VACY has become home to an unlikely love story, one that has benefited the region’s culinary scene.
Natthanicha ‘Nim’ Chaiyachin and Pieter Wood began their journey as a couple online, introduced through family connections.
Months of daily conversations then led Pieter to travel to Thailand in October 2022 to meet Nim for the first time.
“By the end of that month we had fallen in love and were engaged to be married,” Pieter said.
“I left Thailand soon after and returned just three months later.”
Nim, originally from the rural Issan region in north-east Thailand, was a high school teacher specialising in traditional Thai dance.
Her family had a strong culinary background that would later prove pivotal in their story.
“[They] had a history and strong connection to cooking Thai food which I got to experience first hand in Thailand,” Pieter said.
After returning to Australia together in April 2023, the couple settled in the Hunter, eventually finding their place near Vacy along the Allyn River.
“We both love the area. Nim is a country girl, so she feels at home close to nature,” Pieter said.
“We have beautiful views over the countryside and are very happy to be living in such a beautiful and peaceful environment.”
Opening a restaurant had long been a shared dream, and in May 2024 that dream became reality when they took over the former Flying Duck site and launched Zabb Thai.
Despite having no prior experience running a restaurant, Nim developed the menu herself, drawing on family recipes, hands-on experience and countless hours of trial and error.
“Customers tell us it’s the best Thai they’ve ever had, even better than Sydney,” Pieter said.
“We’re proud to bring a true taste of Thailand to Vacy.”
By Shannon BENTON
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