Lemongrass marks 10 years in business, despite early challenges

By ADAM DRAPCHO, LACONIA DAILY SUN MOULTONBOROUGH — Sitting in her restaurant's dining room earlier this week, looking forward to a weekend where she will celebrate a decade of running Lemon Grass restaurant, one of the region's best-kept culinary secrets, "Ooh" Danaisawasdi, is comfortable and confident, happy to be where she is. But it was a long road to get there.

Lemon Grass is located at 64 Whittier Highway in Moultonborough. Tucked away behind the strip malls and office buildings on Route 25, only the sign is visible from the road. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, the restaurant will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with live music every night, as well as a special "bite and flight" menu that pairs special small plates with Moat Mountain Brewery beers. The regular menu will also be available.

Danaisawasdi's story begins in southern Thailand, where she was born to farming family that operated a palm and rubber plantation. She didn't cook at home – that task fell to her mother and older sister – and when she went to Plymouth State University to study business management, she sustained herself on cafeteria food.

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