"Yesterday Once More"

We met 33-year-old Nina at Phaya, a bright and stylish gluten-free Thai restaurant in Portland that she runs with her sister. The space had a calm, welcoming vibe: open layout, soft LED lights, and a kind of energy that makes you want to stay a little longer. Nina greeted us with a warm smile and friendly openness. "I'm not very good at English," she gently admitted, "but I will try." And try she did, offering a story full of care and memory.

When we asked what song reminded her of growing up, she hesitated, clear in her mind but struggling to remember the name. Then she began humming, even turning to a coworker, trying to place the melody. When it clicked, "Yesterday Once More" by the Carpenters, she lit up. Originally from Surat Thani in Southern Thailand, Nina first heard the song around 8 years old. Her English teacher played it during a lesson, using its lyrics to help students understand grammar and pronunciation. For Nina, it wasn't just a song; it was her first real connection to the English language. Thesoft vocals and nostalgic tone take her back to school in Thailand, reminding Nina of her roots and how far she has come.

The restaurant itself carries similar echoes of childhood and cultural roots. Nina and her sister, Wala Shai, were inspired by the fast-casual Thai meals their parents used to treat them to when they were young. When they moved to Portland just over a year ago, they wanted to recreate that. And because Wala is gluten free, they made sure Phaya would be a place where people with dietary restrictions could still enjoy comforting Thai flavors without compromise.

Nina has built something new in a city far from where she started. Her restaurant, Phaya, feels warm and inviting, filled with the same kind of comfort and care that shaped her early memories. In a way, it's like that Carpenters song—gentle, familiar, and full of heart. Even across languages and continents, music and food have a way of staying with us, reminding us where we came from and how far we've traveled.