Temple tradition bows to neighbors' pressure - North Hollywood's Wat Thai suspends its popular weekend food fairs over parking issues.
Rumors were sweeping the Los Angeles food blogging world.
"Wat Thai Temple -- food court closing?" asked the entry on Chowhound.com.
"Noooo
Ethnic food aficionados are aghast at the prospect of a future without such delicacies as hot green papaya salad, tangy fish cakes and little coconut pastries that some call the best Thai food in America -- or at least in Los Angeles.
The regular weekend food fair at Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood has grown over decades into a "must" event for Asian-food lovers. But the fair went on temporary hiatus as of Sunday because its popularity has outstripped available parking spaces, temple and city officials say.
Nearby residents have grown irritated at the hordes of gourmands from throughout the region who descend on Saturdays and Sundays, seeking chicken skewers and sweet sticky rice with mango. They complain that visitors park their cars on narrow residential streets, creating severe parking problems.
"Our quality of life is horrible on weekends," said Corrie Wysner, who recently had a car towed from her driveway. "It's unfair on us -- people honking horns, blocking driveways."
In response, temple officials have closed the fair while they work toward a solution, said temple legal advisor Rosalyn Patamakanthin, a Los Angeles attorney. Some ideas being considered are closer parking supervision and shuttles from outlying lots.
Fans learned the news this weekend as they lingered over noodle soup with duck and soothing coconut milk at tables next to the dozen food booths on the temple grounds.
"I was so sad. Really, I can't believe it," said Susan Deocales, 56, who said she came to the fair every week and that the food reminded her of her native Philippines.
Some wonder why the fair could not have stayed open while parking problems are resolved. Surapol Roajphlastien, a fan from North Hollywood, is collecting signatures on a petition asking the city to keep the food fair open, reporting 2,000 signatures as of Sunday night.
"It's not fair for us, to shut it down like that," he said.
No reopening date has been set, which unnerves fans who fear that the mom-and-pop vendors will move elsewhere and the food court will fade away like so many other Angeleno traditions.
Temple officials reached the decision at an Aug. 1 meeting with neighbors, a city planning representative and a field deputy to Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, Patamakanthin said.
