Original owners of 'The Basil' are back at the renowned Carson City restaurant after funding school in Thailand
Carson City's The Basil momentarily changed hands while undergoing a corporation change, but now, original owners Bob and Nan Watanar, who also serves as head chef, are back in the kitchen of the beloved Thai restaurant.
After spending thirty years creating delicious traditional Thai food on Carson Street, Bob and Nan wanted to pay forward their hard work and good fortune to those in need.
Bob and Nan set off for Bangkok, where they funded a school for abused children who were being looked after by Nuns. They helped create a commercial kitchen at the school, where the children are now learning how to run their own restaurants.
The Basil is a family business, and the endeavor to help the schoolchildren fell into the family business as well. Nan and her sisters donated both time and money to the school.
"After thirty years cooking and doing what I love, I realized I needed to help people in need while I still had time left," said Nan. "You never know what can happen. America, for us, is the Fatherland, and Thailand is the Motherland. We've been going back and forth ever since, but now, we are back at the Basil."
Nan's niece ran The Basil in her absence, but she has since gone to open her own business in Reno.
What sets The Basil apart from other Thai restaurants, said Nan, is their attention to tradition, as well as the science of food.
Bob holds a degree in Food Science, and combined with Nan's artistry and traditional cooking, they set themselves in a different tier of food service altogether.
You can stop by and visit the Basil located at 311 N. Carson Street during their regular hours, Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (last call at 8:15); Saturday: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (last call 8:15); Sunday: CLOSED.
To learn more about The Basil, click here.