Thai eatery serves a relief fund

Alicia Robinson

One local restaurateur is putting food on the table today to help

victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Sam Tila, who has operated Royal Thai Cuisine on Coast Highway for

23 years, is hoping to raise $10,000 from food sales today, and he’ll

donate the money to a U.S.-based tsunami relief fund.

His brother, who operates the other Royal Thai Cuisine in Laguna

Beach, also will help.

“It was my idea, and then I talked to my brother in Laguna Beach,”

Tila said.

“Because I’m born and raised in Thailand, I want to help ... [but]

it’s not just for Thai people.”

Most of Tila’s employees also are from Thailand, and some of them

will be donating the tips they earn today to the tsunami relief fund.

Waitress Kritsana Boonyai said her friends and family in Asia are

safe, but she still wants to help those who weren’t as lucky.

Waiter Ratchapoom Pianpattanapiboon felt the same way.

“Most of them don’t have houses or (anywhere) to live,” he said.

“That’s why I really need to help them.”

Tila and his employees were fortunate not to lose any loved ones.

One of Tila’s six brothers was in Thailand the week before the

tsunami struck, and his chef’s son was in the country with four

friends during the disaster. Tila said the chef was worried at first,

because she didn’t hear from her son immediately after the tsunami.

“Four days later, they called her and said her son is OK,” Tila

said. “They said he saw his friend swept [away] with the water, and

they all ran together, but three did not make it.”

Royal Thai Cuisine will be serving its regular lunch and dinner

menus today, but Tila prepared extra food and sent invitations to

about 100 students in the cooking classes he gives quarterly at the

restaurant.

The Newport Beach Restaurant Assn. also helped, mailing letters

about the event to its 400 or so members, association spokeswoman

Peggy Fort said.

“It’s really, I think, a personal thing and really something that

Sam felt was important to give back,” Fort said.

The restaurant association also plans to collaborate with

restaurants in Huntington Beach in February for a fundraiser that

would benefit restaurants and other tourism businesses in South Asia

that were hit by the tsunami, she said.

“It will be something that will be needed a few months from now”

as businesses try to get back on their feet, she said.

Royal Thai Cuisine is at 4001 W. Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 11

p.m. For more information, call (949)645-8424.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson

@latimes.com.