White Taro - Surry Hills - Sydney, Australia

I'm back! These two months have gone by very quickly and Christmas is just around the corner might I just add. Will be jetting off to China, specifically Shanghai and Beijing soon, so I hope to share some reviews in the coming months. I haven't been to either of those cities so I'm really looking forward to this trip.

Now that Daylight Savings has kicked in with the lovely Spring weather, hope you've all been getting out of the house and enjoying yourselves outdoors. I suddenly felt like eating chips, so here I am eating a bag of Calbee barbecue flavoured corn chips. Oh so tasty.

White Taro is a fusion Vietnamese cafe by day and restaurant by night serving South-East Asian inspired dishes. Located on the corner of Albion Street in the hip suburb of Surry Hills, it's a short walk from the train station and can be easily spotted. Having only been open for close to a year, it has generated quite an interest on social media. They've recently started dinner service, led by Angie Hong, the mother of top chef Dan Hong.

The interior is simple and cosy. There's is more seating at the back and in days of warmth and sunshine, it will be nice to sit at these tables basking in the sun.

Look at that crackling! 'Taro's Deconstructed Banh Mi ($19.00)' is not the usual banh mi you'll find at a Vietnamese bakery. They've added a modern spin to it and it is specially made with ingredients you wouldn't usually associate with a banh mi and DIY too. Crispy pork belly, pickles, kumquat butter, chicken orange pate and apple and date chutney, all beautifully presented on a wooden board with a freshly baked baguette. The combination of flavours worked well together.

'Chook in Broth ($15.00)' is deceptively big in size. The chicken is flamed grilled and placed on top of a bed of egg noodles with pickles, a gooey egg and mushrooms, in a light and hearty broth. The marinated chicken is wonderfully charred leaving it juicy and tender.

A side of 'Chips ($4.00)' is always a must. Unfortunately, I was down with the cold so my intake of hot chips was kept to a minimum. It could have been a bit crunchier but the side of aioli was a plus.

I ordered the 'Ice Coffee ($6.00)' for myself. I was asked whether I wanted it with ice-cream and I said just ice, much to my friend's disbelief. How could you have iced coffee without ice-cream? I succumbed to peer pressure and it tasted so good because of it, so lesson learnt, have it with ice-cream.

'Vietnamese Iced Coffee ($6.00)' is a much stronger version of the regular coffee. It packs a whole lot of punch and is traditionally made with condensed milk.

While prices are slightly higher than other cafes in the area, the food is worth a visit.

Where?
67 Albion Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010

Phone no: 02 9211 0108

Opening Hours
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 7:00am to 4:00pm
Wednesday - Saturday: 7:00am to 10:00pm
Sunday: 7:00am to 4:00pm

Website
www.whitetaro.com.au

One Clementine - Kingsgrove - Sydney , Australia

One lady at work said that she went to a really good Vietnamese restaurant in Kingsgrove. In Kingsgrove I asked? A very random location given that there aren't many around that area of Sydney, with the exception of Marrickville. I love Vietnamese cuisine and even though my mum cooks it really well, I do enjoy eating it at restaurants as there is much more variety.

One Clementine is a Vietnamese restaurant located within a complex of new apartment blocks in Kingsgrove, on the first floor together with other stores. It's airy, modern and very spacious. Upon entry, we could smell the different aromas released from the cooking and it smelt amazing. We went during lunch hour on Sunday and it wasn't very busy, but I've read that it is much busier at night, sometimes with queues.

One Clementine serves authentic Vietnamese food but they have also ventured out with modern Vietnamese inspired dishes. They specialise in beef noodle soup, boiling beef bones for many hours to achieve the complex broth. They also have assorted baguettes and rice paper rolls. For those craving dumplings, selected dumplings are handmade on site, though it appears the prawn dumplings are not after confirming with the waitress. The prices are a bit higher than Bankstown or Cabramatta, but there isn't much competition around the area.

We start off with a 'Vietnamese Iced Black Coffee ($3.00)' which looks like how it is served in Vietnam, drip coffee over ice. Unfortunately, the coffee lacked the punch and hit that I'm used to. The taste of the coffee was faint and diluted by the excess water used to filter the grind coffee. I noticed that there was very minimal coffee put into that filter which may have deterred the overall taste. Won't be ordering this next time around.

The 'Pork and Chive Dumplings ($8.00)' are made fresh in-house. Even though it's not a typical Vietnamese dish, this extra addition to the menu is welcoming. The dumplings are filled with juicy meat and chives which may not be suited to those with sensitive noses, as these vegetables let off a pungent smell. A nice entrée with the sweet soya sauce on the side.

In a steaming bowl, the much awaited 'Pho Tai and Bo Vien ($14.00)' arrived at our table. It is essentially medium rare beef and beef meatballs in a beef broth. I asked for the beef to be fully cooked as I don't like eating rare meat. The beef tasted fresh and we could tell they didn't use the cheap cuts. The noodles were silky smooth to the palate.

