Ho Chi Minh, Singtel/TLC Winning Ticket Trip
You may or may not know, but I entered a competition with Singtel recently, and I only ended up winning. Surprise, surprise. I struggled to remember what I had entered actually, but could not thank them enough. What did I win? Well only a three day, two night trip to Ho Chi Minh, and cooking class at Luke Nguyen’s Cooking School, Grain, for Mary and I. He is one of my favourite Chefs, and I have most of his books already, so I was massively excited. We left the older kids, but took Jude with us. What fun. Food fun in one of my absolute favourite cities on this planet, learning at one of my favourite Chefs places. Can it get any better? So begins Ho Chi Minh, Singtel/TLC Winning Ticket Trip.
It’s so easy to get to Ho Chi Minh, literally one hour and 30 minutes and you are there.
But first here is Baby Jude at Changi Airport, in the waiting lounge having met two new girlfriends. He is a bonkers socialite, and a little crazy. Here he is.
But when we got in the hotel limo, it took about 2.5 hours to get to the hotel due to such bad traffic. It was bonkers busy. We all had a little sleep, only so many times you can look at a scooter.
The driver was a top guy though, ad we chatted quite a bit on the way. One interesting thing he advised us of, was that the Mayor of the city had banded tuk tuks, as he feels they are unsightly. I think that is really rather sad.
The hotel was superb. A fantastic location, quality room, restaurants and seriously great staff. Jude found the latter out immediately with the gift of his Vietnamese hat. Lucky little thing. He is really getting in to it.
Baby Jude takes his trips seriously! The hotel were so kind to gift him this hat, but sadly we forgot it and left it in the room. Damn!
The room wasn’t ready as we got there at midday, so of to lunch we go. The driver advised where to get the best Pho. So we virtually sprinted down the road, dicing with death at every road crossing. It’s bonkers, you just walk across at a steady speed, and the cars and scooters ‘avoid’ you. It’s weird. They ignore the road signs, traffic lights and zebra crossings.
Well hello my new best friend in Vietnam!
We asked the limo driver where is the best Pho, and he said Pho 24. Remember my blogs of Hanoi? Yep the same joint. And how good does this look! Best ever!
Are we enjoying our first lunch? Picture paints a thousand words right!
Mecca for foodies!!!
A wonderful hotel thanks Singtel/TLC. Right in the heart of District 1. Perfect location.
We even had a nursery outside our hotel window on the ledge.
We decided to go for a little walk after we’d checked in. Lets go see the mighty Mekong. It was literally about 10 minutes walk down the road. Too easy. And what better way than to find your way around a city than to walk it. We also used the walk to select our targets for food food food. Oh yes this is one major food city, restaurants are everywhere – at ground level, 1st/2nd and also so many rooftops.
Here is that walk on our new GoPro thingy – LOVE IT!!!
Sorry a cheeky rude one, but this shop name did make me giggle. Can’t help myself. 49 year old child!
Thus is an amazing building. Bitexco Financial Tower. This also has a sky-bar, that we didn’t frequent but looked pretty cool on TripAdvisor.
You can easily see the French Colonial influence in Vietnam – from food to architecture. A beautiful hotel down by the Mekong River.
Old and new in harmony!?
The mighty Saigon River, it’s a beast of a river.
No traffic lights, no pedestrian crossing, no stopping of traffic – literally just walk through this lot and they ‘avoid’ you!
And then you have to take your life in your hand and cross a road – my Mary did it best with her eyes shut, ha ha!
We saw this from afar. Have to assume it is a restaurant boat, massive thing!
And Saigon River, the other way. It’s a belter.
And it is crossy-road time again, in the way back now.
Intently watching the speeding traffic.
Just one more car to go Baby Jude.
“What you think mate?”
“Scary Dad, scary!”
This is Luke Nguyen’s restaurant in Ho Chi Minh. We’ll be eating at Vietnam House tonight.
Back to the hotel though first for a drink or two on the roof top terrace bar, Saigon Saigon. What a cracker it is, although man-down with Baby Jude getting hit with the sleepy disease. The Caravelle Hotel is a cracker, it really is!
Not a bad view from the top. Opera House bottom left, Notre Dame in the background.
Notre Dame in the foreground. Sadly under some construction to all walled off at the moment.
Mary getting stuck in to some cocktails – come on, we’re on vacation!
She couldn’t resist the lychee Martini either. Good work babes.
Best peanuts ever. Dried chili added, and left to infuse. OMG beer food on steroids!
Got to have a pic of wifey and I having fun. Poor Baby Jude is still whacked out!
Night draws in, and a beautiful ‘glow’ hits the city.
A good segway for yours truly to be in a photo finally. Having a LaRue beer with them peanuts, atop the wonderful hotel. Happy days!
BRING IT ON VIETNAM HOUSE. More to come of review on IsLifeaRecipe, but suffice to say, I was a little disappointed.
I was a little disappointed, and yes Chef Nguyen I’d say it to your face. I have all your books and watch all your shows on TLC. In fa ct you even had your street food books on display for people to purchase in the restaurant. You present on Vietnamese culture, food history, food culture, and even cook on the street and in markets. BUT your food was not like that all at the restaurant. It was sort of a fusion style. I really wanted the former, the classics, the very things you who off so well on your TV shows. The food at Pho 24 was what we were after. But hey we still had fun, and it sure is a very cool fit out. Yes it was good, juts not what I expected.
