RANDOLPH, Vt. (WCAX) – The owners of an award-winning Randolph restaurant have been invited to dine with the vice president Kamala Harris.
In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Nisachon and Steve Morgan are celebrating at the White House.
Nisachon won the James Beard Award two years ago for Best Chef in the Northeast, only the second Vermont honoree in the state’s history. The couple co-own Saap, a Randolph Thai restaurant.
“I think it’s important because especially coming out of COVID, there was a lot of negative backlash to the Asian community. So, I think it’s really important that we celebrate the diversity and the demeanor and religion and everything culturally that the Asian community brings to our country,” Steve said. He says their cuisine stands out for its authenticity. “The food here is much more like you find it in Thailand. My wife uses only authentic Thai ingredients.”
Morgan says he and his wife worked hard for their restaurant to become a success. “I knew if we were going to open a restaurant, a Thai restaurant in Randolph, it would have to be something that you couldn’t get at your local Thai restaurant. It would have to be special and unique,” he said
From Southeast Asia to the Green Mountains, and on to the nation’s capital, the couple is proud to share their love for Thai culture.