I very much enjoyed the piping hot broth that had an amazing depth of flavour and the perfect balance, in terms of not being overly sweet nor too salty. It was just delicious and made me sweat buckets. However, they were missing one essential garnish, onions, which are found in most beef noodle soups I've had, as it gives it that extra sweetness.

The 'Pho Tai ($12.00)' is a medium-rare beef noodle soup. Cooked perfectly and like the one above, very tasty.

Fresh herbs and condiments to go with the Pho.

A great place that serves modern Vietnamese food at decent prices. Service is friendly and food comes out reasonably quick. The beef noodle soup is definitely worth having. We do miss the complimentary Chinese tea that we get at the traditional Vietnamese restaurants. Nevertheless, we will be returning to try other dishes in the near future. Thanks for the recommendation N!

Where?
Shop 1, The Pottery,
11 Mashman Ave,
Kingsgrove NSW 2208

Phone no: (02) 8060 7122

Opening Hours
Monday - Sunday
Lunch 11:00am - 4:00pm
Dinner: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Closed Tuesday

Website
www.oneclementine.com.au

Pho 24 - Ho Chi Minh City - South Vietnam, Vietnam

Pho 24

Pho is a staple dish in Vietnam and it can be eaten throughout the day.

Pho 24 is a Vietnamese noodle soup (Pho) restaurant, a popular chain and franchise, with a number of stores located throughout Vietnam and Asia. They are known for serving delicious and authentic Pho, using simple and fresh ingredients, at reasonable prices. The first outlet was open in 2003 and they have since expanded their operations and by 2012, there were 70 outlets.

We stayed at Palace Hotel located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. It's a great hotel with a central location, providing easy access to the tourist attractions. Do note that going around the City can be difficult as there aren't any trains in the area. Most of the time we took a taxi if it wasn't within walking distance. The taxis charge according to the meter and this turned out to be a cheap form of transportation to get around.

*Credits to Bu Binh

District 1 is the financial and commercial hub of the city and this is where most of the international visitors congregate. I felt safer in this area as opposed to another district we stayed at on arrival, which felt congested and not tourist friendly.

There are tourist attractions such as the Saigon Skydeck, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, Reunification Palace, Central Post Office and the City Hall. As such, there are many cafes and restaurants here to cater for the diverse market.  Here you'll also find international designer brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. I wish we stayed here for more than one night as there is a lot to see but we just didn't have enough time. Even though this was my third time going back to Vietnam, I never knew about this area until this trip. My aunt, a lady in her 60's, who has lived in this City all her life, has never been to District 1 and she said many like her also haven't. I found that to be an interesting fact as I would have expected most locals to have been here but she said it's more of a place for the younger generation.

Pho 24 is a few steps down the road from the hotel. Conveniently open from 6am, so if you're hungry you know where to go. A lot of places aren't open till 10am with the exception of street stalls and a few restaurants as they tend to stay open later.

The restaurant interior is modern, clean and thankfully air conditioned. You could say you're paying a premium for this welcoming environment. The Pho can cost up to more than twice the price of local fare.

The front of the store is where all the action happens. That is where they cook the noodles and compile the ingredients together. When we were there, it looked to be mainly locals who were eating in so that was a good sign.

Since it's a franchise, you can expect the quality and consistency to be will be maintained. The menu is extensive and they offer set combos such as Pho with a drink or Pho with a drink and dessert. At the moment there is a promotion on where you can get a small bowl of Pho for VND 29,000.

Pho is available in either small or large size. We didn't mention small or large when our order was taken, neither did the waiter ask, and we ended up with a large bowl each. Their large bowl is really filling and for breakfast it was a struggle to finish.

Chicken Pho is a hard dish to get right as restaurants tend to focus more on the Beef Pho. Some restaurants end up making it tasteless and bland.The 'Pho Ga - Chicken Pho (Large)' is served in a big bowl. A nice steaming, hot bowl of noodle soup with good flavours. The broth was tasty but it doesn't compare to my all time favourite Chicken Pho from Pho An. It lacked that kick, which may be because of how it's cooked or the spices that are added in. The thin rice noodles used are fresh and not packaged.

The 'Pho Bo Dac Biet -  Beef Pho Special (Large)' contains a mix of beef, tendon, tripe and beef balls. Their beef just doesn't equate to Australian beef. It lacks that oomph  factor and as such the Pho wasn't overly great, as the beef makes a big difference to the dish. The broth, however, was seasoned perfectly, not too sweet and just right on the palate.

The obligatory side vegetables are washed and cut up nicely. The beansprouts have most of their yellow heads taken off which is something I've rarely seen, if ever, at a restaurant. I actually don't find any difference in taste between heads left on or taken off.

