Jam Sanitchat initially made ice cream at Thai Fresh for the first time because she had an excess supply of mangoes, thus making mango ice cream with a coconut base, according to the website. (Courtesy Liz Harroun)
Gati Cafe started out as a dessert spot in East Austin and soon evolved into a cafe serving up vegan ice cream, baked goods, morning meals and mid-day eats with flavors from across the map.
The context
Gati Cafe is rooted in chef and owner Jam Sanitchat’s experience as a traveler and seasoned restaurateur.
Sanitchat moved to the U.S. in 2001 to attend graduate school in Austin, though she later transitioned from student to teacher. She started teaching cooking classes, selling her food at farmers markets and eventually launching a brick-and-mortar.
While Sanitchat doesn’t have formal culinary training, she has been helping out in the kitchen since she was a child. She launched her first restaurant, Thai Fresh, in 2008, with Gati following in 2020. (Courtesy Liz Harroun)
Her first venture as a restaurant owner came in 2008 when she opened Thai Fresh, offering pre-prepared meals with the same Thai flavors she grew up eating and cooking at home. As Thai Fresh’s dessert menu expanded and the restaurant became a destination for sweets, Sanitchat opened Gati as an ice cream shop in 2020.
On the menu
The concept started as a dessert shop, selling vegan coconut milk ice cream, including Thai coffee and tea flavors, pandan, lavender caramel, toasted coconut chip and black sticky rice horchata. Other cafe desserts include brownies, cookies, banana bread, macaroons, cakes, and other baked goods.
After opening, Sanitchat decided to expand the menu to include an entirely gluten-free brunch and bakery lineup because she had always dreamed of selling breakfast.
Menu items at Gati Cafe include biscuits and gravy, made with pork sausage or mushroom dairy-free gravy on two vegan biscuits ($15). (Courtesy Liz Harroun)
Now, diners can settle in for shrimp and grits; mushroom congee; moo ping, a classic Thai street breakfast; sweet potato gnocchi; and more. Inspiration for the dishes comes from Sanitchat's travels and residence in different parts of the world, like shrimp and grits from New Orleans or meat pies from Australia.
Staying local
One of the menu’s key features is its locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. Sanitchat learned about local produce and meat when she sold her food at local farmers markets before opening up her first restaurant. She used to trade leftover food for fresh produce from nearby vendors, slowly adding ingredients from the market into her rotation.
“I started learning how big the U.S. is, how things could travel from far away [and] what common footprint it creates if it has to be shipped from too far away,” Sanitchat said. “So, I started the principle of using all local meats ... [and] vegetables whenever possible.”
The meals and treats at Gati are crafted with plant-based colors and organic sugar, with much of the menu being vegan.
Gati has over 40 rotating ice cream flavors. Each flavor is made with about five ingredients, including coconut milk and fair trade organic sugar or palm sugar. (Courtesy Liz Harroun)
Respecting the craft
Another pillar of Thai Fresh that Sanitchat brought over to Gati Cafe is the menu prices. Sanitchat chose to price items according to the restaurant's production costs and pay employees a livable wage. The restaurant offers employees paid time off, paid sick leave, insurance and a wage based on the livable wage in Austin, not just in Texas, Sanitchat explained.
“Our mission is people-first,” Sanitchat said. “So, we take care of our employees, we take care of the community, farmers, and ranchers, and then we take care of the customers. We want customers to get the best possible ingredients and products they can, that is good for their health and the environment.”
One more thing
For Gati Cafe fans who are looking for even more desserts, Sanitchat said the brand is looking to expand its wholesale efforts to ship whole cakes and brownies across the country and ship or deliver ice cream locally. The goal, Sanitchat said, is to reach a wider audience, starting with integration into local grocery stores.
