Reka's World

In Memory of My Mother

Following the first anniversary of my mother’s passing last November, I want to share this letter, which I shared with everyone at that time.

Dear friends,

A few of you knew but most of you do not know that my mother died a little over a week ago. I was not able to go to Thailand because of my health.

Thank you for all your condolences. This is my first attempt to acknowledge it, please forgive me.

I spent most of my time until yesterday at the Thai Temple in Mt. Vernon. It is our custom to engage our religion into our lives and make offerings and sacrifice for the loved one.

Nothing dramatic, we make an offering to the temple, the monk and the poor or someone in need. Every morning I made wonderful dishes and brought them to the temple, I brought flowers and necessities including money and the monks chanted and taught us about the uncertainty of life, and talked about my mother and my family in general. The monks have to start their meal before 11 AM and to most of them, that's the only meal they have each day. There were a lot of people and we brought enough for everybody. We end up with a lot of elaborated meals. I then stayed around, had a wonderful lunch and helped with what needed to be done at the temple. Mostly mundane work, such as stuffing the envelopes for their thousands of members. It is a beautiful tradition, I was comforted by the surrounding, the monks comforting words and warmth from all my friends.

I am content with not being at the funeral, I called Thailand and they called me. I was told that because mother disliked modern medicine, she had never been to the hospital for sickness and she made her own medicine. They had her in a beautiful refrigerated coffin. After she was cremated, we donated a bed to the hospital and gave them all her things such as wheelchair and bed. We donated money to the temple, to the clinic, and added to her scholarship fund.

Mother was born well, lived well and died well. Almost all the relatives came to the funeral. It was a big funeral even though she was humble, and was far away from her hometown. She wanted to die a few years ago because she said her body had enough, but we were not able to let her go. We were given an opportunity to give back a little to her.

She devoted her life to her children. Father died from an accident when we were young, and she raised us all by herself. Kay, my sister retired from her nursing in Houston and went home to give her the best care. All of her five children were with her for a while when I was able to make a trip, and we had a wonderful time together. She told me not to come to the funeral because that was better.

I am blessed to have a selfless family; I am blessed to have all of you as my friends; and I am truly blessed to have had my parents who raised us well.

With all my love,
Reka

12/3/2009

 

Butterfly Wings

On December 4, 2010, I received this Facebook message from Lostbooksof Benjamin. 

She said, "I am probably the only one that has the privilege of watching four thousand cadets rise and get dressed every morning." She said to me that she always wanted one of the hats that were thrown at graduation. I hope it still holds a place of distinction in her home.  All the best from a voice in the past.

I knew immediately who wrote that, Capt. Benjamin Hill.  He is an old friend whom I have lost touch with when the Army sent him to Germany.  He frequented Reka's Thai restaurant when he was at West Point.

I used to own a castle that overlooks the West Point campus, hence the reference to cadets in his message.  I’m honored to have had different classes over at the castle for their graduation celebrations.  I am also honored to have been their guest at many occasions including graduation ceremonies and at their Officer’s Ballroom Parties.

Capt. Hill later on went to medical school and became a doctor. The captain is now working on a novel called "Lostbooks of Benjamin."  He is also a great poet.  He wrote a poem for me years ago.  It’s still the most touching moment for me when he read to me a poem that he wrote on napkins.  I was running around taking care of my customers so I didn’t know he was composing a poem for me.  Later on, he typed it all up and since then I have it framed to treasure forever.

In his honor, I’m posting this poem.

Special Thai Butterfly “Reka”

A lovely face, disarming smile,
overwhelming graciousness, all the while;
Moments are golden, time concedes,
a charismatic smile, It’s all I need.

She moves about with great abounding, silent confidence,
With love resounding;
Hold the butterfly, but not so tight,
Wings are strong, intended for flight.

Fluttering here, flittering there,
Softly landing, with genuine care;
They who know,
Love her so;
They do wish, to share the glow.

Reka, the one with velvet wings,
Light a moment let your voice ring.
Share a minute, your time is gold;
Caress your wings,
Let time unfold.

Release you now, continue your flight,
My heart does hope, your return tonight;
But if our trip take you far away,
My love accompanies, though you don’t stay.

You have my love, in deep recesses,
Memories of you, fondly caresses;
My heart and mind, on butterfly wings, devoted to you, though loneliness stings.

Patiently, I wait for spring to come
For butterfly wings
To bring you home;

My heart jumps now,
Sounds surge so clearly,
Butterfly wings, brushing air so dearly.

There she stands
A sight unmatched;
Velvet beauty,
Passion attached.
Take me now, on your next venture.
Take me always, your servant indentured.

