A Bangkok-raised chef is now serving vibrant Thai street food such as pan-fried noodles, grilled Isan sausage, Wagyu short rib with herbs and sticky rice, and flame-kissed pork jowl in Old Pasadena. To drink, there’s local ube beer and natural wine.
“I love to eat street food so much,” said Thaim chef-owner Ruethai Boonlieng. “I go back to Thailand all the time, and I always ask my friends, “Hey, don’t take me to the mall — take me to street food. It’s a true food for my soul, and people make the street food with care.”
Boonlieng’s Thaim is a portmanteau of “Thai” and “I am.” While some of her recipes are traditional — such as her mom’s preparation of Sukhothai pad Thai — others are modern spins, like brightening her sweet-spicy mango salad with fresh dill or turning her childhood favorite, egg tofu, into a deep-fried egg custard.
The chef grew up in Bangkok and learned to cook by watching her mother prepare home meals, then took pastry courses in Thailand as an adult. Boonlieng studied finance but entered the restaurant industry to help an aunt and a friend open a Thai restaurant — then discovered she loved it. She opened multiple restaurants in the Bay Area, then moved to Los Angeles to help open another and never wanted to leave.
As an owner of sweets-focused cafe U Dessert Story, with two locations in the Bay Area, Boonlieng wanted to incorporate some of her signature desserts at Thaim, too. Look for Thai tea panna cotta, matcha lava cakes and more.
FANCY a trip to the beach without having to schlep to the seaside? You’re in luck.
Many cities around the UK are launching their own pop-up beaches this summer – and they’re perfect for those who living inland and have no way of getting to the sea.
Summer’s here… but you don’t have to visit the coast to enjoy sandy shoresCredit: Getty
They promise family-friendly rides, adult-only beach clubs and of course, buckets and buckets of sand.
Here are 10 of the best that you and the family can enjoy this summer.
1. Northampton’s Market Square
Market Square in Northampton will also feature fairground rides and a pop-up cinema as well as a beachCredit: Alamy
The Market Square in Northampton is about to be transformed into a huge beach this summer.
Along with the sand, there will be everything from deckchairs and buckets and spades to palm trees.
Fairground rides, pop up cinema and live events are also part of the summer season pop up.
Market Square beach runs from July 31 to August 31. Free to visit.
2. Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes
The UK’s biggest indoor beach can be found in Milton KeynesCredit: facebook/thecentre:mk
Calling itself the biggest in an indoor shopping centre, the new seaside-esque pop-up The Beach is back at Milton Keynes this year.
There are all the seaside classics such as free Punch & Judy shows, as well as an indoor rollercoaster and rides, although these cost extra from £3 to £6.
Bungees, games, train rides and pop-up stalls are also part of the event.
The Beach run from July 17 to August 31. Free to visit.
3. Costa del Croydon, London
Head to Croydon for some rooftop beach nights this summerCredit: Costa Del Croydon
Can’t quite make it to Spain this year? How about going to… Croydon.
Summer has just begun, but there’s a certain magic in the air in Los Angeles right now. On the heels of Juneteenth and Pride Month, the city is fully immersed in World Cup, which continues through July 19, with some of the matches being played at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. There are plenty of places to eat and drink near the stadium if you’re heading there for a game and plenty of watch parties at local restaurants and bars for those looking to cheer alongside other soccer fans.
If you’re staying close to home this summer, keep your taste buds entertained with Food’s guide to the 50 essential dining experiences that define living here, from an East L.A. taco truck crawl to pastries in Chinatown and Iranian cafes in Westwood’s Persian Square. There are also plenty of new bars to explore, including rooftop destinations with sparkling views of the city.
Daniel Patterson, the chef behind San Francisco’s Coi, who once helmed Alta Adams alongside chef Keith Corbin, has opened a new tasting restaurant in Hollywood, alongside his wife and former music journalist and producer Sarah Lewitinn. Jacaranda challenges stereotypes of stuffy or restrained fine dining restaurants with a Gen X playlist, casual service and lively conversations among guests. This approach, as Patterson told reporter Stephanie Breijo, better reflects the ethos of Los Angeles, where your next great meal is just as likely to come from a street vendor as it is from a 10-course dinner. The restaurant holds only one seating per night, to allow diners the opportunity to linger as you would at a friend’s dinner party, as well as a multi-course lunch on Sunday.
