Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakana.
Hi Lakana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I opened DEE DEE in 2016 as a food truck highlighting the dishes I used to cook growing up back home on my parents rice farm in Roi Et, Thailand. I learned the techniques and traditions from my mother and great grandmother and started helping around the kitchen and selling at my local market before school when I was very young, around 5 years old. We’ve spent the last 7 years working towards opening our beer garden Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar which has DEE DEE and our partners Veracruz All Natural, and a new venture coming soon called Bun Bun Burger, as counter service restaurants on site along with the cafe, bar and 5 acres of nature.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We’ve been very blessed with a lot of local love and support from the very beginning. There’s always struggles and pressures from operating your own business… Often times things out of your control. You just have to weather the storm and keep pushing through!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My style of Thai food is from my hometown Roi Et which is Northeastern Thai also known as Isaan. It’s basically country style Thai where all the farmers come from. Having grown up on a rice farm gardening and cooking are a big part of my life and what connects me to my family back in Thailand. It’s my two passions. I grow a large Thai garden here to help support the business and make sure we have all the unique herbs, spices and vegetables we need to make our food that are difficult to source. This ranges from several different styles of Thai basil, lemongrass, Thai chilis, fuzzy melon and even papaya!
With Northeastern Thai food you’ll see a lot of spice, sticky rice, eating with your hands, Thai version of BBQ like roasted chicken with amazing dipping sauces. It’s very unique and different than what you will find down south or in Bangkok. For instance we don’t serve Pad Thai. I never grew up making it or eating it… I’m not really comfortable with it, so it’s just something we’ve ever done at DEE DEE and not true to my heart. There’s so much more interesting and amazing things to try from Thai cuisine!
What’s next?
Now that we have a proper brick & mortar kitchen space along with a beautiful beer garden… I can’t wait to start playing with the menu and doing new specials beyond all the new dishes we’ve added since the transition from the food truck.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deedeeatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedeeatx
- Other: https://www.leonacafebar.com
Image Credits
Profile Headshot Photo “Star Chefs”
