CITY LIFE
TABLE HOPPIN’
Thai Corner opens at June Street site BARBARA M. HOULE
Covino, chefs and staff ! The Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield (www.salemcrossinn. com) was voted second in the Top Three Destinations category of the competition. Shout out to Salem family members Nancy, Martha, Heather, Richard, John, David and Robert (Bo). Five thousand voters took part in three rounds of the online competition. Visit Taste of Massachusetts, www.tasteofmass.com, or Facebook for other winners.
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Wings giveaway for Super Bowl Sunday
Thai Corner owner Revadee (Ray) Chueawong holds her mango with sweet rice, left, and Pad Thai Woonsen at the restaurant. RICK CINCLAIR
Valentine dinner to-go from Bocado
Feel the romance at Bocado, Salem Cross
Bocado Tapas Wine Bar in Worcester was voted third place in the Most Romantic Restaurants in Massachusetts category of the People’s Choice competition held by Taste of Massachusetts. Congrats to Niche’s CEO Mike
If you have a tidbit for the column, all (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.
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Bocado Tapas Wine Tapas Bar in Worcester and Wellesley has “Valentine Wine Dinner To-Go” that can be preordered online (www. bocadotapasbar.com), or by calling the restaurants. Orders must be placed by 8 p.m. Feb. 12, with scheduled pickup times from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Niche Hospitality Group’s commissary next to Mezcal at 30 Major Taylor Blvd., Worcester.
The Valentine Wine Dinner package for two, $200, includes Sangria for two: one bottle of Spanish Cava and one bottle of “Tito Fino;” Cheese and Charcuterie; Ensalada De Madalena; Piquillo Rellenos (Chicken, quinoa and mahon cheese stuffed piquillo peppers, blistered poblano creama); Camarones Asados Y Noquis (Roasted jumbo shrimp, potato gnocchi, cherry tomato, grilled Spanish onion, tomato jam, basil mojo verde, manchego); Pecho Des Res Cocido ( five-hour braised beef brisket, BBQ braise sauce, Yukon mashed potatoes, Aleppo crème fraiche); Paella De Langosta Y Maiz (Lobster, grilled corn, cherry tomato, broccoli, creamy roasted red pepper broth, charred spring onions); Strawberry Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding (mixed berry puree, whipped cream, cocoa nibs).
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
we’ll be there.’ “I know the timing wasn’t so good to open a restaurant with the pandemic and all, but I’m so happy here, and I love the neighborhood,” said Chueawong. “I can’t wait until the restaurant opens to more seating and I can meet customers face to face. With my mask on, of course.” “Food Trends We’re Seeing (and Eating) in 2021” posted on Martha Stewart’s website, www.marthastewart.com, reports the data science team at Yelp expects restaurants will continue to see a demand in “HomeCooked” takeout and the interest in Thai food is up 15% in that category. Enjoy what Thai Corner and other local restaurants offer.
For one day only, Feb. 7, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar nationwide will bring back its Wings Giveaway and Free Delivery offer. The Super Bowl deal: For every order of $40 or more, customers using Applebee’s Delivery or To Go options will receive 40 free Classic Boneless Wings, tossed in guests’ choice of Hot Buffalo, Honey BBQ or Sweet Asian Chile Sauce and served with Bleu Cheese or House-Made Ranch Dressing and celery on the side. Plus, Applebee’s is offering free delivery all day on orders. To claim the free order of boneless wings, visit www.applebees.com, or the Applebee’s mobile app (iOS, Google) on Feb. 7, using promo BIGGAME at checkout. It’s recommended that you order before halftime. “Forty free Boneless Wings for free in time for the big game? That’s what we call a touchdown!” said Joel Yashinsky, chief marketing officer at Applebee’s. “After the huge response to our wings giveaway last year, we wanted to run the play again so our guests can enjoy our delicious, fan-favorite boneless wings with free delivery, or as an added option this year, through Applebee’s Carside To Go.” Visit the website for local Applebee’s restaurants that also offer dinein. Sign up for exclusive deals and specials and join Applebee’s E-Club to receive a welcome offer!
F E B R U A RY 4 - 10, 2021
and even given her a few pointers. “It meant the world to me when evadee (Ray) Chueawong he told me how proud he is,” said is among the city’s newest Chueawong. restaurateurs, opening Thai Corner, 120 June St., her first restaurant, Thai Worcester, currently is open 11 Corner, just before Thanksgiving a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. It’s BYOB with 2020. Originally from Thailand, the limited seating right now, following friendly and enthusiastic 27-yearCOVID-19 regulations. Visit www. old breathes new life into the site thaicornerworcester.com for online at the corner of June and Chandler ordering; telephone (508) 459-2289 streets. or (508) 459-9016. Curbside and Thai Corner is the third restaudelivery services are available. Note: rant to open at this spot that housed The color scheme at the restaurant Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro begin- is the same as Friends Café, and the ning in 2016 and Friends Café, which message on one of the walls, “Welopened in 2019 and closed last year. come, may all who comes as guests Chueawong of Whitinsville has leave as friends,” remains. The new been in the United States since she owner has added personal photos was 14 and for the past eight years and a buddha for good luck. has helped manage restaurants for Chueawong describes Thai Fawn Weydt, owner of Thai Time dishes on her menu as “incredibly and Rice Violet, both in Worcester, delicious with fragrant, bold flavors.” and Brown Rice Thai Cuisine in Thai cuisine is about fresh ingreWest Boylston. dients and spices, she said, adding “She’s (Weydt) like a sister,” said that the Thai food at her restaurant Chueawong. “When I told her last is made “fresh, to order.” year that I really wanted to open my Lunch and dinner options own restaurant, she said, ‘OK, let me include appetizers, noodle and help,’ and she was with me when I rice dishes, salads, soups, combo first looked at the June Street locadishes, curries, house specialties, tion. She’s very successful running side dishes, beverages and desserts. her own businesses, and I’m so lucky Many customers love ending a meal to have her as my friend. We talk on with mango and sticky rice, said the phone almost every day.” Chueawong. Chueawong said her father, The restaurant’s Pad Thai Praphan Kaewthong, is another of Woonsen (Woon Sen) is a traditional her supporters and a mentor. He has noodle dish from Thailand that is been in food service for 30 years and equally as delicious as other pad owner of Thai Paradise in BrunsThai options on the menu, accordwick, Maine. “When I came from ing to Chueawong. Smooth, silky Thailand and joined my dad and glass noodles stir-fried with fresh family in Maine I really didn’t know ingredients make the dish so special, how to cook,” said Chueawong. “I she said. was a teen and never really thought Don’t worry if you can’t tolerate about cooking. My dad’s a chef and spicy food, the restaurant adjusts the he prepared all the food, in and out spice level in meals upon request. of the restaurant. The owner said she personally likes “I really learned to make classic a spicy edge to food and Drunken pad Thai when I signed up for an Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) is one of her hourlong cooking class in high favorites. school,” said Chueawong. “The The chef in the back of the house teacher was a little surprised that at Thai Corner is Chueawong’s I had no idea of how to make pad cousin, who has worked more than Thai, and I had a few mistakes 20 years in the food industry. Getting at first. I guess you could say I him to leave his job in California mastered the recipe when I got a wasn’t a problem, she said, explainthumb’s up from my dad.” ing that when she called him and Chueawong’s father has visited asked if he could help out he told her restaurant with family members her, ‘Give me a couple of weeks and
