‹Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City Welcomes Dr. Dean Gmoser

Board-certified pediatrician Dean Gmoser, M.D. recently joined the Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City practice at 5819 Highway 6 South, Suite 300, Missouri City. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gmoser earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his residency in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Gmoser is a past president of the Houston Pediatric Society and currently serves as President of the Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Alumni Association. In addition, he is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Baylor Department of Pediatrics teaching residents in the office. Gmoser has been in private practice in East Fort Bend County since 1983 and joined Texas Children’s Pediatrics in October 2015. He and his wife, Sheryl, a registered pediatric nurse, reside in Sugar Land. They have two sons.

To make an appointment with Gmoser or any of the physicians at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City, call the practice at 281-499-4301 or visit texaschildrenspediatrics.org to learn more.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Memorial Hermann Health System Announces Benjamin K. Chu, M.D., As President And CEO

Following an extensive nationwide search that included both internal and external candidates, the Memorial Hermann Health System Board has announced the appointment of Benjamin K. Chu, M.D., MPH, MACP, as President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, effective in June 2016. Chu, a well-respected, national thought leader in the health care industry, brings to Memorial Hermann an accomplished, four-decade long career as a physician, administrator and policy advocate.

Chu will succeed current president and CEO Dan Wolterman, who has led Memorial Hermann for 17 years. Officially retiring Aug. 1, Wolterman will work with Chu over the course of the coming months to effectively transition his role.

Chu currently serves as the executive vice president of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Inc., and group president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Georgia regions. He directs health plan and hospital operations for 14 hospitals and 237 medical offices, serving more than 4.5 million members in Southern California and Georgia.

“Ben is a proven leader with extensive national experience and a demonstrated ability to elevate an organization to the next level,” said Will Williams, Memorial Hermann Board Chair.

Chu’s appointment as president and CEO marks the first time in Memorial Hermann’s history a physician will be leading the System, indicative of the changes in health­care where the successful future of the industry relies on the true integration of provider and physicians, according to Williams.

“Physician integration is a key tenant of Memorial Hermann’s operations. For two consecutive years, Memorial Hermann has led the country’s most successful Accountable Care Organization (ACO), and has been at the forefront of practicing innovative, evidence-based medicine to better manage populations, improve outcomes and deliver value for the healthcare dollar,” said Williams. Before joining Kaiser Permanente, Chu was president of New York City’s Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest public hospital system in the country. In 1994, he was acting commissioner of health for the New York City Department of Health.

Chu also has experience as an academic health center leader, serving as senior associate dean at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. At New York University School of Medicine and Medical Center, Dr. Chu was associate dean and vice president for Clinical Affairs. As a policy advocate, Chu was a Robert Wood Johnson Policy Fellow, working as the legislative assistant for health for New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley. In 2014, Chu, who gained a national profile in health policy, was elected chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees, becoming the top elected official who represents America’s hospitals and health systems.

Chu began his career as a primary care internist in Brooklyn, New York. “I am first and foremost a clinician who became an administrator because I wanted to change our healthcare delivery system to a markedly more effective outcome-oriented, patient-centric model,” said Chu.

Chu earned his medical degree at New York University, his master’s degree in public health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale University. He is married to artist Donna Moylan and has three adult children.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹FBISD’s Community Relations Team Earns 13 Awards

The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) awarded Fort Bend ISD’s Community Relations Team 13 awards during its 2016 TSPRA Star Awards program held during the association’s annual conference. FBISD was among the many Texas school districts recognized in the awards program for outstanding work in both print and electronic media.

Community Relations team members to submit and earn awards include: Nancy Porter, chief communications officer; Stacey Crews, director of communications; Amanda Bubela, assistant director of media/external relations; Becky Walker, brand/graphic design coordinator; Natalie Rivera, communications coordinator; and Keryn Miles, communications specialist.

The community relations team earned two Best of Category awards for the FBISD All Star Talent Draft special event and Student Health Awareness Posters. It also earned seven gold awards for the following entries: FBISD Extended Day Summer Brochure, Student Health Awareness Posters, Ride the Digital Wave Technology Conferenceimage/identity package, Children’s Miracle Network Champion Ambassador published news/feature, FBISD Bond 2014 published print advertisement, FBISD Express electronic external newsletter, FBISD All Star Talent Draft special event. It also earned four silver awards for Moonlight Masquerade in Venice Gala invitation/announcement, Inspire-Equip-Imagine poster, FBISD Partners Annual Report computerized presentation, and FBISD Employee Express electronic internal newsletter.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Named One Of The Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, which provides analytics and solutions to improve the quality of health care.

