Meet us where Thai delicacies are baked
When a young account executive from Thailand came to Chicago to learn English, she moved into the spare room for rent offered by a young Berwyn resident. Soon there was love in the air between the roommates.
It would, however, take some time before the kitchen was filled with the aroma of the delicious Thai desserts made at Habraé Cafe in Forest Park today. That’s because, back then, young Ussanee “Au” Sanmmueangchin couldn’t even make rice in the rice cooker that Jumpol “Jump” Prasitporn placed in their shared kitchen.
Homesickness drove Au to start cooking and baking. She really missed the black beans in coconut milk over sticky rice that she grew up eating in Bangkok.
When Au returned home to Thailand, she turned her newfound interest in exploring the foods of her homeland into a passion. She attended Bangkok’s UFM Baking and Cooking School all while maintaining a long-distance relationship with Jump.
Now the two are married in Berwyn with a restaurant serving rare Thai treats.
At Habraé, you’ll find some of the nine “auspicious” sweets that are served in Thailand for special occasions. The khanom mo kaeng, for instance, is an eggy coconut milk and flour custard crowned with fried shallots.
You’ll also find colorful puddings topped with coconut cream and a croissant filled with salted egg yolk custard.
Habraé is open from 11:30am to 9:30pm every day except Tuesday. The cafe is closed on Tuesday.
Habraé means a street-food seller as well as the basket in which the food is carried. As owners Ussanee “Au” Sanmmueangchin and Jumpol “Jump” Prasitporn define it, Habraé means “the person who brings delicious things from one place to another”.
That is certainly what Chef Au is doing with her rare Thai delicacies that fill Madison Street with the unique aromas of Thailand.
Habraé is located at 7230 Madison Street in Forest Park. It’s a half-mile walk from the Harlem Stop on the CTA Blue Line Train and a half-mile walk from the Harlem/Lake Stop on the Green Line.
