THE omens should be good for a tasty future at a new Thai restaurant which was blessed in traditional style yesterday.
Four Buddhist monks led a service launching the Chang Thai restaurant which is bringing exotic dishes from the East to a market town.
Six friends have teamed up to launch the venture in Bishop Auckland's Market Place offices which started life as a private house.
Partners Gordon and Somnuk Smith, Don and Duang Doa Beach and chef Angkoon Khongsan and his wife, Nutcha, have used authentic Thai furnishings in the conversion.
Before he came to England, Mr Khongsan was a well- known chef in Thailand.
In Durham, he worked at the Namjai and Oldfields.
After yesterday's blessing the monks shared a meal with the restaurant team and their friends, collecting food in a batra, or bowl.
Mrs Beach said: "It is the traditional way to offer food to the religion, represented by the monks, to ensure good luck for the establishment."
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