Why is Chef Grinning?

In 2008 Ronnarong went home to Thailand for the first time in many years, concerned about his mother’s health. He met Anong, a friend of his sister who was helping to care for his mother and her home. Anong had been a family friend for a long time and is the sister of the monk at their temple, but since Ronnie had immigrated to the US twenty years earlier, she had never met him.

Long story short: They got married in Thailand before Ronnie returned! He has been busy renovating his Union Square restaurant The Great Thai Chef, reopening as Ronnarong Thai Tapas Bar, tending his garden and cooking six days a week ever since reopening, but they have talked on the phone every day since Ronnie came back.

It has taken thirty months to gain a visa for Anong but this was finally achieved just last month. We immediately made arrangements for her to fly here!

Although Anong studied English in school (and a lot more recently) she has had little opportunity to practice speaking. She is going to language school mornings and working at Ronnarong the rest of the day.

Please join us in welcoming Anong to our community and to the restaurant!

Anong and Ronnarong