The Pepper Mill

Former Employees Buy Thai Sawadee

Susan and Chin Saicholpitak focus on fresh ingredients and customer service.

When Thai Sawadee opened in Hilltown Village Center in 2008, it garnered positive reviews and began building a loyal following. The owner decided to sell just last year, giving longtime employees Susan and Chinnapong (Chin) Saicholpitak an idea. The Saicholpitaks had never owned a restaurant before or even thought about owning one, but the idea niggled at them. Hadn't they worked as both cooks and managers at Thai Sawadee since it opened, plus years of restaurant work before that? Three months later, in January, they made their decision. “We both knew everything about how it worked—what the potential was,” Chin Saicholpitak said. “We decided to buy it.” Adhering to the philosophy of “If it ain't broke don't fix it,” the Saicholpitaks have …

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The Pepper Mill

Vegadeli's New Owner Sets Sights On Health

The deli featuring vegan food is under new ownership with a new attitude.

Being a vegan means never eating anything that comes from animals, but it can also include eating organic foods whenever possible, using whole grains, and a myriad of other requirements. It all depends on how an individual defines their personal veganism. But can vegan food taste good? Gina Gerber thinks so. As the new owner of Vegadeli, she believes that vegan living means eating great tasting, enjoyable meals. When the restaurant, located at 177 Hilltown Village Center on Olive Boulevard, became available in May, she saw it as an opportunity. “It was a good opportunity to let people know the importance of eating healthy and to spread the word,” Gerber said. “I want people to know that healthy doesn't have to taste like cardboard.” To …

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Dr. Nick Barnes

10:15 am on Thursday, June 16, 2011

Gina, Thank you so much for helping change the health of this community! I appreciate your hard work to change the way people think about and choose their food choices. Thanks for helping our Maximized Living mission to change the way people view and manage their health!   more ›

Great Escape: Forget Date Night, Schedule a Girl's Night Out

Grab your girlfriends and get out for a little frivolous fun.

Your husband has no idea why Robert Pattinson’s brooding interpretation of Edward Cullen is so appealing. And he certainly wouldn’t be caught dead downing a Cosmopolitan. Let’s face it, there are certain activities that are strictly for the girls. This week, leave the kids with your husband, grab your best girlfriends and treat yourself to a Girl’s Night Out. Here are a few of the best places to grab a cocktail, catch a chick flick and eat your heart out. Yia Yia’s: Forget Steinbeck, Yia Yia’s mixes a happier tone in its own Grapes of Wrath. The creative cocktail blends grape vodka, sparkling wine and elderflower liqueur and is served with a skewer of frozen grapes. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list. 15601 Olive Blvd., …

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The Pepper Mill

Easy Prime Rib For The Home Cook

Many cooks are intimidated by a standing rib roast, but nothing could be easier.

I'm a confessed meat lover. Beef, pork, fowl, steaks, chops or wings, I love them all. Throw in some bison, venison or ostrich and you'll hear no complaints from me. But there is one cut of meat that stands above all the others. It's juicy, flavorful and tender as softened butter. It's prime rib. The prospect of preparing prime rib at home can be a daunting one, but the reality is that it's very easy to prepare for even the most novice home cooks. A whole prime rib will weigh 20 to 22 pounds, so you'll want to ask the butcher to cut yours according to how many people you want to feed. Plan on getting two servings per rib. Each rib will weigh around 3 pounds. It requires at least two ribs to stand the prime rib on its own, but you can stand…

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