, we would go to the beach on days like these.

For more exciting pictures of Thai swim suits, see Sean-Inc's Thai Heat Wave post. It's three years old, but the swim suits still look good to me!

Closed for the 4th of July

True Thai will be open July 1, 2, 3 and 5, but we will be closed on July 4th.

Each July 4th True Thai employees get together at an undisclosed location to celebrate having a day off. For most Americans, the 4th of July means parades and parties and fireworks. It is a very American holiday, but even in Thailand you can find 4th of July celebrations like this one in Chiang Mai from two years ago. (click the link for a video)

I like the hat, but I'm not so sure about the pants. Have a happy and safe 4th of July with your friends and families. True Thai will be open on Tuesday, July 5th, as usual.

Construction alert!

Just got this notice from True Thai's neighborhood group

We received word from the City today regarding the mill and overlay of the 25th & 26th Ave S-Curve between Franklin and Riverside.

From Stephanie Malmberg, Project Manger:

"As part of the 35W Bridge Detour Route Rehabilitation Project the City will be paving 25^th& 26^th between Franklin & Riverside. The work will begin Monday June 27^th and should be completed by Thursday June 30^th. We will be closing the road to thru traffic for the 3-4 day duration of this work. Local access will be maintained to businesses and residences and emergency vehicles will be able to get through the site. Working hours will be from 7pm to 7am."

For more information: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cip/25-26AvesS-R/index.asp

Sorry, but it looks like you'll have to work a little harder to get to True Thai for a few days. Fortunately, it's worth it!

Have you made your Father's Day reservations yet?

If coming to True Thai Restaurant is part of your Father's Day plan, it never hurts to call in and make a reservation. Father's Day is never quite as busy as Mother's Day, but it's still pretty busy!

I wrote about my Dad two years ago, and how my parents' families immigrated to Thailand from Vietnam a hundred years ago. Not everyone's family story is quite so dramatic (or sometimes even more so), but everyone's stories about their father or mother is special because our parents are special to us.

Have an enjoyable Father's Day with the Dad you love.

Eat Your Vegetables Day

Tomorrow is national Eat Your Vegetables Day. Thai people really like vegetables. I tried to count how many we have on our menu but lost track at 34 (I am sure there are more than that!). We serve leafy vegetables (lettuce, napa, gailan, spinach, cabbage), onions (green, yellow, purple), peppers (bell, Thai, jalapeño), and hard to find items like Thai eggplant, purple yams and Chinese broccoli, as well as almost all the usual "American" vegetables (peas, corn, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, etc.).

You can't make Thai food without Thai spices, but all the spice in the world cannot turn a cauliflower bud into a Thai eggplant, or a jalapeño pepper into a Thai prikki-nu hot pepper. Vegetables are very important to Thai cuisine, and it's very hard to order food from True Thai without finding vegetables on your plate.

Children love our vegetables, but we have had a few adults who insisted on their right not to eat any. For them we have appetizers and desserts, but that is no way to go through life. Everybody needs vegetables in their diet, and if you don't like vegetables, you're either eating the wrong ones, or you're eating poorly prepared vegetables. (Hint: the right seasonings help a lot!)

True Thai fans love vegetables. This year, why not drag a vegetable-hating friend to True Thai to find out just how good vegetables can be. They taste good, they're good for you, and veggie dishes are cheaper than dishes with meat or seafood.