Habitat on the Gulf Coast--Happy Thanksgiving!

(In the picture: Other Habitat volunteers in Gulfport, MS--Travis, Bryan, Harry, Angie, Laura, ME, Megan)

Last year, I spent Thanksgiving in airports as I traveled to India with Habitat for Humanity.

My friend, mentor, and hero, Pat Smith, initiated that project for Tsunami relief as he had done for the last 20 years.

This Thanksgiving, I participated in another one of Pat's project. This one was to build 13 homes in Gulfport, Mississippi for families affected by Hurricane Katrina. This is the last project he worked on before his death.

Pat had wanted his family and friends to spend this Thanksgiving in Gulfport building homes. A unique holiday experience. We had spent last Christmas together in India and it was a Christmas like no other. This Thanksgiving would be the same.

On August 27, Pat died on Comair Flight 5191 that crashed in Lexington along with 48 other passengers. His family wanted to continue his project in the Gulfport---it's what he would want. I knew I had to be a part of it.

I got to spend 2 days in Mississippi helping with the project and spending time with Pat's friends and family. How very special. I knew it would be one of the most important things I could do. My family knew how much it meant for me to go there, so they gave me a day off to be a part of it.

I have so much to be thankful for this year. My health, my family, my friends and loved ones. This year is wrapping up and I'm excited to see what comes next. I will try to do better about updating this blog more regularly!

Our cozy little cafe

Thai Orchid has been open for nearly 2 months now---whew! Things are smoothing out and getting much easier.

The start-up and beginning of anything is always the hardest part. Although we've had a restaurant before, the equipment, the customers, the layout of the store are all different. So it's been a challenge to get everything set in place.

The hours have been very long. In the beginning, we were coming in at 8 am and leaving at 2 am the next day. Now that we have a routine down, I come in around 9:30 am and leave by midnight usually. So a 14-hour day is pretty average right now.

After telling a friend of mine this schedule, she asked, "And this is what you wanted?"---It seems kind of crazy huh? Who would want to work these nutty hours and work this hard? Not many people. But I've never been 'many people'---and at this point, I feel so very lucky and fortunate. I have a great job, I love the people I work with, the bounds of what I can do here are endless, the potential growth is both exciting and challenging, and one of the best perks---the best food in the world, is right at my fingertips. And I sure love to eat!

I may not stay in this business forever--I do want to have a quasi-normal life one day---but I am so thankful to have this experience. To have the world's best chef as my coach (Thanks, MOM!) And to have an opportunity to really go places if I so choose.

The response from our customers has been astounding. They love it all--the cozy atmosphere, the food, the service. We aren't advertising..and I don't think we need do. Word of mouth has kept us busy.

So how are things going...splendidly. Were there times that I questioned what I was doing and wanted to quit...absolutely --- but anything that's worth anything-- takes sweat, tears and sheer hard work. So here I am. The sleep will come later.

Dedication

A few weeks ago, I said good-bye to a friend of mine who was a passenger on Comair Flight 5191 that crashed in Lexington, KY. Pat Smith was my friend, my mentor, and my hero. We went to India together last Thanksgiving to build homes for tsunami relief---he changed my life.

He has been here at the restaurant helping me clean and get the place ready for the grand opening. The night before we opened, and three days before he died, he was here hanging pictures, fixing a chair I broke, and cleaning our bathrooms.

Beyond being an extraordinary Habitat volunteer and leader, he was a wonderful friend. No matter what, he always had my back. Gave me a job when I was searching, supporting all my ventures even when he had so much going on himself.

I could go on forever about the impact Pat made on my life. But what I'm doing instead is continuing his legacy. I am helping on a committee to continue the project he was working on in Mississippi for Habitat.

We need volunteers to go down there until Christmas. Go to www.kyhfh.org for more info.

Sometimes I wake up and think it's all a dream that he's gone. Why did such a great man have his time cut short. Maybe he had already taught us what we needed to know. Maybe it was to show us that our time is limited on earth. With this in mind, I push forward with my volunteer efforts --even if it means staying up until 2 am to do it. I always told my friends that Pat was the kind of person I would go to the ends of the earth with. So even in his death, I'm still following.