The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals study identifies hospitals and leadership teams that provide the highest level of value to their communities, based on a national scorecard. The scorecard measures overall organizational performance across 11 key analytic measures including patient care, operational efficiency and financial stability.

“Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is committed to serving our community by providing exemplary, compassionate care,” says Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Metho­dist Sugar Land, “We are honored to be recognized as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals.”

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Truven Health researchers evaluated close to 3,000 short-term, acute-care, non-federal hospitals. Risk-adjusted methodologies were used to analyze public information: Medi­care cost reports, Medicare provider analysis and review data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare reports.

“The 2016 100 Top Hospitals award winners represent the highest national standards in hospital care and management,” said Jean Cheno­weth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics. “Hospi­tals in three out of the five report groups reduced overall expense year over year, while improving patient outcomes – exactly the results that the entire industry hopes to attain.”

The winning hospitals were announced in the Feb. 28 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine. More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at100tophospitals.com.

Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland for more infomation on the hospital or call 281-274-7500 for a physician referral.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Sienna Plantation Announces Sawmill Lake Recreation Center

Sienna Plantation has announced plans for a community recreation center in the Village of Sawmill Lake, the development’s newest collection of neighborhoods.

Located along the banks of Sawmill Lake, the Sawmill Lake Club will be Sienna’s fourth resident multi-purpose center and will offer residents access to the community’s fifth on-site pool. The facility will also have a fitness center, playground and space for events. Site work has begun for the facility, which is expected to open in 2017.

“Located within walking distance for many residents in the Village of Sawmill Lake, this newest large-scale amenity will complement the array of features residents currently enjoy, including water parks, tennis, the 160-acre Camp Sienna sports complex, dozens of parks and more than 35 miles of trails,” said Alvin San Miguel, general manager of Sienna Plantation.

Home sales in the Village of Sawmill Lake, part of a 3,700-acre addition to Sienna Plantation, began in 2015. Twelve builders have opened more than a dozen model homes there, touting designs for patio homes, executive homes and estate homes in 12 neighborhoods. Prices in the Village of Sawmill Lake range from the $280,000s to nearly $1 million.

Fort Bend ISD is taking bids for construction of Elementary #48 expected to open in the Village of Sawmill Lake August 2017. An on-site middle school also is planned.

Learn more at siennaplantation.com.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Lamar CISD Purchasing Perches At Top Of List

The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) recognized the Lamar CISD Purchasing Department for following best practices. It is one of only 29 school district purchasing departments in Texas to be recognized.

The Lamar CISD group was recognized at the annual TASBO conference in Dallas.

“There’s no better way to achieve professional purchasing operations than to share best practices throughout the state and document your district’s policies and procedures,” said Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO Executive Director. “Each year we honor districts for demonstrating exceptional purchasing operations and we could not be more pleased with the growing recognition of the important work all of our honorees do to streamline operations, comply with regulations and set the standard for how to utilize taxpayer dollars.”

Michele Leach is Purchasing/Materials Manager for Lamar CISD.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Oakbend Employee Cele­Brates 30 Years Of Service

March 10th marked the 30th anniversary of Victor Alley’s start date at OakBend Medical Center. Barely 20 years old when he began, Victor has found his way into the hearts of his co-workers and they celebrated his anniversary with a surprise party at the Jackson Street Campus of the hospital.

Victor, who holds the title as a housekeeper 2 in the building services department, can be found making his rounds in the hospital, diligently doing his job. At the celebration, Victor was presented with a Certificate of Service, a Letter from the CEO and an OakBend portfolio by CEO Joe Freudenberger. There was cake, punch and Victor’s favorite, candy.

Sheree Oehlke, a case manager at the hospital said, “When you think of Victor, you think of dedication. This is a young man that used to walk to work in the rain, just to not miss a day to be here. He greets everybody with a smile, he loves for you to stop and answer questions for him because sometimes he doesn’t understand what is going on in life and in the world and if he hears something, he wants an explanation. He does his work and I don’t think he ever missed a day of work until he had surgery. Then the day they took him to his room on the floor, he was ready to come back to work. That was the second thing he asked, ‘When can I go to work?’ I know he never meets a stranger and even though he might get some people confused and may not know everybody’s name, he knows everybody that works here. I have known Victor for 25 years, and I remember when his mother used to stand outside under the trees for him to get off work so she could walk him home and she would walk him to work every day. The loss that he has had in his life is probably unbearable, and the only solace that he has is to come to OakBend to work every day.”

