Longtime Nashville restaurateur Patti Myint has died, her family confirmed Sunday.

Myint, 73, who opened International Market and Restaurant on Belmont Boulevard in 1975 with her husband, Win, introduced Nashville to Thai food long before the city developed a diverse food industry.

"She was a Thai chili pepper (the smallest and the spiciest) full of love and kindness," said Myint's daughter, Anna, in a statement Sunday.

"A mom to so many, she has fed our souls and filled our hearts. No words are sufficient enough to express the feelings we have. Our hearts are broken. We will miss her."

The family is working on visitation and funeral arrangements, which will be announced once plans are finalized.

Myint was a trailblazer in Nashville, said local food culture writer Jennifer Justus.

"She was definitely a pioneer. Not just in educating Nashville about Asian products and flavors, but also just as a bold woman in business and the culinary field," Justus said.

About Myint

Myint was one of nine children born to grocery store owners from Bangkok, and grew up around the food industry.

She came to the U.S. in 1969, majored in business at Middle Tennessee State University and Trevecca Nazarene University, and planned to return to Thailand after earning her degree, according to The Tennessean archives.

Myint married her husband, Win, the same year they opened International Market together. The pair became a resource for refugees from southeast Asia who were arriving in the Nashville area during that time.

She opened her second restaurant, P.M., in 2003.

"I thought she was crazy when she said she wanted to open up another restaurant. I'm used to this by now, though. My wife is always busy," Win Myint told The Tennessean at the time.

Retired physician Larry Arnold, who provided housing for Myint when she moved to Nashville, reminisced in the 2003 article about when she earned her first paycheck in Nashville, and sent it back to her mother in Thailand.

Justus' favorite memory of Myint was picking her up for a photo shoot one day. Also in Justus' car was Phila Hach, another legendary chef and restaurant owner.

"Even though they had different backgrounds, the table was their common place," Justus said. "I could see the young women in them — they were so excited to exchange stories and talk about food. I felt like I was driving culinary royalty that day."

Myint's son, Arnold Myint, is a chef and restaurateur, whose eateries include P.M, blvd and Suzy Wong's House of Yum.

Reach Elaina Sauber at esauber@tennessean.com, 615-571-1172 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.