Fans of Unique Thai Café’s curries: it’s time to clear some space in your culinary calendar.

The popular eatery is set to reopen its doors at Southern Cross University from February 22.

Nuananong Puangkhamkhong aka Meaw is thrilled she will once again be dishing up her favourite red, yellow, and green curries to hungry staff and students.

“It’s been so long,” she says. “I feel like I just want to cook the food for all my customers who have been waiting for me to reopen.”

The eatery had been in its East Lismore location for three years when COVID 19 changed everything.

“Students were studying online and staff were working from home. Then they took all the chairs and tables away.”

The changes left Meaw with little choice but to close her doors temporarily.

It’s been a difficult period financially but she’s seized the opportunity to undertake some study of her own.

Mostly a self-taught cook Meaw says she had long wanted to undertake a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.

Now six months into the nine-month course at Wollongbar TAFE, she’s brimming with new skills and ideas.

Along with all her old favourites, she plans to introduce a range of healthy meal options to her menu.

“A lot of the staff are vegetarian and they have a gym at the uni. So a lot of people are into fitness and looking for gluten-free, dairy-free, healthy dishes.”

Her affordable pricing will stay the same, with homemade entrees starting at $1.50 and large dishes $10.

“If they can’t eat all the large one they can keep some for tomorrow and eat it then,” she says.