Natchez &8212; From their home in Bangkok, Thailand, to another large city in California, the Kharasin family brought their memories, their culture and, most important, their expertise in the food of their country.

For the past three years, the family has operated Planet Thailand on North Commerce Street.

Ann Kharasin, the daughter of Paul and Paula Kharasin, said the 12 years spent in Los Angeles operating a restaurant started the family thinking about moving to a smaller town.

&8220;We were tired of the crowded city. Bangkok is a big city. Los Angeles is a big city. We started looking in newspapers,&8221; she said. &8220;There was an ad in a newspaper about a restaurant in Jena, Louisiana, and my dad said let&8217;s go and check it out.&8221;

They liked the town &8212; especially the trees and all the green grass, she said. &8220;I&8217;d never lived in the country before.&8221;

Thai food was less familiar to diners in the Jena area than Chinese food; the family began to prepare and serve more Chinese than Thai food there, Ann said.

Then a group from Natchez began to come frequently, looking not for Chinese but for Thai food. Two in the group were Edward Killelea and his wife, Kathryn.

&8220;Edward and Kathryn had lived in New York and loved Thai food,&8221; Ann said. &8220;They couldn&8217;t believe there was a Thai restaurant in Jena.&8221;

Kathryn Killelea said she and her husband began to encourage the Kharasin family to move to Natchez.

&8220;We&8217;d tell them over and over to come check out Natchez,&8221; Killelea said. &8220;They decided to visit, and Edward showed them around. At first, they thought Natchez would be too expensive for them. But they found out that it wasn&8217;t.&8221;

Starting out in a smaller building on the same block of Commerce, the family moved to a larger building, which they renovated completely to have more room and a more colorful and inviting space.

At first, many people told them they would never make it, Ann said. &8220;But just as many others encouraged us. Look what&8217;s on the block now. Three years ago, no cars were parked on this block, and now you can&8217;t even find a parking place.&8221;

Preparing their Thai dishes poses some challenges for the family. &8220;The biggest challenge is supplies,&8221; Ann said. &8220;We have to get them from all over the country.&8221;

Her father, Paul, is the chef. He has cooked most of his life, he said. &8220;My mom taught me from a young age.&8221;

Many misconceptions of Thai food exist, Ann said. &8220;Thai food is not always spicy, and sushi is not always raw,&8221; she said.

Paul said the restaurant likes to accommodate vegetarians. And he is quick to say that he uses no MSG in his foods. Everything is made from scratch and from fresh ingredients.

&8220;And we use less oil in the cooking, making the food not at all greasy,&8221; he said.

Ann was 15 when the family moved from Bangkok. These 15 years later, she knows the move was a good one.

&8220;Was it the right thing to do? Yes,&8221; she said. &8220;My family loves it here.&8221;