Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Say hello to Fayette's newest Thai restaurant

Written in gold at the front of Fayetteville's newest Thai restaurant is "Sawasdee." That's a genuine way to say hello in Thai. But you'll be likely to get an English hello from friendly manager, Chancharas Sinphoon.

All the dishes at Thai Jasmine are genuine, cooked by the Sinphoon family, who came to America from Thailand over the last eight years. Due to limited English, owner Lamai Sinphoon spoke through her daughter, Chancharas (Chan).

For the Sinphoon family, it's about family. "She wanted the restaurant so that the family can have abusiness together," said Chan.

Lamai Sinphoon's favorite dish is Pad Thai, and like all the rest of Thai Jasmine fare, it contains no MSG. "We use all fresh vegetables that we get from thefarmer's market," said Chan. "Even in the salad we use fresh lemon juice, squeezed every day. Thai is not fattening; it's healthy."

"We also use fresh basil, cilantro and lemon grass," said cook Samantha Jasler, Lamai Sinphoon's sister. "Every Thai restaurant prepares the food differently. I prepare it the way I like it. If I'm happy to eat it, I think the customers will be, too."

In for a late lunch, William Mobley of Fayetteville was on his fourth or fifth visit to Thai Jasmine. He was eating a salmon dish with fresh vegetables and rice. "Each time I come down I try something different," he said. "It's priced reasonably, and it's very tasty. The service is excellent."

"Already we have regular customers," said Chan. "I know what they order. I encourage them to try something different, to trysomething a little spicy. It makes it taste better."

Price is also a source of pride for the Sinphoons. "We want people to come in all the time, not have to watch their budgets," said Chan. "We want to be the kind of restaurant that people can afford to go to three times per week."

Prices range from $6.59-$7.95 for dinner entrees, and $5.59 for lunch. "If you see an ingredient on the menu that you don't like, you can leave it off, because we make everything fresh," said Sinphoon.

Thai Jasmine's entrees generally have a choice of beef, pork or chicken, all with assigned vegetables and seasonings. She recommends trying a sampling of their food. A good menu for a couple dining out might be: Chicken Coconut Soup, Pork Dumplings, Green Curry with Beef and Thai Herbs with Chicken.

Thai Jasmine is on Highway 54, between Peachtree City and downtown Fayetteville, in the plaza next the the Flash Foods on Gingercake Rd. Its hours are Monday-Thursday 11 a.m -3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. ; Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. ; Saturday 4 -10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. -6 p.m.. For more information call 770-461-3644.

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