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| Kae's Casa Burrito |
| Written by Buranij Khumpairoj | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 22 May 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the northernmost city of Chiang Rai, near Wat Phra Kaeo stands Kae's Casa Burrito, the province's only genuine Mexican Restaurant.
Though owned and operated by a Thai lady, the restaurant menu specializes largely of Mexican and Western specialties with a few Thai dishes. How this restaurant came into existence reflects a fascinating tale of human perseverance in life. Born some sixty years ago in Thonburi, Thailand, Kaewta Nintai spent more than 40 of them in the U.S.A. From San Diego, California, where she owned a gift shop for 4 years selling Thai imports, she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she married into an American-Mexican family, helped operate a Mexican restaurant and learned all the intricacies of Mexican cooking from her mother-in-law. After 14 years, she separated from her Mexican ties and moved to Compton, Tennessee, where she ran her own Mexican and Chinese restaurant. After 8 years of serving 200 customers daily, supervising 18 employees and feeling like she was paying more than her share of taxes, Kaewta was just too exhausted to continue. Nevada was next where she worked as a dealer in a casino and met her present husband who was employed in the same trade. Their aim was to save enough money to eventually retire in Thailand. Each yearly visit to Thailand further captured the heart of John Lee, Kaewta's husband. After 14 years working in the gambling business, the couple decided to retire in Thailand. Back home in 2003, the couple bought a car and drove around the country in search of a perfect place to settle down for the rest of their lives. Phayao, which had once been a favourite on an earlier visit, had changed too much for their liking, as had many other locations. Not too far north from Phayao, they discovered that Chiang Rai had everything they were looking for. The site of the restaurant was found to be very conveniently located near the Overbrook Hospital as "they were getting no younger and would eventually have to use it". The decision for the Mexican and Western theme was because that is what Kaewta knows best. Her knowledge of Thai cooking is basic as she had spent all her time in the U.S.A. Kaewta personally handpicks the fresh cooking ingredients herself. Certain spices and the pinto beans are imported from the U.S., while the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, so necessary in Mexican cooking, come from New Zealand. Other fresh local produces are of the same quality as the ones found in the U.S. Her cooking is all done by measured portions according to the recipes, thus assuring her quality standards. Appetizing and generous portions served by a friendly staff in a clean and casual atmosphere are products of Kaewta's decades of experience. The restaurant's most ordered items are Quesadillas (Mexican pizza), Combination platters (of Tostada, Enchilada or Burrito), Fajitas, and Burritos. The elaborate menu covers Western and Thai breakfasts, as well as Western, Mexican, and Thai lunches and dinners. In May, 2007 Kae's Casa Burrito moved from Thanon Trairat to 261/3 Thanon Sonkhongluang Soi 12. The new location is a single story house set in a garden with trees, flowers, a pond, and a man-made waterfall. Tables are under a thatched roof or under the stars. Kae's steady customers all seem to enjoy the new setting very much as do John, Lin, Fuei, and Coco their new little Shitzu, and of course, Kae herself. Feel free to call for directions : 089 755 5225. Both Kaewta and John love Chiang Rai and will continue to run this Mexican restaurant as long as their age will allow them.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 25 August 2008 ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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