About Us

Learn more about us by clicking on our individual profiles below.


	Patana Kaplan Before becoming our executive chef and co-owner, Patana Kaplan began her own culinary journey in the quaint sea port town of Songkhla, Thailand. With her childhood home a frequent gathering place for world travelers, Patana learned early on the importance of being an enthusiastic ambassador of Thai culture and cuisine. After receiving a master’s degree in food science and technology from the University of Hawaii, her mission became to share the treasures of Thailand with all those who might be new to its beauty and bounty. Read More...
	Gary Kaplan Gary serves as the restaurant's operations director and co-owner. He first met Patana in 1971 while wandering through the south of Thailand in search of a locale for the opening scene of his first novel, Reunion in Singora--the story of a war-scared soldier who survived the horrors of death and destruction in Vietnam, on an improbable journey of penitance and redemption. They married in Hawaii in 1973, where Gary finished his engineering studies, did graduate work in computer science, and (with Patana) brought the intricate shadow puppet carvings of southern Thailand to America and the world with their chain of Thai art galleries and subsequent international mail order business. Read More...
	Ben Kaplan Although Ben now serves as Andaman Thai Cuisine's marketing director and co-owner, he once had an even more important role—our first, youngest, and most important food critic. Growing up the son of Patana and Gary in a house filled the delicate tastes and sweet aromas of the most amazing Thai food, Ben learned early on that food isn't merely something that provides the energy to complete your day, but also a source of inspiration, creativity, comfort, and good health. Even as a toddler, Ben greatly benefitted from regular cooking lessons from his mother who viewed understanding food an important part of his overall education. As he grew older, Patana taught him how to cook special meals that help with focus, celebrate a moment, bring together friends, and even "show a girl you really like that you want to take things to the next level." Read More...

Before becoming our executive chef and co-owner, Patana Kaplan began her own culinary journey in the quaint sea port town of Songkhla, Thailand. With her childhood home a frequent gathering place for world travelers, Patana learned early on the importance of being an enthusiastic ambassador of Thai culture and cuisine.

After receiving a master’s degree in food science and technology from the University of Hawaii, her mission became to share the treasures of Thailand with all those who might be new to its beauty and bounty.

Gary Kaplan

Gary serves as the restaurant's operations director and co-owner. He first met Patana in 1971 while wandering through the south of Thailand in search of a locale for the opening scene of his first novel, Reunion in Singora--the story of a war-scared soldier who survived the horrors of death and destruction in Vietnam, on an improbable journey of penitance and redemption.

They married in Hawaii in 1973, where Gary finished his engineering studies, did graduate work in computer science, and (with Patana) brought the intricate shadow puppet carvings of southern Thailand to America and the world with their chain of Thai art galleries and subsequent international mail order business.

Ben Kaplan

Although Ben now serves as Andaman Thai Cuisine's marketing director and co-owner, he once had an even more important role—our first, youngest, and most important food critic. Growing up the son of Patana and Gary in a house filled the delicate tastes and sweet aromas of the most amazing Thai food, Ben learned early on that food isn't merely something that provides the energy to complete your day, but also a source of inspiration, creativity, comfort, and good health.

Even as a toddler, Ben greatly benefitted from regular cooking lessons from his mother who viewed understanding food an important part of his overall education. As he grew older, Patana taught him how to cook special meals that help with focus, celebrate a moment, bring together friends, and even "show a girl you really like that you want to take things to the next level."

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