And you know he means it. The most expensive dish on the menu, including the specials, is $7.75. Pat never tried to promote the restaurant. He actually said that the busiest time he had in the last 30 years was after he registered the restaurant on Yelp.

Pat Sawanwatana is the owner of Old Weang Ping. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Pat Sawanwatana is the owner of Old Weang Ping. Photo: Lauren Benichou

“It’s not a business, it’s a sanctuary,” he said.

Pat was born a Buddhist. While that aspect of his education definitely influenced his views on life, he isn’t the religious type. But his agreeable attitude and his joie de vivre transpire through the homey decor and the comforting food.

Pat decorated the place. The result is this kitschy bamboo decor. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Pat decorated the place. The result is this kitschy bamboo decor. Photo: Lauren Benichou

To make sure you can actually enter the restaurant, you should call and let Pat know that you’re coming. It’s good manners and if it’s too full, Pat will let you know! Once in the front, you may have to knock at the door. Pat usually leaves it locked. Inside, a tropical jungle path composed of fake plants and Buddhist decorations leads to the main room, also lusciously decorated with kitschy bamboo walls and twinkle lights. Overall, it feels like your kitschy grandmother's home.

The unlimited Thai iced tea is on the house. Photo: Lauren Benichou.

The food menu lists the ingredients and it’s up to the hungry customers to combine them in whichever way they desire. Pick the meat or fish, choose the sautéed sauce from a list of eight sauces or simply pick a curry sauce. You may end up with something like this: roasted duck with sweet basil sauce; pad see ew with chicken; bamboo shoot, eggplant and mushroom in green curry with Thai sticky rice. In other words, the combinations are endless. But if you don’t feel like thinking too hard, you can also pick one of the specials. Some of the most popular dishes are the pumpkin curry and the roast coconut and curry prawn with Indian crepes. Oh, and did I mention the free unlimited Thai iced tea?

Coconut milk soup with chicken. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Vegetarian egg rolls. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Vegetarian egg rolls. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Roast coconut curry prawn with Indian crepe. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Roast coconut curry prawn with Indian crepe. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Traditional pad thai with tofu and chicken. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Traditional pad thai with tofu and chicken. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Vegetable combo with eggplant, baby corn, mushrooms and green beans. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Vegetable combo with eggplant, baby corn, mushrooms and green beans. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Thai sticky rice comes in a small basket. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Thai sticky rice comes in a small basket. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Every sanctuary needs a miracle-maker and that’s where Jook, Pat’s wife, comes in. I am careful not to use the word “cook” because she truly is a miracle-maker. According to Chris Peterson, the operator and, as of August 1, the new owner, Jook works with three burners, no timer and no measuring tools and she works alone.

“She is amazing,” Peterson said. “It’s incredible how quickly she does everything. It’s all accurate, fluid and always great.”

Chris Peterson is officially the new owner of Old Weang Ping as of August 1st, 2013. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Chris Peterson is officially the new owner of Old Weang Ping as of August 1st, 2013. Photo: Lauren Benichou

The fact that the restaurant has had a following for nearly 30 years, that Pat is an incredible man who built his own cabin in the woods and that Jook sometimes cooks for over 30 people by herself, Peterson feels like taking over the restaurant while retaining its authenticity might be daunting. But he is willing to try his best.

“Both of them are wizards,” Peterson said. “But this place is going to stay the way it is. It’s about balance.”

Peterson met Pat through a friend and they immediately bonded.

“I came in every Wednesday for 10 years,” Peterson said.” I also came for birthdays and special events.”

Pat says "it's all about balance." Photo: Lauren Benichou

Pat and Jook had been trying to retire for years and they failed to find anyone to keep the “balance” that they worked so hard on maintaining. One day, Pat mentioned his retirement to Peterson.

“I didn’t think he was asking anything of me,” Peterson said. “Then our common friends told me that Pat would never ask directly but it was his way to ask.”

Peterson hasn’t work in a restaurant since he was 23 and he was, until recently, an elementary school teacher.

“I decided to call up Pat and I said hey, is this crazy? Should I be the one taking over? Pat proceeded to tell me all the horrible things that happen when you run a restaurant and then I said yes.”

Peterson gave notice to his old job in April and started training with Jook.

“If I mess up, Jook pushes me out of the way laughing,” he says. “That’s how I am learning right now.”

Don't forget to lock the door behind you. Photo: Lauren Benichou. — Don't forget to lock the door behind you. Photo: Lauren Benichou

Peterson says that he has put out many dishes already and that people finds them excellent. They can’t see the difference.

So faithful followers of Old Weong Ping, don’t you fret! Pat seems to have chosen the right guy to take over the enterprise and maintain the restaurant as the peaceful sanctuary that it is.

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Old Weang Ping Village: Not a Business, a Sanctuary.