Eats+Drinks Home is where the meal is Sylva restaurant specialize in authentic Thai cuisine Although the 5 o’clock dinner rush is still a few hours away, Chef Kanlaya Supachana is zipping around the kitchen of Dalaya, preparing several signature northern Thai dishes with such meticulous and precise care — no small detail overlooked, whether for presentation or palate. Sitting in the small, cozy dining area of the Sylva establishment (on the far end of West
pachana modestly stated. “I want this room to feel like my home, where everyone is welcome, where we look forward to introducing you to the real cooking of my native Thailand.” Though many folks may think Thai food is all about “heat and spice,” the style of authentic northern Thai, according to Supachana, is more of an emphasis on flavor,
Main Street) is a hungry and curious journalist from The Smoky Mountain News. And even though he only wanted to try a couple offerings and not overstay his welcome, Supachana won’t let him leave until she brings out dish after dish (after dish) to sample. “You can’t write about this place without trying a little bit of everything,” Su-
as well as color and beauty (the food is almost too aesthetically pleasing to consume, with Supachana a true artisan of her craft). Fresh fruit (Thai pineapple salad), vegetables and sauces (krabong) come into play, often complemented by sweet and sour glazes (spicy fish sauce wings). There’s also a keen knack for mouthwatering curry
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soups (khao soi, gaeng masaman), meat that falls off the bone (khao muu daeng) and seafood (plaa muk yang, khoong yang), not to mention homemade Thai tea ice cream for dessert. Originally from the Chiang Mai region of northern Thailand, Supachana learned to cook from her late father, a beloved figure of culinary talent and delights in her hometown. He bestowed upon his daughter the ancient cooking instincts of feel and taste, instead of “going by the book” of exact recipes and regimented instruction. But, initially, Supachana didn’t see herself in the food world. She was more interested in computers, something that parlayed itself into Supachana immigrating to the United States to pursue a degree in the field. Ultimately, she found herself working in Thai restaurants in New York City to pay the bills. “I started by just answering phones and putting together the takeout orders,” Supachana reminisced. “And, on our days off, myself and my coworkers — who were also from northern Thailand — would cook the actual food we ate back home, not the usual things you see in [American] Thai restaurants.” Supachana’s cooking became in high demand from friends and acquaintances, ultimately placing her in the kitchen of a handful of Thai spots in Brooklyn. Soon, she and a partner opened the pop-up restaurant Kao Soy. Located in Red Hook, the business was a smashing success — lauded by The New York Times, with lines out the door daily.
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