The West Orange Times – Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thai Blossom opens in downtown Winter Garden

By Mary Anne Swickerath

The first thing to know about Thai Blossom, Winter Garden’s first Thai Restaurant, is that it is not a trendy fusion eatery mixing Asian food with American influences. Its food is seriously Thai with some touches of Chinese cusine and is a welcome addition to the lively Plant Street scene.

And this authentic menu is large. There are:

-16 appetizers ( I can heartily recommend the steamed pork dumplings and the potstickers)

-12 soups (two satisfying choices are silver noodle soup with chicken and shrimp and Thai noodle chicken soup).

-11 salads (try the Thai Blossom salad with chicken and boiled eggs)

-7 noodle selections (the pad Thai is a healthy, light version of this classic).

-8 fried rice dishes (including the unusual pineapple fried rice with shrimp, chicken, pineapple, eggs, cashew nuts and raisins).

-15 dinner entrees (all available with a choice of chicken, beef, pork, vegetable and tofu).

-6 aromatic curries (the panang red curry is the restaurants delicious signature dish).

-8 shellfish specialties featuring crab, shrimp, scallops, mussels and squid with a variety of Thai sauces and vegetables.

-And 5 deep fried red snapper specialties, which have proven a popular choice for some of the many already regular diners.

There are also seven deserts, including a creamy caramel custard, and a kids’ menu with fried rice (chicken or plain) and the un-Thai-like corn dog or chicken nuggets served with fries.

To say Thai Blossom offers a trove of choices is an understatement. The hard part is making a decision about what to order.

The restaurant has taken over the former Choctaw Willy’s space in the historic Edgewater Hotel, and the renovation has produced a much more comfortable space, both simple and elegant.

The owners, a charming husband-and-wife team, are Tyler and Patcharee Cravens. He’s originally from Jackson, Miss., and she is from Saraburi in Central Thailand. He is an actor and entertainer (and a cast member at Universal Orlando) who also has 15 years of restaurant experience. She co-owned a restaurant in Los Angeles for five years, has a college degree in finance and accounting and came to the U.S. 11 years ago.

The couple, who met in Los Angeles are now residents of Davenport, moved to Central Florida three and one-half years ago, six months after their wedding. They were interested in opening their own restaurant, and , when friends of Winter Garden told them of the space available in the Edgewater Hotel, they quickly made their move.

“We put the deal together in a day”, said Tyler

The restaurant, which opened June 1, is a real team effort by Tyler and Patcharee.

“We do everything together,” he said. “We are true soul mates.”

He handles the management of the dining room and she oversees the cooking, and they have both been so happy with the welcome they have received.

“We hit the ground running” said Tyler, “and Winter Garden has been fantastic to us. The response has been great. A lot of families are coming to eat, which is nice.”

They are especially proud of their food and the culture it represents.

“We serve traditional Thai food in a contemporary style,: said Patcharee

Tyler added, “Thai food is much more flavorful, less-oily Chinese-style cuisine,” one that can be spiced from mild to hot with guests choosing their favorite level of heat.

A beer and wine license is in the works, and the Cravens plan to serve Asian and domestic beers, red and white wines, plum wine and saki.

Thai Blossom is open seven days a week 11 am to 10 pm and Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday and 11 am to 9 pm on Sunday

A limited lunch menu is in effect Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm with soup, salad, entrée and steamed jasmine rice offered for $6.95 – but everything on the regular menu is also available at  the regular prices all during the day.

“We are trying to encourage a late-night crowd, especially on Sundays when a lot of restaurants are closed,” said Tyler.

So whether you are a Thai food lover or someone new to this flavorful cuisine, one influenced by both China and India, the Cravens are eager to have you as their guests and will help you navigate through their large, enticing menu.

For more information, call Thai Blossom Restaurant at 407-905-9917