Touch my hand and brush my lips,
You’re my Helen, I’ll give you my ships.
Obsessed am I
With you completely.
Treasure my heart, I give it unyieldingly;

But your Thai style, keeps you away;
Endure the solitude, continuously, I pray.
Reka, my love, enjoy and grow;
I give you the world
My essence a-stow.

I will have you in every dream.
I will have you hand
And smile that beams.
You and I will still be one,

So fly my butterfly, fly so strong;
Your flight is true, no err, no wrong.

Patient I’ll wait, with hands a’ fronted
I’ll always be there
Forever…..undaunted.
B. Hill

 

The Elegance and Tradition of Wines, Part 3

The Passion for Wine
I first loved wines through poetry. I was about twelve when I was reading "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine" through "Your lips are wet with wine".  I thought it was so romantic even before I ever saw a bottle of wine.  Then, when I was fifteen, an older friend who worked for an airline company sensed my passion and brought me one of the most beautiful bottles of wine.  I did not know anything about wine then but immediately started my research.  I learned that there was so much to learn.  I started collecting wine and had quite a few bottles, never opening one but just keeping them to study and to admire.

In 1979, I started hosting many a wine tasting at my home in Mahopac where I spent 23 years of my life.  My basement was gutted from a boulder.  A constant temperature of 58 degrees and perfect humidity for the most part proved auspicious for storing wine. I had overnight guests for elaborate dinners with wines, followed by sumptuous brunches the following day. I served champagne with quiche and crepe, which were not yet popular then.

I also learned making wine at my home in Mahopac. I was not so successful though for it required a tremendous amount of work and care.  Still, the wine I made, while good enough to consume was not special enough to write about.  I was more successful with cordials and some boutique “fun” wines such as Dandelion Wines.  Regardless, I had so much fun making them.

Throughout my childhood, my family had often had breakfast under some type of flowers arbors, so I had always relished the thought of having breakfast under a grape arbor.  I planted different kinds of grapes in my property in Mahopac.  They never had a chance to thrive though as unsuspectingly the tractor mower was always catching them.  I realized then that I should have built the arbor first.

I am so passionate about wines and truly enjoyed every aspect of it. I wrote articles for Thai magazines and newspapers.  I even had my own wine column in "The Overseas Writers Press."  There are so much to write about wines, champagne and spirits.  I have acquired quite a few bottles of wines and spirits over the years mostly through friends and auctions. A lot of them came with wonderful stories related to it.

The Elegance and Tradition of Wines, Part 2

Wine and Special Friends
I am blessed to have many friends whom I have shared my love of wine over the years.  I’ve also met a lot of very interesting people whom I won’t forget.

One of the most impressive people I’ve met was Mr. Rufino Lamborghini.  He started making wine later in life after the famed Lamborghini achievement.  I’ve corresponded with for a while before he passed away.  My secretary, so intrigued by our exchange of correspondence, helped me with my Italian.  Mr. Lamborghini was one of the first to ferment wine in glass instead of oak barrel, the old fashioned way.  He believed wine should taste like the grape it came from.

The most impressive cellar I have ever visited—and the most impressive stories to go with it— was at La Tour d' Argent in Paris.  The first time I was there, I realized a very tall and elegant gentleman was watching me. He was the owner, Mr. Cloude Terreil.  After I finished my main course, his manager came over to me to relay Mr. Terreil’s invitation for me to visit his cellar and then enjoy a glass of dessert wine with him at the rooftop. The rooftop overlooked the most beautiful part of the Seine, across from the famed Notre Dame.  I was obviously elated.

Whenever I went there, I always wanted to see what “duck number” I would be consuming.  You see, whenever you ordered their famous "pressed duck", they gave you a postcard that listed what “duck number” you were having—that is, how many ducks they had served since including your order.  I think McDonald’s copied that rather clever promotion from La Tour d' Argent.

Once a wine sommelier, Suwit Chantra, from Houston’s Hyatt Hotel one day hosted a party for Prince Charles.  Suwit brought to me a small bottle of wine wrapped in a brown paper bag with just enough of the top open for me to see the foil wrap.  I knew what it was, a Chateau d Yquem, so I told him.  The sommelier was so impressed that he gave me that expensive bottle of wine as a gift.

Raising funds for Channel 13 at one of the French Consulate affairs, Pol Roget, one of the famous Champagne houses, donated bottles of 1914 and 1921 Pol Roget for a bidding.  Pol Roget champagne is the official champagne at the Buckingham Palace.  It was also Sir Winston Churchill’s favorite champagne.  I was lucky to have won the bid for all six bottles.  Pol Roget then said, "When you visit the chateau, I will open for you a 1904".  I have not taken him up on that yet.

