Fish Cheeks: Authentic Thai Cuisine Expansion in NYC

The Genesis of Fish Cheeks

• 💡 Nearly a decade ago, Jen Saesue and Chat Suansilphong opened Fish Cheeks, an authentic Thai restaurant in New York City's Nolita neighborhood.
• 🎯 The restaurant's name is derived from the belief in many Asian cultures that the tastiest part of the fish is its cheeks.
• 🚀 The hospitality group is set to open a second location in Brooklyn next week, expanding their portfolio.

Culinary Philosophy and Early Challenges

• 🌶️ Fish Cheeks was intentionally opened not just as a Thai restaurant, but as a restaurant that serves Thai food that the founders love to eat.
• ⚠️ Initially, customers frequently asked for Pad Thai, and the restaurant received negative comments for not offering it, with some calling it "pretentious hipster" cuisine.
• 🧠 Jen and Chat aimed to showcase a broader spectrum of Thai flavors beyond the typical one-page menu of curries and fried rice.

Founders' Journeys and Culinary Training

• 🇺🇸 Jen Saesue, born in New Jersey, lived in Thailand until age 12 before returning to Queens and developing a love for the restaurant industry in high school.
• 🇹🇭 Chat Suansilphong moved to the US from Thailand at 22 and pursued culinary education at the CIA, initially aiming for fine dining but ultimately prioritizing opening his own restaurant.
• 📚 Chat's experience includes working for free at a fine dining establishment for weeks to prove his worth, highlighting a dedication to mastering culinary skills.
• 🏙️ He also managed a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, where he met Jen and learned crucial business lessons that business school did not cover.

Expanding the Brand and Culinary Talent

• 🥂 Following Fish Cheeks' success, the pair opened Bangkok Supper Club in 2023, featuring elevated Thai cuisine with acclaimed chef Max Widowat.
• 👨‍🍳 Jen and Chat have entrusted the Fish Cheeks kitchens to chef Dustin Everett, believing that talent, not just ethnicity, is key to authentic cooking, provided they are taught the right knowledge.
• 🌟 Chef Dustin, now a partner in the Brooklyn location, has trained extensively in Thailand under culinary educator P Ying, maintaining a close relationship with her.

Signature Dishes and Future Outlook

• 🐟 The menu features dishes like steamed Branzino in a chili lime broth, crab fried rice, and coconut crab curry.
• 🍜 A notable dish is the Tom Yum noodles, a complex seafood and pork belly noodle soup that was one of Chat's first dishes he ever had.
• 🥭 The meal concludes with a classic dessert of coconut pandan ice cream with mong beans and sweet sticky rice, a staple since day one.
• ✅ The founders hope diners feel compelled to plan their next visit after experiencing the authentic and flavorful Thai cuisine.