Table Hoppin

TABLE HOPPIN’

Thai Corner opens at June Street site

BARBARA M. HOULE

Revadee (Ray) Chueawong is among the city’s newest restaurateurs, opening her first restaurant, Thai Corner, just before Thanksgiving 2020. Originally from Thailand, the friendly and enthusiastic 27-yearold breathes new life into the site at the corner of June and Chandler streets.

Thai Corner is the third restaurant to open at this spot that housed Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro beginning in 2016 and Friends Café, which opened in 2019 and closed last year.

Chueawong of Whitinsville has been in the United States since she was 14 and for the past eight years has helped manage restaurants for Fawn Weydt, owner of Thai Time and Rice Violet, both in Worcester, and Brown Rice Thai Cuisine in West Boylston.

“She’s (Weydt) like a sister,” said Chueawong. “When I told her last year that I really wanted to open my own restaurant, she said, ‘OK, let me help,’ and she was with me when I first looked at the June Street location. She’s very successful running her own businesses, and I’m so lucky to have her as my friend. We talk on the phone almost every day.”

Chueawong said her father, Praphan Kaewthong, is another of her supporters and a mentor. He has been in food service for 30 years and owner of Thai Paradise in Brunswick, Maine. “When I came from Thailand and joined my dad and family in Maine I really didn’t know how to cook,” said Chueawong. “I was a teen and never really thought about cooking. My dad’s a chef and he prepared all the food, in and out of the restaurant.

“I really learned to make classic pad Thai when I signed up for an hourlong cooking class in high school,” said Chueawong. “The teacher was a little surprised that I had no idea of how to make pad Thai, and I had a few mistakes at first. I guess you could say I mastered the recipe when I got a thumb’s up from my dad.”

Chueawong’s father has visited her restaurant with family members and even given her a few pointers. “It meant the world to me when he told me how proud he is,” said Chueawong.

Thai Corner, 120 June St., Worcester, currently is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. It’s BYOB with limited seating right now, following COVID-19 regulations. Visit www. thaicornerworcester.com for online ordering; telephone (508) 459-2289 or (508) 459-9016. Curbside and delivery services are available. Note: The color scheme at the restaurant is the same as Friends Café, and the message on one of the walls, “Welcome, may all who comes as guests leave as friends,” remains. The new owner has added personal photos and a buddha for good luck.

Chueawong describes Thai dishes on her menu as “incredibly delicious with fragrant, bold flavors.” Thai cuisine is about fresh ingredients and spices, she said, adding that the Thai food at her restaurant is made “fresh, to order.”

Lunch and dinner options include appetizers, noodle and rice dishes, salads, soups, combo dishes, curries, house specialties, side dishes, beverages and desserts. Many customers love ending a meal with mango and sticky rice, said Chueawong.

The restaurant’s Pad Thai Woonsen (Woon Sen) is a traditional noodle dish from Thailand that is equally as delicious as other pad Thai options on the menu, according to Chueawong. Smooth, silky glass noodles stir-fried with fresh ingredients make the dish so special, she said.

Don’t worry if you can’t tolerate spicy food, the restaurant adjusts the spice level in meals upon request. The owner said she personally likes a spicy edge to food and Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) is one of her favorites.

The chef in the back of the house at Thai Corner is Chueawong’s cousin, who has worked more than 20 years in the food industry. Getting him to leave his job in California wasn’t a problem, she said, explaining that when she called him and asked if he could help out he told her, ‘Give me a couple of weeks and 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.

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

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).

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 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.

Wings giveaway for Super Bowl Sunday

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!