Another proud friend of Victor is his supervisor, Scottie Clark, building service manager and added, “To me Victor is one of the greatest men alive. He’s helped me a lot in my career, given me a lot of good thoughts and made my job so worth it.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Central Fort Bend Chamber’s March Membership Breakfast

Nearly 90 people gathered at the North Richmond Neighborhood Resource Center at 1305 Clay Street in Richmond to learn about the Attack Poverty program in Fort Bend County at the Central Fort Bend Chamber’s monthly membership breakfast. The event, Breakfast in the Bend, attracted business owners, elected officials and community leaders to network and hear about what the group does in the community and how it partners with businesses to make a difference.

Richard Logan, the founder and CEO of Attack Poverty, explained how the nonprofit organization works systematically within specific neighborhoods to break the cycle of generational poverty. “I’ve learned that the provision of stuff does not eradicate poverty. It’s much deeper and complex. Generational poverty involves broken relationships,” says Logan. He went over the three-and-a-half mile radius in North Richmond the group works tirelessly to support and said the U.S. as a whole is No. 2 in child poverty worldwide. In Fort Bend County more than 55,900 people live below the U.S. poverty line.

Logan says that instead of focusing on vulnerabilities and needs, Attack Poverty works on capacity and empowerment through afterschool programs, GED preparation and financial literacy. He wants to expand the knowledge of the program and work with community members and business owners who are willing to help. “The philanthropy in Fort Bend County is incredible. But there are people whose voices aren’t getting out. We want the whole county to prosper,” says Logan.

Visit attackpoverty.org for more information.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Lamar CISD Earns Place On The College Board’s Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll

Lamar CISD is one of 130 school districts in the United States – and one of only 21 in Texas – placed on the College Board’s Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll.

Districts featured on the Honor Roll expanded access to higher education by providing students with rigorous academic offerings and innovative college-preparation programs.

The award is named for the former governor of West Virginia who was president of the College Board 1999-2012.

Districts on the Honor Roll demonstrated significant and consistent growth in the number of underrepresented students and students from lower-income backgrounds participating in AP, taking the SAT and applying to four or more colleges.

To be included on the Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll, a school district must increase the total number of underrepresented students who took the SAT; increase the total number of underrepresented students who took an AP course and exam; increase the total number of underrepresented students who were on track for college, as demonstrated by scoring 1550+ on the SAT; increase the total number of underrepresented students who scored a 3 or higher on an AP Exam; and increase the total number of underrepresented students who sent their SAT scores to at least four colleges.

Districts on the Honor Roll show exemplary classroom instruction, challenging courses and daily hard work and practice that make all the difference in the lives of students.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Riverstone Adds Big Dog To Community Art Displays

Already one of Fort Bend’s largest dedicated dog spaces, Riverstone’s Bark Park just received a big addition — one that weighs about 500 pounds.

Installation of a Cor-Ten weathered-steel canine art structure was recently completely alongside the park fence, giving Riverstone residents even more to dig about the 3.5-acre park. It is actually the second time the 8-foot-tall by 10-foot-long sculpture has visited Fort Bend County. Last year, it was part of a temporary art display, “The Big Dog Show,” featuring 20 of the steel canines.

“The big dogs were so popular at our Home Tour exhibit last year, we thought a permanent installation in Riverstone would be intriguing for residents and a nice complement to our existing public art displays found through the community,” said Trey Reichert, vice president and general manager of Riverstone. Riverstone’s Big Dog is the creation of award-winning metal sculptor Dale Rogers of Haverhill, Massachusetts. The artwork traveled 1,900 miles from the northeast to its permanent home in Fort
Bend County.

The canine structure complements an array of outdoor art displays in Riverstone. One of the more recent installations is “Four People,” a 7-foot by 15-foot sculpture also by Rogers. The piece –– depicting four figures holding hands with outstretched arms — was installed in seven communities of The Johnson Development Corp. last year to commemorate the company’s 40 years of residential development.

Bronze deer, birds and other pieces can be found in parks, greenbelts and waterways throughout Riverstone, including 10 deer installed in February.

To learn more, visit riverstone.com.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Memorial Hermann Urgent Care In Sugar Land

Memorial Hermann is bringing another level of convenient, high quality care to Sugar Land with the opening of Memorial Hermann Urgent Care in Telfair on April 20.

The 2,916-square-foot Urgent Care will offer Sugar Land and area residents the ease and convenience of extended medical care and serves as an extension of a primary care physician’s office. The addition means the Sugar Land area will be served by every level of care offered by Memorial Hermann.

“We’re committed to providing the appropriate level of safe, high quality care to our growing community,” says Greg Haralson, senior vice president and CEO, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital.