The grand opening of this restaurant has been dedicated to Pat...or as I call him, PSmith.

Where have I been?

Hi all!

The restaurant has been opened for 3 weeks and I am finally getting a chance to sit down to update this blog.

Things have been going very well. The first weekend we opened, it was like a circus---things weren't settled, systems were confusing and it was just chaos. About 200 people came the first day, which is incredible and I'm so thankful that so many people were excited about us opening. I sure was excited.

So now things are much more settled. The staff is feeling the groove of everything. My parents and I are getting into a groove and a routine. The working 15-16 hours a day is very exhausting. But knowing that it's work towards something that you created is really rewarding.

More stories to come..and yes, there are many stories to share.

We're so so very close!

(Photo 1: Preview of the Thai Orchid Cafe, Photo 2: Mom and Dad with the hood permit!)

It has been two weeks of UPS and DOWNS! We are so close to opening it's almost painful. I can see it..the glimmer in the distance is here, right before me, but just a little too far to reach. (I have short arms you know).

We passed our health department inspection with a perfect score of 100, woo hoo! We got great feedback from our inspector which was a great boost in a time when things have not gone as planned.

The August 5th opening was long gone as delay after delay popped up. I knew there would be bumps in the road, but I did not expect this. I guess I am new to the world of business and had naive expectations about how people conduct themselves professionally. I grew up learning that you returned calls in a timely manner, that you kept to your word, and that communication was key. Apparently, some people missed the memo.

But besides all the disappointments, I couldn't be happier with how the restaurant looks and how far it's come along. The long hours continue every day, but I know the work will be worth it. I have big dreams of where this restaurant will go. All the things I have learned through this process---and I have learned a lot---will be applied to new ventures in the future.

My parents have been amazing through this whole process. I've learned so much from them about work ethic, dealing with difficult people, and how to raise each other up, even when things get tough. There have been some rough spots, trouble shooting, etc, but never have I thought about quitting...mostly because it wasn't really an option---but mostly because I knew this is what I wanted. Where it will take me, I don't know...but I'm having one helluva ride through this adventure.

The opening is coming soon! Stay tuned :)

It finally looks like a restaurant!

Oh sweet glory! 1030 S. Broadway, Ste. 2, is finally looking like a restaurant. And a beautiful restaurant at that. Today has been the most dramatic change for the place. The kitchen construction is FINALLY wrapping up and the dining room is almost set to seat 70 customers. The carpet is laid and the wall decorations are up. The lighting looks gorgeous, especially at night.

I think the Thai Orchid Cafe is really going to be a hot spot for many people. It's warm, inviting, cozy, and modern. Did I mention the food is going to be delicious?!

I cannot wait to get cooking. We are close...so very very close. Tying up loose ends is more nerve-wracking then the whole process itself I think. There are still a load of inspections to pass, but we've done our homework and we will be ready.

The parents are doing so well. It's been a great experience working with them through this process. They have taught me so much about the business and I'm grateful to have them with me on this insane journey. Many other 24 year olds are not as lucky as I to have this opportunity to open their own business.

I have never worked this hard in my life...and I haven't wanted anything more either. Somehow, when you are passionate about what you're doing..it makes the work, the sweat (lots of sweat), tears, frustrations, and pains all worth it. Today, was one of those days that we've worked so hard for.

A wonderful group of friends (Fe, Mike, Megan, Kyle, Steve, Pat, Tommy, Thank you!) helped put together all our tables and chairs---we hung decorations and installed the base board. So it really looks like a restaurant. A real restaurant :)

Soon, the real fun will begin...food prep. It is all coming together. In a beautiful way. I'm exhausted, but tonite, I will sleep in peace. Weeks of nightmares and worries, have dissipated to sweet dreams of booming business, new friends, and wonderful food.

Opening in 2-3 weeks. An opening date will be set soon. Stay tuned!

Signing off, happy and relieved.

The weekend, finally!

Wow, what an insane week. I'm not a morning person at all. I don't like to talk or work in the mornings. So coming to the restaurant every day at 7 am, was not my first choice of things I'd like to be doing at that hour.

