Brandon Twp.- Kay Hunt moved to the United States from Thailand about 20 years ago and while she loves her adopted country, there is one thing she has never found here? good Thai sauce.
‘I enjoy cooking and I tried Thai sauce sold at markets and they don’t taste good,? Hunt says. ‘I don’t know how they can sell it.?
So, the 44-year-old township resident has taken matters into her own hands and created ‘Anytime Thai,? her own Pad Thai sauce, now available at local stores including Bueche’s Food World, 400 Ortonville Road and Ortonville Smokehouse, 910 S. Ortonville Road.
Hunt describes the sauce as very mild, a sweet and sour type sauce that is tangy and flavorful. The ingredients are all natural, no MSG, and include chili, sugar, salt, vinegar, tamarind, garlic, onion and tomato sauce.
Hunt has worked on perfecting her sauce for two-and-a-half years. She learned it would be very difficult to make the sauce out of her home with Oakland County Health Division rules, so she found a company in Auburn Hills with an approved facility to produce Anytime Thai. The first batch resulted in 1,600 bottles. Besides Bueche’s and Ortonville Smokehouse, the sauce will also be sold at Rudy’s Market in Clarkston, Harvest Time in Oxford, and Holiday Market in Royal Oak. Each retailer determines their own price.
The new entrepreneur says the versatile sauce goes well with Thai noodles, chicken salad, broccoli slaw, Thai shrimp and more.
‘This is exciting and challenging, but I’m happy,? says Hunt, who is now working on creating a spicier, medium-flavor sauce. ‘I want everyone to experience Thai food they can do at home, well and fast.?