[ YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ] October 2007 _________ Personality PROFILE of the Month »

NANCY & PEGGY

I want it HOT!

If there is anything unique about Toronto, it is the freedom of expressions and acceptance of culture. Nowhere in the world you will find a little of every community in the city. We have the Little Italy, China Town, and Little India, to name a few. Torontonians brag about hundreds of places to choose from when it comes to cultural dining, be it fine or just for a quick grab.

Right on College Street West, you will find Thai Angels Restaurant. As the name implies, Thai Angels Restaurant offers authentic Thai cuisine in a much affordable value.

Thai Angels is the brainchild of two ‘angels’ with a mutual passion for cooking and a dream of one day opening up their own restaurant. Though there are already a great number of Thai cuisines offered in the city of Toronto, that fact did not stop Peggy and Nancy from opening up their own restaurant in China town. They ran the restaurant with the goal to offer a combination of great Thai food as well as relaxation in a cozy-friendly environment.

Young entrepreneurs, Peggy and Nancy, were both originally from Thailand and they both met while working together in one of the Thai restaurants in Toronto. Peggy arrived in Canada as a student in 1995. She is a graduate of Centennial College in Toronto and has worked on various positions in the hospitality industry. Her job included kitchen staff, wait staff and Reception. Apart from managing her own restaurant, Peggy continues to work full time in on one of the busiest hotel in downtown Toronto as a front desk staff. Nancy on the other hand, is fairly new in Canada, having only arrived two years ago. Unlike Peggy, she did not have formal education on becoming a restaurateur. However, she is an experienced cook and very well people-focused. She started cooking at the tender age of 7 and accordingly, does not need a book or any formal training, as it is her passion; she prepares meals by and from the heart as taught by her mother. She does not believe in measuring ingredients but rather confidently uses her inbred talent to cook.

Though small from the outside, Thai Angels is fairly good in size with seating capacity for around 60-65 people. It has an impressive cozy décor and suitable lighting, tailored to attract mostly semi-formal and casual diners. However, Peggy and Nancy welcome everyone from urban hip to eclectic.

They are open from Monday to Sunday and offer dine-in, take-out, delivery and catering. The place is much busier during lunch and on catering services according to Peggy. Their best selling dish apart from the famous Pad Thai ( stir-fried Thai rice noodles sautéed with eggs, chicken, shrimps, dry shrimps, tofu, dry reddish and tamarind sauce) is the Hoy Todd ( deep-fried mussels lightly coated with flour, eggs, garlic, bean sprouts and spring onions in Thai chilli hot sauce). However, they have wide selection of dishes from the menu and offers lunch specials every day. The restaurant has been successfully operating since December 2006. Peggy and Nancy hope to get their Liquor License soon.

Peggy & Nancy’s word of advice to aspiring restaurateurs:

Patience is a virtue
Learn about your business
Don’t stop learning
Listen to customers and value their comments
Smile at all times—it is proven contagious and an effective tool to attract customers

This October 27, Thai Angels will be hosting a “Simply Get-Together Party” from 7PM onwards. It is a buffet dinner and is open to every group of students or workers.
Tickets now available at $15 per person.

For more details, please call 416-929-7001.

Thai Angels Restaurant
285 College Street West, Toronto