Ever smell the scent of freshly cooked spring rolls wafting through the library? Wonder where this mysterious delectable smell is coming from? Here’s your answer: Ting’s Twist on Thai. Ting’s has become a Hamilton staple over the past year, thanks to its quick delivery of fresh, homemade Thai food.

Ting’s Twist on Thai officially opened last year after more than a year of planning and is owned and operated by Ting Khumkwa. The idea actually started with a group here on the Hill: the women’s hockey team. Khumkwa and the head coach have been friends for years and she has always been an avid supporter of the program — last year, she won the “Seventh Man” award for her dedication to the team. So, when she decided to begin selling her food on campus, she brought some Hamilton women’s hockey players in to taste test.

The team came down her kitchen and tried a plethora of options. They had to rate the food not only on the taste, but also on how well they thought it would sell on campus. The team was asked to be brutally honest on the surveys, eventually narrowing it down to a menu of around 10 permanent items.

However, this menu has not, and will not, stay the same. Ting’s Twist on Thai is not a recipe-based restaurant. Instead, Khumkwa makes things up as she goes.

Khumkwa explained that she has “always loved to cook.” She is a third generation Thai cook and gained her culinary skills from her grandmother, aunts, and mom. Growing up in the United States, however, means that she has her own spin on classic items — hence the name “Ting’s Twist on Thai”.

While Khumkwa does not have a favorite item, two of her “guinea pigs” do. Andrea Rockey ’19 said she “especially loves the Thai tacos (coming out soon) and the coconut rice “because it’s like a piña colada in food form.” Jenna Jewell ’19 raved about both the spring rolls and the mango rice. Khumkwa’s current best sellers are spicy boneless chicken wings and spring rolls.

Ting’s ordering system, which operates on social media, is a convenient and modern way for college students to order food. To place an order, you can use the online ordering system on her website, message her on Facebook, text her or, most commonly, send her an Instagram direct message.

Hamilton can thank last year’s norovirus outbreak for catalyzing Ting’s delivery option. With students bunkered down in their rooms and not wanting to go the dining halls, Ting’s advertised on Instagram that it would deliver to dorms as an alternative. The campaign went viral (in Hamilton terms), and soon enough Khumkwa was doing multiple orders, seven days a week. She says that exam week is also a popular time, because she will deliver directly to the library so that students can keep studying.

Khumkwa also handles a considerable number of catering orders for athletic teams at Hamilton. So far, she has prepared team dinners for the tennis, basketball, softball, soccer, and, of course, hockey teams. Many coaches are pleased to have the opportunity to offer healthier options for their athletes in season.

Looking towards the future, Khumkwa hopes to eventually travel to music festivals with a food truck; specifically, she names Saratoga, local festivals in Syracuse, and even some down in Nashville as options. However, she says she will always be in Clinton during the school year.

Ting’s Twist on Thai is a unique offering in the Clinton area because it is one of the few international alternatives to campus food. With the relatively-high rate of international students at Hamilton, Khumkwa wanted to offer students some choices and create “homemade food that makes you miss home.”

If you want to experience Ting’s for yourself, look out for flyers and menus around campus, or just follow her on Instagram, @tingstwistonthai.

Rockey added, “If you’re sick of eating Diner B and want something both different and better for you, call up Ting!”