Contractors have been in and out all week. The equipment is hooked up (woo hoo!) and the place is painted. (See photos) We have a purple orchid theme going on . It's really pretty..thanks to my mom and sister for designing it.

After painting for 4 days straight just to get two coats, I was really over painting. Luckily our drywallers' scaffold was still around, so it helped trmendously.

There are many things I underappreciated when undertaking this project. Mostly that many people I have worked with do not share the same values as me...timelieness, honesty...well mostly timeliness. Things have taken so so much longer than I would have imagined.

We are yet to set an open date because there still some big hurdles to overcome. Mostly just everything to fall into place. There are so many little details that we are yet to tackle, but I'm really happy to finally be getting out of the construction phase and really getting into what I love...making the food.

People are really excited about us opening. Our location is great and there is a lot of traffic to Jalapeno's next door.

Today I got to sleep in a little, so I was much happier. It was an easier day. Although a lot of time was spent on the phone. It's been a sauna every day in the restaurant..no A/C right now and a massive heat wave hitting our area. Ugh. Just sweaty, sticky, ugh-ness.

So we keep pushing forward. Plowing through our frustrations and seeing the ultimate goal in the end. Which will be the beginning of something truly magnificent.

Beaten down, but not out

Hi all,

It has been an exhausting couple of weeks. I'm sitting here at the computer trying my best not to collapse onto the floor. If I did, I think I could sleep until morning.

I put in a 14-hour day today...and trend that's been developing over the last few weeks. Contactors have been coming around 7 am each morning. Sometimes showing up, sometimes not.

Today was our close to final painting day. All our equipment has arrived (minus 20 chairs)...the kitchen is ready to go as soon as the hood gets hooked up. We're shooting to open in about 2-3 weeks. Depending on when everything can finally come together.

It has been one headache after another. If it's someone not showing up, it's bills that have been missing, or unexpected permits...

But all in all, I see the ultimate goal..and really, this is what I signed up for. To challenge myself and to work through difficult situations. I feel so lucky to get this chance to really excel and to see what I'm made of. After spending the last few days 12 feet in the air on a ladder set on a rolling scaffold...I feel like I can conquer anything.

I'm excited to get cooking and really set things in motion. The dining room is painted three shades of lavender..it's beautiful..designed by my sister, Tahn and my mom.

So that's the latest and greatest. Thanks for reading about my adventures. It surely been that...an adventure beyond my wildest dreams. I knew I would work hard, but I didn't know I would work this hard. Signing off as I'm about to fall to the ground. :)

A TILE-ing we will go!

Last Friday, I got to experience my first 18-hour day...from 7 am to 1 am the next day. I wasn't used to working like that and I wonder how my sister, who's a medical resident in Cincinnati works for 24 or 36 hours straight. Her work ethic and stamina have always blown me away.

It was a really trying day, with equipment woes increasing and red tape swirling all around me, I was losing grasps of the relaxation and inner peace I found when I was in India. Life seemed so much simpler as a nomad volunteer. Wake up, work at the site, go back to the hotel, sleep. But something was still missing. This dream of mine. And that's why I'm here now I guess.

Under the leadership of Mike Green and Fe Myers, our wonderful tile project ensued last Friday. After taking away some walls and having some plumbing projects, we had to repair about 50 sq ft of floor tile. We spent about 20+ hours on the project over the weekend...hunched over, covered in mortar and grout and praying that they weren't all suddenly going to pop loose.

I got a phone call from Pat Smith around 10 pm on Sunday and I told him what we were up to. He responded, "You're having dinner at 10 o'clock...and tiling....welcome to the world of small business!"

He was right, I was here and there was no turning back...I had signed my life away to long hours, no vacations and endless headaches. But the flipside of that is that I'm building a career that I love, working with the people I love, and proving to myself that a little person can do big things in this world.

Close, but not quite to a breaking point...

One thing I've found about this project--and something I'm grateful for, is that it is never, ever boring. Each day there's something new and unexpected. So far, unfortunately, a lot of the unexpected has been in the form of bad news. We're stuck in a rut with construction because we can't move forward until our equipment comes in.

