Hello!–After a frigid winter, we are all looking forward to enjoying a more temperate spring and maybe getting out of the house for a great meal!  Thai food has gained in popularity in recent years, and no one knows these tasty dishes better than Ann who has owned a restaurant for the past twelve years.  I hope you will listen to this inspiring interview with Ann as she explains all the facets of Thai food and tells us all about her journey from immigrant to entrepreneur.  Beginning on EXTRAordinary People, Monday, April 6 at shirleywachtel.com and streaming.

Ann Vipamaneerut is the owner of Rice Factory, a restaurant in Milltown, New Jersey featuring Thai foods. Her given name is Vilailuck Vipamaneerut, but all of the patrons and friends affectionately know her as Ann. Ann, who is 54 years old, has lived in the United States for over 27 years, and earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Saginaw Valley University in Michigan in 1996. After returning to Thailand, she came back to the United States in 2000 where she and her husband Paul worked as servers in a restaurant. On November 4^th, 2014, they decided to start their own business and opened the Rice Factory.  They have been serving customers with their unique dishes ever since.