Thai immigrant embraces freedom in America; opens restaurant on Shrewsbury St.

WORCESTER — Bator Lachmann always describes America as “the land of freedom” and “the land of possibility.” 

Growing up in Bangkok, Lachmann, owner of Basil n’ Spice Thai Cuisine at 299 Shrewsbury St., met missionaries from Utah and Salt Lake City at her church in Thailand and decided that some day she would visit churches and temples in the U.S.

Soon after, Lachmann gave her best effort to become an exchange student in the U.S., though eventually she did not make it. She then forgot about America. 

But fate would change when Lachmann met her husband when she was 23. Her husband was originally from Israel and went to Thailand for vacation after serving in the Israeli military for three years.

They soon fell in love, married in 1990 and moved to Israel right after. The couple then stayed in Israel for 13 years before immigrating to the U.S. in 2001 where she gave birth…