Notable Dates

As a sign of respect for the staff the restaurant will be closed on Sunday 6^th April as they will be attending the Thai New Year celebrations in Auckland (known in Thai as the Songkran or water festival).
For those followers of such traditions it is a week earlier due to logistical arrangements in Auckland.  The team at Chang Siam apologises for any inconvenience.

 

The Future of Chang Siam

Christopher and I have great plans for Chang Siam for the next six months and it is our intention to make Chang Siam a premier destination, as well as a top restaurant.  Although we would like Chang Siam to be a number one destination for tourists our focus is to concentrate on our local clientele.  It is the locals that have made this restaurant so successful to date and we will be re-launching our locals’ loyalty scheme and announcing special offers over the coming months.  Birthdays and special group events have proved to be very successful and we would like to thank all our customers for their support over the last two years.
 

April Specials

For the month of April, we would like to announce the following specials;

• All house wines will be available at $6 per glass or $30 per bottle
• All beers will be reduced from $6.50 to just $6

These offers will be available to those simply having a drink in the garden, those having a quick snack and, of course, those dining in...  whether at lunchtime or in the evening.

Learn about the team

As Chang Siam is a family-orientated restaurant I thought that it would be appropriate to talk about Worawit Phorasri (English name Mann) who is our most senior Thai chef.  Many of you will have seen him demonstrating his talent with vegetable flower making.  He lives with his wife Eed and daughter Wallenchilli in the centre of Kerikeri.  Wallenchilli attends Kerikeri Primary School and they have all settled really well into the Kiwi way of life.  Mann’s father died when he was very young and Mann spent much of his youth cooking with his mother for the market.  He also worked with his grandma making desserts for sale.  Mann is now a very experienced Thai chef and also has also cooked Japanese food.     Prior to coming to Chang Siam he has worked as Head Chef at the well-known Ingo de Bangkok, as a chef at the prestigious Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, spent many years working in the USA for Siamese Plate restaurants and finally worked as a Thai Head Chef at Udonthani Rajabhat University.  Eed also works in the restaurant from time to time and Wallenchilli came to dance for a customer’s golden wedding anniversary.

Suchart, who  is now the full general manager, has had a hard life to date and is a dedicated Chang Siam employee.  He multi-tasks, working as front of house, as a kitchen hand and organising purchasing and the general running of the restaurant.  His life focus is on helping his family in Thailand, providing the best possible service to Chang Siam customers and marketing that famous Thai smile!  He has proved to be a real asset to Chang Siam and is working closely with Mann to constantly improve the services we offer.

Tissar is a student at the Culinary Institute of New Zealand and has worked very hard for Chang Siam as both a commis chef and also front of house.  He is a very pleasant and industrious young man and, although only part-time, he is a highly valued member of the team.

Competition Winners

As the first newsletter for 2014 we have 3 winners this month.  Winners get a lunch for two people.  Congratulations to the following winners;

• Jonny Dyas
• Wallace Te Ahuru
• Doug Kinnon

Please book under your name to claim the prize.