And where is our equipment, you ask? That's the million dollar question. No one really knows.

Amazon.com can tell you exactly where your $5 book is, but for some reason our distributors can't tell us where thousands of dollars worth of equipment is.

When I was in India with a Habitat for Humanity build project, they would tell us every day, that materials were coming 'tomorrow, tomorrow'. But 'tomorrow' actually means in a couple of weeks, or sometimes never. I'm getting a little deja vu with our own endeavor.

I had a snapping point today, where I felt everything change. The sweet little Toa you all know, morphed into this irate, agitated lifeform that had little control over her forceful words to the equipment distributor. Maybe I'm just learning that you can't always get things done by playing nice with everyone. Maybe, I'm turning into my Dad :)

My parents are the most caring, wonderful people ---but you do not, I repeat, DO NOT, want to get on their bad side.

Everyone do your equipment arrival dance and pray to the equipment gods to bless us with our stuff.

Permits, Permits, Permits, OH MY!

I wish there was a booth somewhere where I could walk up to and say, "Hi, I'm opening a restaurant, what do I need to do." Someone kindly gives me a list, I complete the list, I open a restaurant.

Instead, it seems like we've bounced from one department to the next figuring out all the different permits we must have to open.

Permits for electrical, walls, plumbing, grease traps, dumpsters, outdoor seating, selling alcohol, food manager certification---eek!
I spent two weeks working on our beer and wine license application. In full, it was at least 25 pages thick. I happily walked in thinking I was turning in a complete application, only to find out I had only finished step 1 of 10. Sigh.

The journey continues. One month left. Each and every day over the last month, I've devoted an average of 10-13 hours a day working on something for this place. And yet my parents are still working even harder than that. They amaze me and I learn so much from them, even still today.

Picking up the pace...

Entering into the final month before our Grand Opening (We're shooting for August 5), I'm met with the jitters of excitement and joy! We have worked so hard in the last two months and it's amazing to see how far we've come. But yet there is so so much more to go.

After July 4th, things are going to really pick up. I can feel it already. We have demolished old walls, framed up new ones---the equipment is coming in next week and everything (hopefully) will all fall into place.

I've been blown away by this whole process of starting your own business. The amount of phone calls made and machines that I've talked to has been astounding. There are so many more players involved in this than I could have ever imagined. So many gov't divisions, contractors, banks, and other services...it kind of makes my head spin.

But it is all working towards one thing...opening those doors in one month to new friends and new fans of home-cooked Thai food. Sometimes I think of this restaurant as an excuse for my family to have our own big kitchen to cook in---and it's a bonus that we get to share our love for this food with other people. Plus we can make a living out of it. What a dream.

One month down, One to go.

We signed the lease to our new restaurant on May 3. Since then, so much work has been done, yet there is so much more to do.

In the last month, we have cleaned the place, ordered equipment, organized the big remodeling project, put together a menu, and spent every hour of every day thinking about all the details we may have missed.

The experience has been like no other. The work never ends. There is always, ALWAYS something else to do.

Here is your first glimpse of the Thai Orchid Cafe.

Welcome to the Thai Orchid Cafe Blog!

Welcome!

At the age of seven, my first duty in my parents' restaurant, the Smile of Siam, in Frankfort, Kentucky, was refilling water glasses. For the next ten years, most of my spare hours between school, sleep, and activities went to working in the restaurant. It became my second home, where I spent many late nights and tireless hours mopping floors and chopping vegetables.

Now, at age 24, I never thought I would want to work in a restaurant again, no less, own one. But here I am, with my parents, Kat and Suda, opening a new Thai Restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky.

The THAI ORCHID CAFE is located at 1030 South Broadway, next to Jalapeno's, where the old Winn Dixie used to be. We are shooting to have the place open by early August.

It's been quite a road to get to this point...and an even longer road to get it up and running.

The lease for our space was signed on May 3, so we just got things started. Keep reading for the latest news on the ups and downs of starting your own business...and doing whatever it takes to make a dream come true.