Thai flavors abound in Libby kitchen

They didn't meet until they moved from their homeland, Thailand, to the same street in Libby - but it's cooking that finally brought Chaniya Ninbanphot Cole and Chittima Chuanchid Williams face to face.

"It's a tradition - we cook something we can share," said Cole, who arrived in Libby four months ago from Khon Kaen.

Her new Thai neighbor, Williams, told her that she first thought the town's named was "Libly."

"It's funny because this sounds like Thai word which means 'very far in distance till you hardly see.' I agree with her about that," said Cole, describing the many mountains they drove by to reach her new home.

"Although this town is small, it's interesting. You can see many wild animals just across the street."

Cole noted she especially loves watching the squirrels from her kitchen window.

Neither Cole nor Williams had ever experienced snow before moving to Libby.

"I was like, 'wow, it's snowing!'" said Cole of her first encounter. "It's white and powdery and pretty," she said, adding that eventually she learned how to clear her sidewalks.

"My husband taught me the use of the snowblower," she said.

Cole's neighbor, Chittima Williams - who goes by "Art" - worked as a Dental Technician in Bangkok for 15 years while her husband-to-be, Dr. Richard Williams, was researching tropical diseases there.

"His office was next to my office," said Art, adding that her husband knew how to speak Thai, so they would often talk in her native language.

Art didn't learn English until arriving in Libby with her two small sons, where they have lived for over two years.

A full-time wife and mother, Art's sons, Jeffrey, 6, and Kevin, 5, picked up English in just three months.

She and Cole learned English in Libby too; they both attend "English as a Second Language" class at Flathead Community College.

"My husband told me, 'there's no Thai in Libby,'" said Cole. But then she got an e-mail from Art, who's husband had learned from Randy Cole of Chaniya's impending arrival.

Randy met Chaniya online, exchanging more than 3,000 emails and multiple visits to Thailand throughout their two-year courtship.

Although Art was already practiced in preparing Thai meals when she moved to Libby more than two years ago, Chaniya spent more of her time frequenting the countless restaurants and open air markets.

She also relied on her mother's excellent cooking.

"I should have learned more from her," she said of her mother, "but in Thailand you can buy food anywhere anytime - like dollar noodle bowls at midnight."

Since there are no Thai restaurants in Libby, Cole said she had to learn how to cook Thai; Art helped bring Cole up to speed.

"She cooks fast and her food is yummy," said Cole. "She taught me many things about living here - she loves to buy things on sale, and so do I."

Whether it's Tom Yum Kung (Spicy Shrimp soup), Pad Thai, Jasmine rice or Coconut curry, making their native dishes together formed a bond between them.

"We love cooking because we both love eating," said Cole, laughing. "We always cook too much because it's better than too less - the punishment is we have to eat all the food we make."

Products such as galanga, lemon grass and thai bird chili are either expensive or hard to find locally, so the two of them make trips to stock their pantries.

"Every month my husband has to take me to Spokane to the oriental markets," said Art.

"In Thai food, we use fresh and healthy ingredients," added Chaniya. "I have to use frozen shrimp for my Tom Yum Kung, but it's better than not having any.

"Art told me that in summer, we will have some fresh fish because we can go fishing. I'm looking forward to fish a big trout."

The two hope to share their knowledge of Thai cuisine with the locals, either through catering or cooking classes.

"Every time we cook, we have so much fun, so we thought, why not make money out of what we love to do?" said Chaniya. "I'd like people here to try Thai food and learn how to cook it. I'd like to show people the different style of food and how healthy it is."

Art and Chaniya both agree that "food is medicine," and Thai food contains the herbs and spices that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

"Most Thai dish consists of basil, lemon grass, galangal, garlic, chili, ginger, shallots, etc. - which are all used as medicine," said Chaniya."When you feel uncomfortable in your stomach, ginger, basil and lemon grass will help you feel better."

Chaniya added that garlic is also often used in Thai food.

"Everybody knows how useful it is to protect against cancer," she said of garlic. "Thai people believe that if we can use food as medicine, we don't have to put more chemical into our bodies when we get sick."

One of Art's favorites is Som Tum, or Thai Spicy Salad, which has fresh carrot, raw papaya, tomato, long green beans, chili, lime and peanuts, with lots of fresh ginger and basil.

Chaniya said when she doesn't cook, she likes to go to Chinese restaurants, which are "a little like Thai."

Both Chaniya and Art agree that a steak is their favorite American meal, especially at MK's.

Chaniya spends part of her days working in "Random Stone Production," framing and canvas wrapping poems on photographs - all created by Randy.

Chaniya also enjoys photographing the dishes they cook.

"I want to have freedom in working," she said. "I'm happy with my life and what I'm now doing so far."

Art spends her days as a full-time wife and mother of two boys.

"Libby is a small town far from the big cities - it's nice and peaceful," said Chaniya. "We like this town and it makes us feel like home, even though Thailand is not this cold," she said, adding "I'm looking forward to summer. I miss beautiful sunshine."