Thai Orchid a Treat

Oct. 26, 2014

You don’t need a passport to take a quick trip to Thailand. Instead, just duck into Petoskey’s Thai Orchid for a taste of this fascinating country’s cuisine.

Chef and owner Thomas Vangyi has created an inviting restaurant reminiscent of his youth. Vangyi isn’t actually a native of Thailand; he was born in Laos, which he left during the Vietnam War. He then spent years living in Thailand and now he’s pleased to showcase his adopted country’s cuisine at Thai Orchid.

"Laos and Thai are almost the same [cuisine-wise]," he says. "The food in the kitchen is homemade. It’s not commercial. It’s stirfry like what we do at home." No doubt patrons are very glad Vangyi has elected to treat them as his houseguests.

THE SCENE

Ensconced among a host of retail shops in downtown Petoskey, Thai Orchid offers unexpected delights. The color palette includes lilac and other soft colors, while vibrant Asian tapestries top each table under tempered glass.

Why the name and the color scheme?

"The orchid is the national flower of Thailand. You see all kinds everywhere you go," Vangyi says. "The color represents home. It’s typical of a Thai house in the country."

The cozy restaurant seats 48. Vangyi says this size enables him to cook and run the restaurant to his satisfaction. "I like a smaller restaurant. You can manage it," he says.

THE MENU

Thai Orchid offers a variety of appetizers, many featuring crispy wontons filled with an array of vegetables, meat and seafood, served with different sauces. Salads showcase ingredients like spring mix, carrots, onions, peanuts, fruit and even coconut flakes, topped with a host of Asianthemed dressings.

Featured entrees include fried rice, noodle dishes and other specialties, nearly 30 in all. Many of these entrées are available with a choice of protein, such as chicken, beef, pork, tofu, shrimp, scallops and squid– nearly 200 combinations in total.

Spicy selections are noted by a little red pepper on the menu, although customers can specify the amount of spiciness they desire. Vangyi ascribes to the notion that flavor combined with spice is better than simply an abundance of heat.

The restaurant also serves wine and beer.

THE BEST

According to Vangyi, the most popular dish is no surprise to him. "My favorite is the Pad Thai and Pad Thai is the most popular," he says.

There’s a slight difference between his next choice and that of his customers, however. He favors the Panang curry, while the second most popular dish overall is the red curry.

Even though he loves them, Vangyi is unable to say exactly what it is about those two dishes that make them stand out.

"I don’t know why," he says with a laugh.

"I have no clue."

Other standouts are the fried rice (try Kaw Pad curry with pineapple and cashews) and the crispy, delicate spring roll.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Vangyi has been in the restaurant business for over 20 years. Before opening Thai Orchid in 2007, he worked in a family restaurant in the Detroit area. After spending time up north, like so many others, he found the charms of the region too much to resist. These charms and the business opportunity he saw persuaded him to relocate.

"I thought, this town needs something," he says. "There’s burger [places], steak, Italian, but hardly any Thai."

Chicken is a popular choice atop Meek Khoua, pan-fried yellow noodles with broccoli, pea pods and bean sprouts with Thai gravy. Photos by Cathy Boissoneau

Vangyi and his staff are obviously doing something right. He has built a rapport with numerous regulars, though he wishes he could entice some of them to be a little more adventurous. He even has one customer who orders the same thing every time. "When I go out, we try something different every time."

THE SKINNY

Appetizers start at $3, soups at $3.50, salads at $5.50. Noodle dishes, fried rice and other entrées start at $8 for lunch, $11 for dinner. Dinner specials are $15.

Thai Orchid is open Monday through Friday from 11:30am to 9pm and Saturday from 4pm to 9pm. It is located at 433 East Mitchell Street, downtown Petoskey. Call (231) 487- 9900 or visit www.ThaiOrchidPetoskey.com.