The Gazette tags along on a Back Porch Cafe friends' reunion in Thailand

Siri Svasti, Bee Neild, Michael Kogler, and Keith Fitzgerald spent 18 days in Bangkok together, reaffirming their friendships of 50 years. They all met while working at the newly opened Back Porch Cafe in the mid-1970s. Keith and Siri became owners, and Siri was co-executive chef with Leo Medisch for over 10 years. Bee and Michael were longtime members part of the service staff. When Siri returned to his homeland of Thailand, he became a celebrity television chef, known as Chef McDang, with a show about Thai cuisine, culture, and history that is popular throughout Southeast Asia. He has published several cookbooks in Thai and one in English. He is currently an instructor at the new Food School in Bangkok and is building his presence on YouTube. He is also a member of the Royal Family. Although Bee, Michael, and Keith have visited Siri in Thailand several times since his return there, it has been more than five years since they made the trip. This time the guys spent their time in the provinces of Chantaburi and Suphan Buri, which are mostly rural and agricultural with many historical sites, incredible Buddhist temples, warm and welcoming people, and a wide variety of Thai cuisines.