Thursday, May 31, 2007
Annie Wong, revered Thai chef and Dallas restaurateur, dies in Thailand
Noted Thai chef Annie Wong, 71, born April 6th, 1936, passed away Saturday May 26 in Bangkok, Thailand due to complications from a stroke. Her body was cremated in Bangkok, on Monday, May 28.
Wong is survived by her son, Paul Wong in Dallas; her sister Aroon Wan in Thailand; her sister-in-law Soon Wong Ching Chai, her nieces Irene and Om Ching Chai, and her nephew Arm Ching Chai in Dallas.
She is remembered by her business associates Jeffrey Yarbrough, Chad Boyle, Susan Friedman, Todd Eckardt, and Matthew Mabel of Dallas, as well as many chefs, restaurateurs, friends, and the entire Liberty Noodles family.
Wong opened her first restaurant in 1971. She owned restaurants in California and Dallas, and was executive chef at Liberty Noodles, the now-closed Asian restaurant on Lower Greenville. Remember back in the late '90s, when Liberty Noodles was the center of the universe?
Wong taught cooking classes at the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival; was one of 12 women selected by Women in Foodservice Forum "Women Chefs on the Cutting Edge"; participated in the March of Dimes’ Star Chefs of Dallas, Share Our Strength, and many other charities.
A scholarship fund will be set up in Annie’s name. For more information, email Jeffrey@biginkpr.com.
Posted by T.G.
J_Mortimer says:
I'd like to see a list of restaurants she was directly or indirectly associated with. Can anyone name a few?
J
Anonymous
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Teresa Gubbins says:
Thai Taste, Thai Hut, and Thai Cuisine. and she "consulted" at Asian Mint. Jasmine indirectly, since the folks who own that worked with Annie at Liberty Noodles
Staff
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Scott says:
I'm very sorry to hear this.
Anonymous
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Billusa99 says:
So sad to hear. Liberty was at the center of my universe at that time!
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Gary Cohen says:
Yep, I loved that place. I ate at Liberty too many times to count. Groundbreaking restaurant at the time, with many of it's dishes now commonplace around town. And reasonably priced too.
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gospain says:
Liberty was the first restaurant that boasted not only authentic Asian flavors and noodle dishes (beyond Pad Thai), but also an incredibly hip environment. Without Annie it might have been just another concept restaurant, all flash and no substance. Without Liberty paving the way, Dallas might have stayed well behind the Asian food curve. Thank you for reporting this. Annie Wong should be remembered, and honored.
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