Ted Liberda, the chef-owner of the stylish Arun Thai Place Grill, practically grew up with a sauté pan in one hand and a fistful of fresh cilantro in the other. His mother, the ambitious restaurateur Ann Liberda, insisted that all of her children know their way around the kitchen of her first Thai Place in Overland Park because she had big plans to build her own little empire. There are now three Thai Places, and Ted's three siblings all own their places (including brother Michael's Thailand Café in the Metcalf South mall). But Ted's cozy dining room and bar in the historic Western Union Building is the hippest and liveliest Thai venue in town. The food is surprisingly sexy. Ann Liberda's culinary influence is definitely on the menu (the restaurant is named for her), but Ted sets the tone for the music and the unique vitality of the place.
