Two new restaurants are now open in Carson Valley, Thai Jasmine in Gardnerville and Saletti's Restaurant and Bar in Minden.
"When you go to a Thai restaurant, try the curry, the soup and Pad Thai," said Jasmine owner La-Eard Chongolnee. "If they satisfy your taste, then the rest of the food will be good."
Chongolnee grew up in Thailand and came to the U.S. when she was 19 years old. She spent 11 years at different schools, eventually earning a Ph.D. in school and business administration from Iowa State University. After college, she moved back to Thailand where she worked as a professor and real estate developer for 24 years. When her children moved to the U.S. for college, Chongolnee followed.
"I love this country for two reasons: education and hard work," Chongolnee said. "I want to show my country through our food."
This year, Chongolnee, who also owns Thai Recipe in Incline Village, published a Thai cookbook that customers can purchase at either restaurant. In it are over 50 recipes that Chongolnee grew up with in central Thailand and now cooks in her restaurants, including Pad Thai, seafood and vegetarian dishes.
"In central Thailand, the food is not too spicy or too salty, but is able to be adjusted to individual taste," Chongolnee said.
She said Pad Thai is her favorite dish to eat but that she loves cooking curries and soups.
Thai Jasmine is located at 1328 Highway 395, Ste. 204 next to Coyote Grill. The restaurant is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and open for dinner daily from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 783-8625.
Saletti's Restaurant and Bar now occupies the building where Fiona's used to be, near Carson Valley Inn.
"If it's a good restaurant, and you can do everything good, then customers come," said owner John Saletti.
Saletti and his wife Faith have been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. They operated the same restaurant in Lompoc, Calif. before moving to Minden.
"We met at Tahoe City, and we wanted to come back to the mountains," Saletti said. "We like the people and the clean air."
Having opened last month, Saletti said the restaurant has been doing very well.
"We serve an eclectic mix of food," he said. "About 50 to 60 percent of our menu is Italian, but we have a full line of Angus beef, all sorts of seafood and wild game, like venison, too."
The Salettis are not only the owners of the restaurant but the chefs as well.
"We're really hands-on here," Saletti said. "We both have experience doing everything from dishes and bussing tables to cooking."
Saletti said his favorite dish is the rib-eye steak with Jack Daniel's peppercorn sauce. Faith Saletti said she prefers the seafood cioppino, an array of seafood smothered in a spicy tomato broth.
"This is a passion for us. If you don't love this business, then you won't survive," Saletti said.
Saletti's Restaurant and Bar is located at 1623 Highway 395 in Minden.
The bar opens every day at 4 p.m. The restaurant is open daily from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and to 9:30 p.m. on weekends. For more information, call 782-2500.
