For its second anniversary on May 1, Top Thai restaurant in Castro Valley invited a group of Buddhist monks from a Thai temple in Fremont to bless the establishment with the traditional chants. “I feel like a two-year-old,” said Greg Miller, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Tianngam. “Today we celebrate with the monks, which is our tradition since the opening. We’ll serve traditional Thai food prepared as always from the freshest vegetables, the best meats, and rice noodles that we cut in-house,” said Miller, who goes shopping every morning before the restaurant opens. Tianngam, the chef, used to cook for several restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley, and Pleasanton before she met her future husband. While working seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner for the local regulars, the Millers visit their second home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for several months every year. Before the blessing ceremony, the monks unfolded a small golden shrine with a statue of Buddha on the top, then lit candles, and placed tea roses in front of it. “We do the chanting in our temple every morning from 6 to 7,” said the head monk, Agahn Prasert. “In the evening, too, from 7 to 8, and then people are welcome to join us. We have discussions on Buddhism on Wednesday nights, and on weekends we teach Thai culture, have discussions on Thai life, and teach Thai language.” The temple, Wat Buddhanusorn, home to seven monks, opens its doors for those who are interested in Thai culture, and even invites dancers and musicians from Thailand to give lessons in the temple. The monks leave the temple on occasions like this one, to bless homes and businesses by performing the millennia-old chanting of haunting beauty. Top Thai restaurant is located at 3837 Castro Valley Blvd., 510-538-4400. The Thai Temple in Fremont is located at 36054 Niles Blvd. 510-790-2294.
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