Page 4 - Dining Out - Aug 7, 2022

Shredded Green Papaya Salad
served with tamarind lime dressing
This month marks 45 years since heralded chef and restaurateur Chai Chaowasaree’s parents opened their first restaurant in Bangkok. The momentous milestone has allowed the cu- linary wizard an opportunity to look back and recount the
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many memories that helped forge his career path.
“I remember how I used to go to the open market with my mom super early in the morning, buying all the in- gredients for the restaurant,” Chaowasaree recalls. “All my success is owed to my mom,
who taught me about cook- ing. Mom will turn 91 this year in October!”
After three-plus decades of adapting and updating previous restaurant ventures in Waikiki and Aloha Tower Marketplace, Chaowasa- ree continues to perfect his iconic award-winning island fusion cuisine at Chef Chai on the ground level of the Pacifi- ca Honolulu building on Kap- iolani Boulevard, across from the Neal Blaisdell Arena. Chef Chai, which also impresses with award-winning interior design elements, serves up a contemporary look and feel, featuring a private dining room and offering seating at the spacious full bar, as well
as on the outside patio. “Our restaurant was
featured on Lifestyles
of the Rich and Fa-
mous hosted by Rob-
in Leach and he said
about us: ‘Hands
down the best Thai
in town ... dazzling
in every aspect, from tantalizing light dish-
es, first-rate services and beautiful décor,’” Ch- aowasaree says. “Over the years, we served countless celebrities and movie stars from Justin Timberlake, Carol Burnett and Kathy Ireland to our own football star Marcus Mariota and even the king and queen of Malaysia.”
To honor his family legacy
Story by
KYLE GALDEIRA
Photos by
ANTHONY CONSILLIO
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4 /
Dining Out
/ August 7-13, 2022
and share his talents with loy- al customers, Chaowasaree is offering a Special Child- hood Menu ($69 per person, for two or more diners) for dinner three nights only, Aug.
19-21 (seatings at 5-5:30 p.m. and 7-7:30 p.m.), with fami- ly-style dishes representing Chaowasaree’s favorites.
The delicious feast in- cludes Grilled Chicken Sate
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Cover Story