What comes to your mind when you read
"Vietnamese Food"?
I thought it was a variant of Chinese food, to be
honest! Boy, I was in for a huge surprise when I sampled the Vietnamese food at
Pondichery Café, Sofitel Mumbai BKC last week .
Vietnamese food is known for its fresh ingredients,
minimal use of oil, and heavy reliance on herbs and vegetables. The cuisine
balances between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to reach a
fine taste. It's not surprising to know that Vietnamese food is considered one
of the healthiest cuisines worldwide.
Vietnamese cuisine is inspired from French, Chinese
and Indian cuisines. The cuisine is so rich in flavor yet, different from what
you expect. You have to experience the food to believe it.
|
||
The menu had so much to offer. I relished and loved
everything. The steamed prawn spring roll with peanut sauce was my favourite.
It was simple yet so tantalizing. The home-made peanut sauce was nothing short
of a wonder for me.
Here are some more pictures for you:
I not only had to opportunity to sample Sofitel
Hotel's menu, but I also had a chance to meet the Vietnamese Culinary expert
Chef Dao Van Son. Chef is currently the Executive Sous Chef at the Sofitel
Plaza Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
As I spoke to Chef Son, I realised how passionate
he is about Vietnamese food. I asked him questions from ethnic influence of the
cuisines to why the menu didn't have any pork dishes.
To my surprise, Chef replied saying he didn't
introduce it since not many people in India have an affinity towards
pork.
We were chatting for a while and then I asked him
about how Vietnamese food is a little bland for Indian taste buds. He said that
he does include chilli sauces to bring that mild spicy flavor and make it more
palatable for the Indians.
I was very happy to meet Chef Son and talk about
Vietnamese food. His zeal and enthusiasm was infectious.
I left the Sofitel Hotel with a wonderful memory of
a cuisine that I will always love.
 |
| With Chef Son |
Have you ever tried Vietnamese food? Share your
views with me in the comments below!
If you still want to explore more about Vietnamese food, you might want to read this.
If you still want to explore more about Vietnamese food, you might want to read this.