In Asia the Silk Road is known as the trading route between the east and west part of the continent. This road has led to the interconnection of different Asian cultures and cuisines, said Thana Trepetch, co-owner of Silk Road Thai Cuisine in McKinney. Trepetch said the name Silk Road Thai Cuisine is fitting because the restaurant’s menu offers much more than traditional Thai food. Instead it features dishes with many Asian influences, including dishes more commonly associated with Chinese or Indian cuisines. “The Chinese heritage is quite big in Thailand,” Trepetch said. “It’s like one boiling pot and you get people from all over the world, and those are all the influences to the Thai cuisine culture. If you go to Thailand you can find food from every part [of the continent].” Trepetch and her mother, Mona Tapaneeyakul, both lived in Thailand before moving to Dallas. In 2010 they decided to venture into the restaurant business and took over ownership of Silk Road Thai Cuisine shortly after it opened in the Adriatica Village development. Silk Road Thai Cuisine’s menu is extensive, and though Thai food is usually for more adventurous eaters, there is still something on the menu for everyone, Trepetch said. Menu items include salmon panang avocado, golden bags, pad Thai, pad kee mow, tamarind shrimp, curry and much more. At Silk Road there is also an option for customers to choose to have no spice or select a spice level of one to five, each of which varies in intensity by food choice. “In Thai culture eating is one of the biggest things,” Trepetch said. “I think food and cuisine tell you a lot about a culture, and that’s always something that interested us.” Trepetch said that they try to stay true to their Thai heritage with the food they offer, but they have also curated recipes over the years to appeal to their customers. “We try to cook it authentically, but we listen to our customers,” she said.