As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, one Dallas chef is celebrating a different kind of fusion, where Bangkok flavors meet Texas hospitality.

For more than 20 years, Chef Nikky Phinyawatana has been building bridges through food as the founder of Asian Mint, a growing family of Thai restaurants across North Texas. Her mission is to feed not just stomachs, but hearts.

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“I love to feed and I love to serve,” Phinyawatana said. “I realized, why not share that with the community? I feel like there's like the missing piece of what I grew up with in terms of the Thai food, Bangkok style. And I wanted to share that with the Dallas community.”

Born to a Thai father and a Texan mother, Chef Nikky calls herself a

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