COMING TO MIDDLEBURG:

AUTHENTIC THAI CUISINE ... WITH A TWIST

By Peter Milligan | Photos courtesy of Thaiverse

I

f you’re familiar with the Northern Virginia Thai restaurant scene, you’ve likely noticed that they are all very similar.

Thaiverse, currently located in the town of Lovettsville, Virginia, is not cut from that same mold. They are unique. They are authentic. They are a true dining destination... and they are coming to Middleburg. Set to open this spring on the corner of Federal and Madison streets in the location formerly held by the French Hound restaurant, Thaiverse offers genuine Thai dishes cooked up by Piya Cameron, the chef and co-owner. Born and raised in Thailand, Chef Piya honed her craft in kitchens all over the world

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including the United Kingdom, where she met her husband and co-owner James Cameron. (We would love to tell you much more of James and Piya’s story, but strongly recommend coming in to hear it from them. They are one-of-a-kind characters.) Together, Piya and James have been operating their Lovettsville location since December 2015 and have enjoyed much success and local acclaim. They look to bring that same buzz to Middleburg — with a few key changes. While the Lovettsville location offers a fine selection of wines and standard beer options, James looks to expand the beverage program at the Middleburg location and plans to partner with local vineyards and breweries to offer a plethora of hometown beverage options.

APRIL 2017

The Camerons will also offer both indoor and outdoor seating at the Middleburg location, with the hopes of an outdoor patio for an enjoyable place to relax and feast on Piya’s bevy of Thai specialties. Speaking of which, here is a small preview of what’s to come at Thaiverse Middleburg: Tom Yum Soup — While this writer is typically a die-hard spring roll fan, Piya’s kicked-up version of the traditional soup cannot come more highly recommended. While chilies give the soup a warmth and occasional sweat-inducing kick, it’s the pleasant (and highly authentic) sourness and slight sweetness that keeps you coming back for more. Fresh, crisp veggies certainly don’t hurt either. Twist | Page 16