Baan Thai’s avocado rolls are a perfect example of how Kim Sawatdee and Jim Phoontirom maintain authentic Thai flavors while at the same time adding both fresh, locally sourced California produce and healthy sauces to classic Thai dishes.
Baan Thai was well-established in Orinda before COVID-19, but when Kim Sawatdee and Jim Phoontirom welcomed back in-person diners, something important had changed. And it wasn’t the interior remodel.
“After COVID, I changed my philosophy,” said Sawatdee. “I wanted to make our food healthier.”
So she and Phoontirom, who’s the chef, began modifying their recipes to make them more nutritious. Now, there’s more ginger and lemongrass, for one thing. For another, “everything is gluten-free,” said Sawatdee, “but we’ve kept the flavor the same.”
Even pad Thai, a staple of all Thai restaurants, got a makeover.
“We don’t use a vinaigrette anymore,” said Sawatdee. “We use tamarind to make the noodles.”
And those changes are apparent.
The pad Thai, for example, has a cleaner, smoother feel than many other versions, and allows the other flavors to stand out. And many of those flavors come from Thailand, as all Baan Thai’s curries are imported from Sawatdee’s homeland.
That authenticity is one reason Baan Thai has thrived since it opened in 2005, replacing an Italian restaurant at the far north end of Orinda Way. Phoontirom’s father Nithan ran Bua Luang in Albany, so he learned the restaurant business from the bottom up. When the couple decided to open their own restaurant, they settled on Orinda.
“I liked the beautiful city,” said Sawatdee, and so not only did they open Baan Thai, they moved to Orinda as well.
And now, 20 years later, they’ve become part of the community.
“I see our customers from 2005 bring their children now,” she said, “and people have special events here. We just hosted a 101st birthday party.”
Like many long-running restaurants, the menu hasn’t changed much over the years, but Sawatdee pointed out that Baan Thai has an “East meets West” feel on the menu. Both an avocado roll and a pumpkin roll are popular offerings, and the Thai crunch salad is one of the favorites.
The salmon mango curry is another dish that most Thai restaurants don’t offer, but Asian food traditionalists will also find chicken and prawn deep-fried won tons.
In addition, since every dish is made to order, customers can ask for extra spice, say, or other tweaks to the familiar Thai flavors.
But Baan Thai relies on more than just the quality of its food.
“We love to serve,” said Sawatdee, and her focus on health is part of that service. “Orinda is more than a beautiful city, it’s the people. We give back by making the food healthier.”
