“I decide to cook by myself, clean by myself, just to keep the restaurant running,” she said. It came down to the impossible choice between saving her business and supporting her employees. The forced shutdown followed by coronavirus-related restrictions slowed business to nearly a halt. She said the hardest part was laying people off. People started to not come in because they were scared.” “We got hit first because we are an Asian restaurant. (Photo: Kyle Niemier) Strength and resilienceĪfter opening, McAuley poured everything into her business and was just starting to get it off the ground when the pandemic hit. Rachel McAuley, owner-operator of Zen Thai Cafe, pours a drink behind the bar. The bustling sidewalks, street art, nightlife, and light rail running past make having a restaurant Downtown feel like “an honor.” “I love Downtown because – look at this!” she said, motioning out the window. The result was Zen Thai Cafe, which grew in popularity among students from ASU Downtown and the Phoenix Biomedical Core, business professionals, and convention travelers. Blending some of Tom Yum’s classic dishes with her own creations, she rebranded with her own concept in 2018. Without skipping a beat, she refocused on Downtown Phoenix. McAuley purchased the business in 2017, formerly known as Tom Yum Thai Restaurant, after Zen Culinary in Scottsdale – her first project – shuttered after less than a year. Yet AAPI women were one of the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs prior to the pandemic. Rachel McAuley is part of a small community of Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Phoenix, just over 4 percent (compared to 6.5 percent nationally), according to the 2020 U.S. That’s the big memories with food for me.” That is the thing that’s shaped me to want to have everyone involved, you know, participating or connecting with each other. “Back home, you would just eat together…you shared everything together,” she said. Sometimes there were big celebratory events where the entire community would come together over food, sharing their favorite dishes. She said neighbors would often gather to hang out and share food while the kids would run around and play. It was a dream that started as a young child growing up in Thailand – a place where food, family, and community were inextricably linked. “The experience of eating good food, and to be happy, to hang out…for me, it fulfills the dream.” “I often call my customers ‘Zen family,’” she said. Whether she’s in the kitchen, behind the bar, or making rounds amongst the tables chatting with guests, her warm and inviting presence makes the Downtown Phoenix eatery feel like home - and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Tip would be to book a table, as it gets busy.Chef Rachel McAuley greets everyone who walks into Zen Thai Cafe with a luminous smile. If your within a reasonable distance from this restaurant, you have to try. When finished, we enquirer about a taxi back to our hotel, and within minutes, it arrived Head of house seemed to be the owner and was very friendly, and helpful. A Gorgonzola, bacon burger for main and that was made fresh also, and mouth watering. I’m a sucker for Pate, and that’s exactly what I ordered, homemade pate with really fresh baguette and side salad. The one thing I like, when out to eat, is fresh food, cooked there and then and this restaurant does exactly that. A great menu ranging from Tapas to burgers, steak and great salads. very tentative and polite and nothing was too much bother. A French fusion restaurant, that not only does great food but it was presented nicely on the plate. Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in RawaiĪlways like a nice restaurant with good food, which is rare sometimes, but tonight we went to Zen Eat, Phuket which blew me away.Seafood Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Rawai.Greek Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Rawai.Restaurants near Zen Eat Phuket by Chef Sylvain.Melia Punta Cana Beach Wellness Inclusive - Adults only.
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