By Frank Ruggiero
Family is important to Walsh Sisoukrath.
Coming from a large family only compounds that fact.
Though reconized by
many for owning Cha Da Thai restaurant in downtown
Boone, Walsh Sisoukrath is also known in Thailand,
where he regularly visits family and helps those in
need. Photo
by Mark Mitchell |
Though relatively new to the community, Sisoukrath
is best known by his business. His restaurant, Cha Da Thai,
has become a culinary staple in downtown Boone, with a host
of regulars lining up for lunchtime faster than one can
say, “tom yum soup.”
But this isn’t just any tom yum soup. His is a family
recipe, as are most of Sisoukrath’s secrets to success.
And tradition is an ingredient.
Sisoukrath was born in 1964 in Laos to Booda and Chenla
Sisoukrath, one of 10 brothers and sisters. In 1980, political
strife in Indochina prompted his family to immigrate as
refugees to the United States, where they settled in Rhode
Island.
As years passed, his brothers and sisters began to go their
own way, and Sisoukrath followed suit in 1999, when he made
the decision to move to North Carolina. “I’d been
looking for the opportunity for a better quality of life,”
he said.
Sisoukrath started his own business as a restaurant consultant,
traveling up and down the East Coast. From his travels in
North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia, Sisoukrath
not only assisted in restaurant openings and remodels, but
he gained a better understanding of restaurant operations
and management.
A friend observed a trend in grocery stores, in which franchise
restaurants would open small locations within stores. The
friend suggested that Sisoukrath do the same, only with
a privately-owned, Asian-themed restaurant. Sisoukrath took
the advice and, in 2003, set up shop at a Harris Teeter
store in Winston-Salem.
The restaurant was called “Asian Taste,” and Sisoukrath
said, “It was a pretty big success.”
The success, though, is due to Sisoukrath’s aunt, Jummalee.
Born in Nakhonpanom, Thailand, Jummalee also immigrated
to the United States, where she worked as head chef of a
Thai restaurant in Chicago. When her nephew opened shop
in Winston-Salem, she decided to lend a hand – and
some recipes.
“She did a lot in Chicago, so all the recipes and formulas
are from her experience,” Sisoukrath said.
Aunt Jummalee’s traditional recipes drew crowds to
Harris Teeter, just to eat at Asian Taste, a result that
Sisoukrath called “encouraging.”
“I had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people
and a lot of friends,” Sisoukrath said.
Just as the Sisoukrath’s business was thriving, Harris
Teeter announced that particular store was closing. Sisoukrath,
however, saw this as an opportunity to expand. In 2004,
he opened a full-size restaurant in Winston-Salem, called
Cha Da Thai.
“And a lot of regular customers would come to the new
restaurant, and everyone was happy,” Sisoukrath said.
“I was happy to see all my customers and friends.”
A few years later, one of those friends – Roger Wright,
co-owner of the Wilcox Emporium – suggested that Sisoukrath
open a second location in Boone, a suggestion that Sisoukrath
took to heart.
In 2006, he opened the second Cha Da Thai on Howard Street
in downtown Boone. At first, he would commute daily from
Winston-Salem to Boone, but eventually decided to settle
in the High Country.
Sisoukrath said Cha Da Thai can truthfully be called a family
business, since many of his relatives work with him in Boone
and Winston-Salem. This also includes his wife, Bounthanh.
In 2003, Sisoukrath met Bounthanh in Laos. He’d been
visiting Jummalee in Thailand which borders Laos, where
he’d first encountered his future wife. The two became
friends and soon found themselves falling in love. Shortly
after, they became engaged.
Before getting married, tradition dictates the man literally
become a monk for a period of time, Sisoukrath explained,
telling how he lived in a temple for two weeks, meditating
and soul-searching. There, he studied his own life and pondered
not only his future, but the future of others
“I learned a lot of different things about changing
life, what it means to be a better person,” Sisoukrath
said, “and I spent a lot of time thinking about all
the ways to help others.”
Sisoukrath left the temple, encouraged and ready to wed
Bounthanh. After their marriage, Sisoukrath returned to
the United States with his wife, who, as a quick study,
learned English and now works with her husband at Cha Da
Thai.Throughout last year, though, Sisoukrath spent much
time traveling back to Thailand to visit his aunt. Remembering
what he learned at the temple, he would also help those
in need.
Whenever he visits Thailand and Laos, Sisoukrath donates
money and school supplies for under-funded schools, while
also aiding temples in need of assistance, be it buying
supplies or cleaning the surrounding land.
While there, Sisoukrath also gathers more recipes. “I
go out to the countryside to see anyone who knows about
cooking, so I can see and learn and bring back to the restaurant.”
He’s planning another trip in October to visit family
in Thailand, and he’ll likely return with even more
recipes. Since many of his customers have never been to
Thailand, Sisoukrath likes to bring some of Thailand to
them.
Last autumn, Cha Da Thai offered a “Tour of Thailand,”
so to speak, in which diners could sample full-course meals
from certain Thai regions – Northeast, Southern, Northern
and Central – each with its own variety of unique dishes.
He expects the tour to commence again this fall, bringing
a taste of his homeland to the community.
After all, community – like family – is important
to Sisoukrath, and his friends, customers and neighbors
he holds in high esteem.
“I’m very proud of what we’re building here,”
he said, “and I’ll continue to do everything I
can to keep the business in this community.”
Sisoukrath can be found nearly all the time at Cha Da Thai,
located at 161 Howard St. To see the menu, visit www.chadathai-nc.com
on the Web.
|
Get Firefox