Kwan Kitchen

Kwan Kitchen in Pasadena is a cozy, family-owned spot known for authentic Thai cuisine

There’s a rare, poignant beauty in watching mentorship blossom into friendship. When I first met Carla at a teacher during my new realtor training at a former brokerage, I was moved by her. Her poise, her depth of knowledge about real estate and  her ability to lead with quiet confidence was something that I aspired toward. Carla has always someone to admire in my life.

But, when we met for lunch after the devastating Altadena/Eaton Canyon Fire, I was thankful that our connection had deepened over the years into something far more profound.

As we sat down for lunch, I was honestly so thankful to see her alive. When she’s hastily packed up everything that she could carry and left her beloved house, she’d watched in horror as the flames from the fire consumed everything around her.

Her home had been lost entirely. Photos of ancestors, cherished mementos, the quiet details that transform a house into a sanctuary were now all reduced to ash. The weight of that loss hung in the air as she told me about it all.  Yet there was still a gentle strength in her presence.

It felt like a privilege to be there with her. This was the way that I could help my community directly – to hold space, to offer warmth, and to listen.

We began with the VEGETABLE EGG ROLLS – golden, delightfully crisp, and bursting with flavor.

I sipped on a THAI ICED COFFEE (coffee with evaporated milk). It tasted rich and velvety.

Next came the CHICKEN SATAY, which I’d loved just a week earlier, during lunch with a friend I met on a trip to Japan. That peanut sauce was smooth, nutty, a rich. I absolutely loved it.

For my main dish, I dove into the PAD SEE EW (flat rice noodle, beef). It had just the right kick of heat and the beef was tender and delicious.

But beyond the food, it was the conversation that we had that that was the most meaningful.

In a world that often rushes past loss, this was a pause and a time to actively listen. To offer compassionate connection.

And sometimes –  in the face of grief – that’s all you need to smile and get through the rest of your day.

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