'Nuoc Mia - Sugarcane Drink' is available in a can. Now that's something I never tried before in Vietnam. Unfortunately, it failed in taste in comparison to the real thing and tasted artificial. It wasn't bad for a canned drink but it can't replace the freshly made sugarcane juice with no preservatives.

In terms of cleanliness, quality and affordability, you can't go wrong with Pho 24. The Pho is standard and mediocre, but this is coming from someone with high standards for Pho as I've eaten it so much. If you're after those qualities and want decent Pho, then this is the place to go.

Where?

17 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng

Bến Nghé,

Hồ Chí Minh City,

Vietnam

Phone no: +84 8 3914 2424

Opening Hours
7 Days a Week
6:00am - 10:00pm Daily

Website
http://www.pho24.com.vn 

Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Cantho

Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Cantho

I'm back from the short holiday overseas! It was a fun trip filled with lots of eating and now I'm awfully tired and restless, having just returned last Sunday on a morning flight and then returning back to work the next day. I do miss the heat as the start of Spring here has been too cold.

I love being in Singapore and will never get enough of it. I truly wish I could work and live there one day as everything about the country is great and the reasons have been mentioned in one of my previous posts. There is always something new to see or try. The thing that brings me back time and time again is the food. Cheap and delicious.

A must see attraction in Singapore is 'Gardens by the Bay'. It's the most beautiful garden I've ever seen in my entire life and the sheer size of it is mind boggling. Huge! This was my second time there and I still enjoyed it as much as the first time around. Entry (SGD 28.00) for an adult includes access to two conservatories, the 'Flower Dome' and 'Cloud Forest'.

They occasionally change the themes and we were lucky to see the Orchid Extravaganza floral display. Just beautiful.

A one and an half hour flight from Singapore takes us to Ho Chi Minh City in South Vietnam.

Some regions in South Vietnam have changed drastically whereas some areas haven't really changed much at all. The last time I went to Vietnam was in 2002 which is a long time. The country is well known for its cheap food. In comparison to the prices in Australia, it is much lower but I wouldn't say it's extremely cheap. The prices have gone up but that is expected in a rapidly growing country. You're pretty much paying similar prices to what you would pay for hawker food in Singapore.

Crossing the streets in Saigon can be quite stressful. Motorbikes and cars are everywhere and going from one side to the other can be a daunting experience given that people do not follow road rules and traffic signals. Motorbikes weave through other bikes and cars which makes sitting in the car quite a nervous experience. One tip that was passed on from my friend is that it is best to go as a group or follow others when crossing and that indeed was helpful. This photo was taken in the early morning, hence the lack of cars and motorbikes.

One must visit attraction in Ho Chi Minh City is the 'Saigon Skydeck' or otherwise also known as the 'Bitexco Financial Tower'. First opening to visitors in 2011, this building stands 262 metres tall and gives a 360 degree view of the city.

It towers over ever building in Ho Chi Minh City and the view from the top is breathtaking. A ticket for an adult is VND 200,000 which equates to about AUD $10.00. For that price, I recommend you take time to visit this tower as it looks so different from the top. Entry permits you to the observation deck on the 49th floor.

We started the trip in Saigon and stayed there for one night before departing for Cantho. Cantho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and is approximately a three and an half hour bus ride from Saigon.

The best way to get to the suburbs is via the mini bus or coach services on offer as it's one of the safer and cheaper modes of transportation. Prices will vary depending on where you go but it cost us VND 130,000 which equates to about AUD$6.50 for a trip from Saigon to Cantho. There are currently two companies which I've been told are reliable including Thanh Buoi and Phuong Trang. It was definitely money well spent as the ride was smooth and hassle free.

The reason as to why we went to Cantho is my mum was originally born there. We still have relatives living there so we took this opportunity to visit them, having not seen them in person for over 12 years.

One thing that I noticed that was different from before is the presence of a supermarket. Most people prefer to shop at the supermarket as there is more variety and as my cousin said, you have  the freedom to look at products and walk around freely. This has left the street stalls quieter as less people are buying, which is concerning given families depend on this source of income to survive.

One drink that I had every day whilst staying in Cantho was the 'Vietnamese Iced Coffee - Ca Phe Da (VND 10,000)'. So refreshing and cheap. Their coffee is filtered through a special type of filter which uses a dripping process to extract the coffee from the grinded coffee. It's a slow process and takes longer than an espresso machine but the flavour is absolutely brilliant. It's strong and will wake you up or keep you awake. Do give it a try when you get the chance to.  This type of coffee can be found in Vietnamese grocery stores or cafes located in Bankstown, Cabramatta and Marrickville.

Restaurant food posts with names and addresses to follow shortly.

Gardens by the Bay
18 Marina Gardens Dr
Singapore 018953
Singapore

Website: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html

Saigon Skydeck
No.2 Hai Trieu Street
Ben Nghe Ward
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam

 Website: http://saigonskydeck.com/