Lobster netted Spring Rolls. Fried spring rolls, with lobster, prawn and wood ear mushrooms.
Mary’s Garoupa Fillet chargrilled in banana leaf, with Vietnam House XO sauce and Dragon beans.
Wok tossed Thien Ly Flowers with garlic and oyster sauce.
My Beef shank braised in Pho stock with black truffle and pea puree with Vietnamese mint.
I have to say the decor was incredible. A beautiful restaurant.
Saving grace for me was the desert. OMG, amazing. Pandan leaf creme brulee with coconut ice cream and sesame tuile. Absolutely superb. What a cracker this was!!!
Night time in District 1. Beautiful.
It’s brekkie time on day two, and it is cooking day. But first up Jude has to quaff down his bacon and eggs.
Whereas I opt for the more traditional – yep another Pho and a Banh Mi please!
We got a little lost finding the cooking school and walked past it a few times. There are no signs until literally they open at 2pm for the class, and then they erect a pull up sign. We were hot and sweaty. I needed a 333 and Jude needed some lunch. So we popped to this local joint, up stairs on the corner. Also a great opportunity to ask for directions.
We struggled to find the cooking school to start, so went for some light lunch round the corner. It was hot and we needed aircon and a drink!
Weird decor, I think you’ll agree. Mind you though, if there’s a flood we’re sorted!
We finally found it. A very cool place is Grain, Luke Nguyen’s cooking school. And bless Singtel/TLC they had booked us into a private class. So one Chef, Tuan, his assistant, Mary and I – with Jude watching. It was great. I learnt a lot from Tuan. Things like;
- Fish sauce has many different variants, almost like wine. I now will only source a better product, it made such a difference in the cooking;
- Fish sauce in Vietnam is not made with pineapple like it is in Thailand, hence Thai fish sauce is a lot sweeter;
- Using potato starch instead of flour, especially when shallow frying;
- When shallow frying use wooden chop sticks to test the heat, more bubbles = more heat; and
- For creating delicious fried crispy garlic and peanuts for salads, dry them first between paper towels before frying – hey presto!
And here is Luke Nguyen’s cooking school, Grain!
But Singtel/TLC have booked us in to private 122 session. How cool. Even Baby Jude was in on the action.
Yes indeed, I am looking forward to this.
Not sure, but I think she is proud of her efforts.
My version of the first dish. Pumpkin flowers, stuffed with prawn and dill and shallow fried. OMG these were cracking! I think they look pretty damned good.
And my Mary’s version of the same dish.
Actually we both were!
Dish number 2 up now. Chicken and cabbage salad with jellyfish. What a belter this was. So complex in flavour and texture. Boom! I have never thought to eat jellyfish, but this was great, pickled initially.
And number three up next. Marinated sea bass, served with a green mango salad. Steamed deliciousness.
Master Chef, Tuan. Top bloke. We really did have fun! Thank you so much Singtel and TLC.
Dinner tonight at Saigon Saigon, listening to some music. This has to be one of the best burgers I have ever eaten – Wagyu with an aged cheddar. Wow!!!
Mary goes for the spicy squid skewers. Looking good, and apparently delicious too.
Day 3, our last sadly in this uber cool city. Jude and I are up early and hear something happening at the opera house. We go to explore.
As, clearly, so did a shed load of other people. Literally parking up on the road to sit and listen.
A Vietnamese Michael Buble session going on.Big band and crooning all the way. How amazing. Man I love this place!
Have wee listen here – it was superb. The young lad at the front was the crooner.
A quick walk down to Ben Thanh Market to get some gifts for those we left at home. Hot and quite annoying as every single person tried to sell to you. Yes annoying, so we didn’t hang about. A walk home, grab some drinks in the hotel opposite as Jude needed a wee. Check out of the hotel, await our driver whilst having lunch at the Tapas bar in the restaurant. And what a restaurant, and lunch we had. It is some of the very best food ever consumed by family Kennett. Holy cow – just incredible food.
This was gorgonzola cream cheese. Wow what a cracking start. Love this!
Next up, mozzarella samosa, which was accompanied by this little side of a wonderful thick creamy tomato soup. For dipping. WOW!!!
This is a set of three. Slow roast pork rib, Pork and apple taco and Parma Ham Melba. Oh yeah baby.
Pork ribs, slow braised in miso. WOW, is all I can say again.
Hand-cut beef, wrapped over fries with a tangy dipping sauce.
A Wagyu beef slider up next. Come on can it get any better than what we’re eating so far. Just brilliant dish after dish.
And the last photo of the trip, and saved on purpose. This is the duck liver terrine with a cinnamon and apple puree. Holy shit, one of the best tasting things I have ever ever eaten. If you come to Caravelle, Ho Chi Minh – you MUST come to Tapas Kitchen and order this. It is die die must try, believe me, this is death-row cuisine!
So what can I say, but a massive thank you again to Singtel and TLC. We had an absolute ball doing Ho Chi Minh, Singtel/TLC Winning Ticket Trip. It was so good. The cooking class was excellent. The whole experience was just such fun. We ate like Kings and Queens (and Prince of course). We’ll certainly be back, next time with the whole gang. We’ll definitely stay again at Caravelle Hotel. We will absolutely eat more and more food, and for definite at Pho24. Love you Vietnam. We will see you very very soon.
Is Life a Recipe YouTube Channel