Later, I felt it appropriate opening the 1914 bottle to share with Julia Child and her friends at the occasion of her 80th birthday celebration at the Greenbrier.  (The oldest wine I had was actually experienced was an 1863-Madeira.  That was made three years later when President Lincoln assumed the White House office.)

Roger Bohmrich is one whom I’ve enjoyed sharing the joys of wine with.  Roger was with Frederick Wildman and Sons when I met him.  He had many wines to share but I also had an opportunity to also offer 1914 and 1921 Pol Roger plus a special Trimbac Pinot Gris.  When I was guest chef for the James Beard Foundation, it was Roger who supplied the wines that were appropriate with the food. We have been friends since. Renowned as one of the Wine Masters Roger owns Melisima, one of the largest mail order wine companies.

The Elegance and Tradition of Wines, Part 1

Great Wines at the US Tour
I love wine not only for the taste but for the history of it as well.  Attending the wine tasting seminar "The Elegance and Tradition of Tuscany" last October 25th, 2010, I tasted 13 wines from the region and learned a lot about Chianti.  It’s part of the Simply Italian – Great Wines US Tour 2010.

After the seminar at the Trustees Room, I proceeded to the Celeste Bartos Forum for more wine tasting.  It was unusual to have a wine tasting of this magnitude and at this elegant building, the New York Library.  I loved that building, which I used to visit quite often years ago.

I was very happy to be invited and hoped to see some wine makers from Italy.  I was particularly looking to see if the Marquess (Count) Antinori whom I met years ago would be there.  I learned that I just missed him by a few minutes.  I met so many interesting people there, as was the case in similar special events.

The tasting that Monday brought back so many memories that I treasure and would like to share with my friends and customers.

Early Triumphs at a Wine Contest
At twenty-six years old, already living in the USA, I attended my first wine tasting in Queens, New York.  Before then, I knew I have already acquired some knowledge; however, I never really tasted real wines, just some inexpensive ones at some college functions.  At the wine tasting, I was walking around with a glass of wine, trying my best to learn, when I noticed a familiar-looking gentleman following me around.  I asked him if we’ve met before.  That was when I realized that I had seen this man before, watching him for months as a contestant in the wine category in a TV show called $128,000.00.

His name is Robert Lipinski, a New York City Police officer who also happens to be a wine expert and the author of many books on wines and spirits.  We started talking about wines.  I started learning more about wines from him.  Bob taught me what I did not learn from books and got me involved with different wine organizations including "Les Amis du Vin".

In 1976, Bob encouraged me to enter the International French Wine Contest Open in the Tri-States.  I was one of the 22 finalists from thousands of contestants. There were, in fact, only a few female contestants in the finals. The first prize received a trip to France. I came in second going home with French Wine Course prize. I felt unstoppable after that.  I studied wines from all over the world, visiting different wineries and going to as many wine tasting events and seminars as I could find the time and money to afford.

Wine and Food
The Windows on The World at The World Trade had just opened at the time.  Their Wine with Dinner Special, served at the special "Cellar in The Sky" room, offered five-course dinners accompanied with five different wines. I was there on the regular basis that they kept this cozy corner table for me; they said my name was carved on it.  I felt flattered getting to know all the staff.  Moreover, I earned my privilege of having me and my guests invited for a tour of the whole restaurant including the wine cellar.

In the restaurant circle that featured wines, I was known then as someone who is serious about wines.  On occasions, I was even asked to participate in blind tasting some wines.  I came through always not only because of my palate but also because of the academic knowledge I’ve acquired.

In 1985, when I opened Reka's Thai Restaurant in Mohegan Lake, I met Mel Vogel.  He was then a Salesman from BNP but he taught me the commercial aspect of it the wine industry. 

My most recent encounter with a nice story related to wines was at a Bordeaux Tasting this year.  I was at the Sauternes section, tasting Chateau Coutet.  Someone tapped me on the shoulder, someone who was talking to the owner of Chateau Coutet, Philippe Baly.  Referring to me, he asked the owner, “Do you know that she is Lady Y Quem?”  With quick wit, the owner said, “No, she is from Thailand and she is Princess Coutet. When she comes to the Chateau for the induction she will cook us Royal Thai Food.”  I thought, I would be the first princess to have to cook for her title if I were to claim one. I cherish his niece's email recalling this particular conversation.

