More Than Just a Restaurant.
Being new to Tucson, I have been fortunate to meet with many business owners who have the desire to be successful. Success should not measure by monetary gains, but by giving back to the community, seeing little dreams take shape, and sharing one’s passion in food, art, and culture. After meeting with Vila Jarrell, I not only felt like I had met a dedicated businesswoman, but someone who truly sets others before herself. Vila Thai, located at 972 E. University Blvd is on the second floor overlooking the main restaurant strip for the University of Arizona. Located in the same area is one of the People’s Studio Galleries, supported by the Marshall Foundation and manned by The Vila Art Foundation, which is comprised of local artists. The artworks spans from painting to sculptures to photography. These artists have the privilege of showing their work rent-free. There is also a monthly “First Thursday Art-Walk” in conjunction with Main Gate Square that includes more than 30 artists, live music, and beer and wine tasting along University Boulevard between Park and Euclid.
Outside of The Vila Art Foundation, Vila and Vila Thai are heavily involved in giving back to the community. Everything that comes into the restaurant goes back out to foundations, organizations, and community efforts. It was so inspiring to see someone who cared so much about others around her.
“The Vila Thai Experience”
My other taster and I arrived just as Vila Thai was about to open their doors. The Vila Thai team was already bustling by preparing for guests. The artists that are displaying their work in the gallery across from the restaurant were prepping for viewers. Before the doors opened, an anxious line of diners was waiting to have what I call the “Vila Thai Experience.” The inside, outside, and gallery went from stirring to a flurry quicker than I could comprehend. Watching Vila and her crew orchestrate a flawless service and impeccable time management impressed me tremendously. We went on a Saturday and managed to catch the “5 for $5″ deal, in which for $5 you receive 5 tickets to go see David McGuiggan, or as we liked to call him “Dave the Wine Guy.” Dave will take your ticket and give you a sampling of the selected wines for the evening. The wine varies each week. We had the chance to try 5 different big bold red wines from various countries. It was a really great experience because you can closely compare the wines without having to purchase a full glass. Once you determine your favorite, you can purchase a glass of it to enjoy at the restaurant or purchase a bottle to take home with you, just make sure one of the works uncorks it for you then reseals it for legal reasons.
It was wonderful to see the various families, groups of friends, students, and artists that were having the same joyful experience we were. There was a Film Maker’s Mixer going on outside in the beautiful common patio area. Raffles were being held, wine was being tasted, and fun was being had. Even with all the activity going on, I could not help but to have a smile on my face the entire time from the vast amounts of positive energy Vila Thai Cuisine had.
There’s Hot, Then There’s Thai.
I must admit, being from a small town in an Ohio suburb, I have not had much experience with Thai cuisine. The stereotypical things I heard about coming to Vila Thai was that Thai food was spicy, spicy, and very spicy. I was apprehensive at first because my spice pallet is not as refined as I would like it to be, but Vila informed me that I can choose my spice level (1-5 stars), and my dish would be made accordingly. I chose a safe 3, while my other team member chose 5. She is definitely more daring than I.
While choosing the items we wanted from the menu choose we asked the wait staff what their particular favorites were. I could not wait to see what Head Chef Redman had in store for us. When it came to ordering appetizers, we picked the Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce (Chef Redman’s secret concoction). Typical spring rolls would have a plain iceberg lettuce in it, but Vila’s Spring Rolls were stuffed with fresh herbs and organic mixed greens. My taste buds were thrilled with bursting flavor. Next, I got the Tom Ka, which is a traditional Thai style hot and sour soup with straw mushroom, lime leaf, lemon grass, and limejuice. It also includes coconut milk and your choice of meat, tofu, or vegetable. You can order the Tom Yum, which does not contain coconut milk as well. I ordered this as a 3 star spice-level. I now crave this soup everyday! The soup has such a warm and full-bodied flavor followed by a spicy finish. I feared the spice level and kept a glass of water beside me; to my surprise, I did not need even need it. 3 stars were just right for me. My other taster ordered the Green Curry with shrimp at a 5 star spice-level. This was excessively spicy for me, but she could not get enough. Being a big fan of Thai food, she was thoroughly impressed with the flavor and ingredient quality of all her dishes. She had also ordered Som Tum (Papaya Salad), which has shredded green papaya, prawns, and tomatoes mixed w/lime juice. This is Thailand’s favorite salad, and after she let me have a try, it was soon my favorite too! For my entree, I chose the “Mushroom Lover’s Stir-Fry” with Tofu. This dish is a great option for vegetarians. The dish is a stir-fry with five exotic mushrooms made to order with your choice of protein, tofu, shrimp, chicken or pork. It came with a heaping bowl of rice that brought a smile to my face! We saw Vila walk by with a plate of chocolate cake with strawberries and just had to try it. Even though her Mango Sticky Rice would have finished off our meal perfectly, we could not help but be allured by the beautiful dish. We were not disappointed! Even though this dish is not traditionally Thai, it did not lack in flavor. The entire meal was robust, flavorful, and most importantly, delicious.
Wrapping Up, and Winding Down.
After our wonderful meal, we had the chance to walk around and chat with the local artists and patrons of the restaurant and gallery. It was clear to see that Vila has made a dramatic influence on the Tucson community and everyone she comes in contact with whether on a daily basis or with in the four short years she as lived her. The numerous events are listed on the website as well as pictures from previous events.
The best time to take a trip to Vila Thai is during the dinner hours. Since the restaurant is small, please contact Vila Thai at 393-3489 to make reservations for large parties or to coordinate your birthday, bachelor or bachelorette party, fund raising event, book signing, artist reception, or business meeting.
We want to sincerely thank Vila and her entire crew for hosting a wonderful Taste Casting evening for us. It was truly an experience to remember. Stop by and check it out for yourself! If you mention Taste Casting or bring in the coupon listed below, you can receive 10% off your bill. You can also receive 10% off if you are a member of the Armed Forces.
We hope you have a great experience just like we did! Thanks again Vila!
Jocelyn Wesolowski
Tucson Taste Casting Captain
