The Lincoln County News
January 26, 2021 at
Chanint Hanjitsuwan and daughter Thanyalak Rojpanichkul pose for a photo at Best Thai in Damariscotta on Thursday, Jan. 14. The restaurant will soon move to its new location next door after 10 years in its current space. (Bisi Cameron Yee photo)
“I give Thai food five stars out of five.” So ends a child’s handwritten review on the bulletin board inside the Damariscotta restaurant Best Thai.
Thanyalak Rojpanichkul, manager and daughter of owner Chanint Hanjitsuwan, has a theory about the popularity of her native cuisine. She believes the way the four key flavors salty, sweet, sour, and savory mix in the dishes and hit the taste receptors on the tongue in unison may explain the popularity of Thai food. Bestselling dishes like pad thai, drunken noodles, and pad see you bear this out with their spicy and herbaceous notes and the hint of sweetness in their finish.