By Merle Exit
When the producers of the Cooking Channel show “Restaurant Redemption” went looking for an eatery that needed a makeover, they opted to seek out a place hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.
Their search led them to the Rockaways and Robert Kaskel’s Thai Rock, which suffered heavily during the 2012 superstorm.
“Once they decided on focusing on my restaurant, they sent a whole team consisting of designers, consultants and cooking experts,” said Kaskel. “There were several meetings and a week of filming in which we had to close down the restaurant.”
The show’s host, Ching-He Huang usually shakes up the chosen restaurant’s menu, but not at Thai Rock, where she simply added three new dishes.
“She told me that she had spent four months in Thailand and after doing a tasting, said that it was the best Thai food she’d ever had,” Kaskel said. “I was more than thrilled to hear this. The recipes have been passed on through my wife’s family as if you were eating at her home.”
Prior to the hurricane, Kaskel had sunk everything he owned into Thai Rock. After Sandy, he was left with about $1.5 million in total debts related to the cleanup.
Two years have passed and the surrounding neighborhood hasn’t fully recovered from the devastation.
“At this point I have only gotten about $5,000 from the government,” said Kaskel. “Aside from the food we have live bands on the weekends and sometimes on Thursday. It isn’t a fancy restaurant, by no means. I have always just wanted to have a place that has great food and a more than welcoming atmosphere.”
The episode focuses on Huang introducing her recipes of a steak entrée, chicken lard appetizer and a coconut dessert, which Kaskel fully intends to add to the menu.
As for the redemption itself, Kaskel said that the Cooking Channel concentrated on the outside deck that simply got a bit of a makeover “being painted and adding ornaments.”
What was Kaskel’s reaction to the program when aired?
“Watching the show brought back good memories of the week we filmed and the opportunity it gave me to reflect on the business we built and the journey we’ve taken,” he said.
Thai Rock is located at 375 Beach 92nd St., Rockaway Beach. For more information, call (718) 945-5111, or visit its website at thair