My Parents' Wedding

 
My parents were married around 1940. Judging from the picture, I knew she had a big wedding.  When I asked my mother, she said they had about 5,000 guests. This included not only distinguished guests such as representatives of Chiang Kai Shek and dignitaries from Singapore and Malaysia but also employees in my father’s company.  (My father ran his uncle's rubber company.  Based in Singapore with plantations and factories in Malaysia and Thailand, the company employed more than a hundred thousand people at that time.)  All the workers who were invited were given new clothes, presents, money, and a few days off. 

The wedding banquet was set up with round tables that sat ten each.  In the middle of each table, a bottle of Hennessy Cognac awaits for serving.  While distinguished guests were served fancier Chinese courses, everyone else partook of what could be the best meal they had ever had.

My parents’ honeymoon took six months as they traveled all around to visit elder relatives who could not make it to the wedding.  They received many gifts and well wishes. Most gifts were of gold, set in different forms, but I remember what my mother's favorite gift was—a beautiful dark blue short jacket delicately embroidered with a small bouquet of flower on the left shoulder.  It was custom-made in England for her tiny body. (She was so tiny that her wedding ring would not fit any of her children's fingers.)

Julia Child

 
The James Beard Foundation celebrated Julia Child’s 80th birthday at the Greenbriar Resort.  Julia was co-founder of the foundation.

Bad Company

 
Backstage with Dave “Bucket” Colwell of Bad Company. Bad Company came to the restaurant every night while they were here getting ready to perform at the County Center.  They invited me to the show with a pass to go to their dressing room for a party.

Masquerade

 
Bonnie, Liz and Annie with the chef Mario at a Muscoot formal masquerade party.

A Kayaking Summer

 

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Last Saturday, I went kayaking!

Three weeks before that, after calling all my phones and not being able to reach me, a friend called and simply left me a message.  He asked me to come to his house the next day.  He said he had something planned for me that he thought I would love.  He asked me to go kayaking with him and his wife.

I told him that it was out of the question, because of my asthma and my allergy.  I may look so well all the time but people do not understand why I act like a wimp.  (Last week my yoga instructor said I have a perfect form and even took my picture for her website. I told her though that I may be the fattest yogi.)  Still, my friend invited me to come anyway, even for just a visit.  Reluctantly, I accepted.

So along came that Saturday morning.  He called early, at about eight, and told me to get to his house before noon to catch the high tide.  I thought I had completely eluded the thought of kayaking that first time.  They were assessing me, I thought.

In fact, it was an issue for me because I was up all night, unsuccessfully calling my manager in Thailand, having no water at the Muscoot, etc.  My friend said he understood my situation but argued that I still had a few hours to catch a nap.  I could see that he was determined to see me make a fool of myself.  (I had kayaked once before but that was back in 1974 in a swimming pool at Manhattanville College.)  Nonetheless, I decided to clear all my agenda for the day and went.

As it turned out, I truly enjoyed myself. They took me up to the Croton River where we kayaked for miles, for about three hours.  The scenery was beautiful.  We paddled by the most beautiful spot in the river, where a small waterfall lands on a deep pool with vines swinging from the sides on the bank.

They also showed me the place where they filmed the original Tarzan movie in 1932.  They knew that I would appreciate the scenery, the quietness of the river, the crystal clear water and the deep gorges.  They were not disappointed at all for I loved it all.

However, there was an instance when I had to be rescued by a stranger.  I came back with the tide low and the water receded so fast.  I was trying to stay close to shore, so eventually I was grounded.  Luckily, a lady paddled by and pulled me back into the water.  I was happy again. I tried to get her name after thanking her profusely, but she was gone so fast. My friend was ahead of me so she didn’t initially see me getting stuck.  She was already out of her kayak to call her husband for help until she saw how the lady had helped me.

I admit now that it was a bit much for me.  I fell and I have a few scars to prove that I was really roughing it.  I had an asthma attack and bad sunburn. However, I told my friends that I would do it again when THEY recover from the ordeal.

This is what people do when they love you because they know you. I’ve only met them a few times.  In the past, along with other guests, I was also invited for a scuba dive in the Sound, but that was over twenty years ago before he was married.  (I’ve also gone scuba diving once before in St. John.)  Since then, he would come to the restaurant a few times to invite me over for a few other activities like scuba diving, but I was already too sick by then.

At any rate, this kayaking experience has been the most outdoorsy activity I’ve done in my life in years.  I’ve done it.  I’ve kayaked. Yeah!!!

Later that evening, I attended yoga instruction, feeling determined not to be a wimp anymore!

Rujireka, 8/10/10