ATHLEISURE LIST: Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY
RUA THAI
Rua Thai opened in July 2023 in Brooklyn. Thailand is known for its floating markets, where vendors offer food, handicrafts and souvenirs from traditional wooden boats afloat on khlongs (canals). Chef and co-owner Kornpon Theeraumpornkul grew up in the province of Ratchaburi in central Thailand, home to Damnoen Saduak, one of the largest and most famous floating markets in the country. Rua (rowboat in Thai) pays homage to the markets and his family, who sold food at the market.
to the US, he worked in the kitchen alongside many skillful chefs at PremOn, one of the most famous Thai restaurants in New York at that time. Later he became the head chef at one of the most popular Thai restaurants in New York called Yum Yum. He worked for about 20 years in New York restaurant industry before opening Rua Thai. Ingredients and spices that are indicative of Thai cuisine are Thai chili, white pepper, and lemongrass. 3 Appetizers we suggest to try are the Shrimp Donuts served stacked on a sugarcane stick, RUA Fresh Summer Rolls with beautiful edible flowers, and Crispy Calamari with their signature egg yolk seafood mayonnaise dip-
Chef Kornpon's grandmother taugt him most of the family recipes. He enjoyed modifying the recipes to create something new and to have his family try them for feedback. When he came
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Issue #92 | Aug 2023