Pakpao Thai Parts Ways with Chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin

Just days after being named after one of the best new restaurants of the year by Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner, Pakpao Thai parent company Apheleia Restaurant Group issued a press release this morning announcing that it was parting ways with opening chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin.

Of course, as is typical of cryptic press release language, Thretipthangsin was not fired, but rather, the move was a "strategic ending of the relationship" — "a long term growth discussion that was best for the restaurant and the brand," whatever that means.

The release also mentions plans to "to expand the brand in 2014 as a national authentic Thai destination;" stay tuned for details on that in the coming weeks. Apheleia's Richard and Tiffanee Ellman are also behind neighboring restaurant Oak as well as Belly & Trumpet in Uptown, but a Pakpao expansion could potentially be their first restaurant venture outside of Dallas.

· Where Chefs Eat: Pakpao's Eddy Thretipthuangsin [-EDFW-]
· More Pakpao Thai coverage [-EDFW-]

[Photo: Joy Zhang]