Memorial Hermann Urgent Care will provide walk-in care for non-life-threatening health conditions. No appointments are necessary. The Urgent Care will be staffed by Eugenio Bacani, M.D. and Anju Chacko, M.D., both are Memorial Hermann Medical Group board-certified family medicine physicians.

“Time has become a huge commodity and we want to bring high quality healthcare directly to the consumer in a more convenient way,” says Dr. David James, senior vice president and CEO, Memorial Hermann Medical Group.

There is added convenience for those who receive care at Memorial Hermann Urgent Care and have a primary care physician who is a member of MHMG. Those patients will have their visit placed in their electronic health record for easy review during any follow-up appointments with their primary care physician or care at any other Memorial Hermann location. Memorial Hermann Urgent Care in Telfair will open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., seven days a week for walk-in access.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Peter Chang Featured in Beauty Magazine

Dr.Peter Chang, founder of Timeless Plastic Surgery, graces the pages of this year’s NewBeauty magazine. Readers looking for the latest in “must-have” beauty products, anti-aging strategies and cosmetic enhancements turn to the pages of NewBeauty to find Dr. Chang featured among the most qualified plastic surgeons. Informed, enlightened and inspired readers are empowered to make the best decisions to reach their beauty goals, be they topical, surgical or minimally invasive.

In its Beauty Experts Guide, NewBeauty only profiles board-certified physicians who have met rigorous standards and demonstrate extreme due diligence in their respective fields. Having obtained two Ivy League degrees, two doctorate degrees, and completing two surgical residencies, Dr. Chang is considered to be one of the most educated plastic surgeons in the community. He has over 15 years of experience and training. Dr. Peter Chang is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. His meticulous pursuit of perfection and his compassion for patients makes him an ideal cosmetic plastic surgeon. He is committed to providing his patients with natural results in a safe and friendly environment.

For more information, call 281-242-TIME (8436) or visit TimelessPlasticSurgery.com. The office is located at 1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy., Suite 300 in Sugar Land.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Dr. Raziuddin Ahmed Joins Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists

Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists welcomes Raziuddin Ahmed, M.D., to the practice, announced Bhadresh Shah, M.D.

“Dr. Ahmed brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will strengthen our ability to serve our patients,” says Shah. “His background and approach to patient care fit perfectly with the mission of Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists, and we are thrilled to have him join us.”

Ahmed is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine and sleep medicine. He is a graduate of Deccan Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed his residency at the Cleveland Clinic’s Huron Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and fellowships in pulmonary/critical care and sleep medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans. Throughout his career, he has been honored numerous times for his skill and dedication to patient care.

The physicians at Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists provide a full range of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer, insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and much more.

The office is conveniently located in Sugar Land at 4780 Sweetwater Boulevard, Suite 150. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahmed or Dr. Shah, call Houston Methodist Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists at 281-242-2444.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Johnson Development: Same Company, New Look

With a 40+-year history of award-winning large-scale land development, one of the area’s most experienced developers — Johnson Development Corp. — is debuting a brand new look.

Company initials “JDC” are prominent in the design of the new logo, which is printed in a dominant slate blue color.

“The time was right for a modern update to our look,” said Larry Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Development. “The shift to a deep slate blue is a new approach for us, but one that has a modern, professional feel and gives a hint to the long-standing history of Johnson Development.”

Johnson Development has 14 communities under active development in Houston. The company is also developing Viridian in Dallas-Fort Worth and Lake Arrowhead in Atlanta.

Johnson Development is the only residential developer in the country to have multiple projects ranked among the nation’s top 20 best-selling master-planned communities, according to two recent lists.

The company also ranked as Houston’s most prolific developer with four projects included on a recent Houston Business Journal list of the “Most Active Houston-Area Residential Communities.” The four communities — Riverstone, Woodforest, Cross Creek Ranch and Sienna Plantation — accounted for 25 percent of the 7,812 homes started within the 25 developments named on the list.

Johnson Development has won numerous awards during its long history, including the Grand Award for Developer of the Year in 2015 and 2013 in the Greater Houston Builders Association “Houston’s Best PRISM Awards.” For more information, visit johnsondevelopment.com.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Sugar Land Fire-EMS Enhances Resources To Address Call Volume, Ensure Quality Service

The Sugar Land Fire-EMS Department responded to 8,118 call for service during 2015, an increase of almost 800 over 2014. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) represented more than 64 percent of SLFD’s call volume, while structure fires were about .4 percent. Firefighters responded to 36 structure fires in 2015. The results were included in the Sugar Land Fire Department’s 2015 annual report. A focus on strong code enforcement, public education and relatively new infrastructure contributes toward a low number of structure fires in Sugar Land.

Ambulance service was launched last year after years of rapid growth in Sugar Land necessitated a change in EMS delivery. The department’s average response time in 2015 was 5 minutes, 32 seconds. For EMS calls, the average response time for the first unit was 5 minutes, 19 seconds. Five state-of-the-art ambulances, increased paramedic certifications and expanded dispatch operations implemented in 2015 contributed to improved response times. Just under 30 percent of EMS calls were handled without fire trucks, an operational savings that also increased the availability of trucks for fire-related calls.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Sugar Land Receives Clean Audit

A recent external audit of Sugar Land’s financial records for fiscal year 2015 (Oct.1, 2014 – Sept. 30, 2015) received the highest level of assurance. Whitley Penn, LLP, served as the City’s external audit firm.

According to the audit report contained in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the City’s financial position is healthy. For the first time, the City’s total assets exceeded $1 billion. At the end of the fiscal year, the City is able to report positive balances in all categories of net position – for the government as a whole, as well as for its separate governmental and business-type activities.

The City also implemented changes to the report mandated by Governmental Account­ing Standards Board Statement 68 that requires reporting of net pension liability. This information was previously presented as a note to the financial statements rather than as part of the balance sheet.

Some financial highlights cited are:

Net property values grew 6.2 percent to $10.76 billion, an increase of $628 million over 2013 values. New development accounted for $134 million of the increase, while existing property grew by $494 million.

New commercial construction permitted values totaled $234 million, of these $148.8 was for taxable projects.

The City ended the year even better than anticipated, with sales tax revenues totaling $51.4 million compared to $49.15 million in the prior year.

Audit results typically include recommendations - known as management comments - for improvements to policies and procedures that will enhance the internal control structure of the City. There were no recommendations this year, demonstrating confidence in the City’s internal controls.

“We are proud of the fact that Sugar Land received an unmodified or ‘clean’ opinion with no management comments again this year, which is a reflection of sound financial management and provides the highest level of integrity for our citizens.” said City Manager Allen Bogard.

___________________________________________________________________________________

‹Lone Star Eye Care Welcomes Dr. Asad Abbas

Lone Star Eye Care, P.A. is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Asad Abbas, a cornea subspecialist, to its staff. Dr. Abbas completed an ophthalmology residency in Brooklyn, New York, followed by a Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans. He is joining Dr. Matt McMenemy, a Fellowship trained Glaucoma Specialist. Dr. McMenemy founded Lone Star Eye Care, P.A. in 1999.

Like Dr. McMenemy, Dr. Abbas is dedicated to patient service and the highest quality of care. Dr. Abbas came to Texas in 2002 and has practiced in the Houston area for the last seven years. He has long wanted to practice in the Sugar Land area, and both he and Dr. McMenemy are excited about this partnership. Dr. Abbas is currently booking new patients. The office is located at 3515 Town Center Blvd. South in Sugar Land. For more information, call 281-277-8400.

___________________________________________________________________________________

NEW OPENINGS

‹Middle Spoon Desserterie & Bar

The Canadian-based concept Middle Spoon Desserterie & Bar made its U.S. debut in Sugar Land Town Square in March. What better place to choose for a location than a city with a history steeped in sugar? Desserts are front and center, with homemade selections that include chocolate lava cake, lemon pavlova, cardamon carrot cake, New York cheesecake and various pies and sundaes.

Middle Spoon’s menu also includes a broad selection of soups, salads, sandwiches at lunch and small plates for after-work or late-night snacking, inlcuding the pulled pork slider and the quinoa salad.

A selection of classic and original cocktails are available, along with beer cocktails, wines by the glass, ales and scotch selections. themiddlespoontx.com

‹Songkran Thai Grill

Due to popular demand, Songkran Thai Kitchen recently opened its second location in Sugar Land Town Square, with an all-new concept and menu. Songkran Thai Grill features authentic, family-style Thai street food. Executive Chef Junnajet “Jett” Hurapan created unique, shareable dishes for guests to experience the Northeastern Thailand cooking style from where he was born.

Songkran Thai Grill’s guests can choose a variety of items from The Grill section, including chicken, steak, pork, a variety of seafood, grilled eggs and mixed veggies, all served family-style with three dipping sauces: plum, “angry” and sweet chili. The “Sizzling Hot Plate,” also known as the Pad-Khing, is served with ginger, vegetables, sake and your choice of protein.

In line with the Northeastern Thailand tradition, guests can share these plates and often use their hands to eat. The 853-square-foot restaurant, which features sleek black and red décor with accents of Thai art murals, rustic brick and modern lighting, also includes a curated libations bar with beers, wines and mixology cocktails using staple, fresh Thai ingredients. songkranthaikitchen.com