STEAKLICIOUS

STEAKLICIOUS

By Aly Abaquin

JASPAS & Rock Grill ( Da Quy Nuong) is all about delivering big taste- truly unique and delicious steak creations. STEAKLICIOUSly yours freshly grilled may it be medium rare or well done.

I was craving for steak and I need red meat since been eating my greens almost everyday in Vietnam.

So when hungry for steak where to go?

There are two choices you can get that steak fix and two resto that wets your appetite with this lip smacking dishes that are both unique and delicious as recommended by yours truly.

Jaspas at Dong Khoi the shopping district & Rock Grill at Cong Quynh near the backpackers district Pham Ngu Lao ward.

When you walk in hungry you walk out full. That meant you’ve been treated with great new hospitality and you had a great selection of signature dishes from their array of menu.

Start your meal off the right choice of steak. Its big enough to share but many like me want to keep it all to themselves.

At JASPAS. Been in the HCMC landscape for many years now so considered a veteran and is house in the yellow façade and located in POSH Dong Khoi St.. The shopping haven for tourist and where the high ends shops are.

    Jaspas is an enduring favorite for all saigonites for they focuses on creative menus with Australian influenced & International fusion cuisines and main courses starts at 120,000 vnd or $6 dollars. Known for their excellent salt & pepper steaks with wasabi mash.

I ordered the Porcini Steak Grilled imported rib eye over potatoes gratin & sautéed spinach then topped with oven dried tomatoes and porcini mushrooms.

A little bit pricy at 282,000 vnd $ 16 dollars. But it is so worth it. The steak was so good every bite is heavenly. The gratin potatoes are mashed up with buttery goodness and the tomatoes are Smokey in flavor that adds color to the dish.

While for The Rock Grill who just recently open are introducing the stone grill do –it yourself cooking is strategically located near the backpackers area.

The all white façade spells casual dining that makes you feel welcome and rested.

When my Mom & Dad came to visit HCMC this is our choice of diner to celebrate their 50th Wedding.

For only $10- 16 dollars. STEAK DINNER SET. The steak meal set is with soup, salad, appetizers & dessert included.

The soup is pureed pumpkin soup that is so thick that complements the whole set while the tuna salad is just Average but the deviled eggs was good making you anticipate the Australian beef that will be served soon .

Australian beef at 120g with siding of baked potato, cauliflower, string beans and carrots.

So literally straight from the grill in this case grilling it yourself. The grilling experience is so fun that you can melt the butter in the hot stone then grill the steaks as you like it with cracked peppercorns and then topped with a cream sauce. The steak is tender & luscious as when you sliced it one at a time.

The Hot stone cooking is ready to rock once again. Its truly awe-inspiring steak creation will change your eating lifestyle. As guests are able to cook the steak and other menu items just the way they like them.

Enjoy both resto in their great laid back and comfortable atmosphere and learn why STEAK never tasted so big only at this side of HCMC. Indeed STEAKLICIOUS is a new word.

Animoto.com

Food for SEOUL

Food for Seoul
By Aly Abaquin

If you are celebrating any occasion whether it’s your own birthday, anniversary and or some special night out with friends in the city. You might want to consider going KOREAN. Yes in Vietnam it is starting to have more International cuisines and its fun to taste the culinary traditions of Korea once in a while.

If you can still remember the Korean TV drama Daejanggeum (Jewel In the Palace) in which a girl over comes social disadvantages to become, first a royal cook and then later as the physician to the king. The primetime show, Jang-Geum (Lee Young-Ae) relishes her culinary expertise amongst peers and then but using exotic aromatic spices made her dishes stand out from the crowd.

This had captured and aroused curiosity in Korean Food culture in Asia and the rest of the world. Here in HCMC Vietnam. Ms. Won of the Myung Dong noodle Shabu shabu would gladly welcome you to her newly opened restaurant that serves and cooks authentic Korean dishes that captured not only Korean nationals but also the local Vietnamese and other foreigners in satisfying their appetites.

If you have a great hunger for Korea’s age old culinary tradition let this restaurant satisfy your quest and curiosity. As they say food is the soul of a country it reflects its history values and taste. And in Myung Dong Noodle Shabu Shabu, it is truly food for Seoul.

Just like Jang-Geum, Ms. Won take special pride on freshly prepared noodles, dumplings and aromatic, organic ingredients to prepare a feast for you and your friends. There secret recipes run from generation to generation and this restaurant wants us to partake and be part of their Korean family.

The dining experience is therapeutic and soothing when you sip your organic Soya drink amidst a modern clean line Zen like ambience.

The interior colors of red & white represents Korea’s omnipresent Super Spicy Reddish condiment that is KIMCHI. It is considered the ultimate wellness food and a basic staple for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A MUST TRY :

The Myong Dong Kal Gook Soo Mi Myung Dong soup .The Fresh home made noodles from their factory are done everyday and is the main ingredient in this concoction of ground pork with emerald green onion leaks floating in a slow simmered intensely tasty soup.

There signature Myung Dong Special dumplings craftily wrapped ground pork and vegetables are so good that you must have second rounds.

The Korean BBQ is another tasty dish grilled thinly sliced spare ribs makes us say YUMMY twice. Tender & juicy slices are mouth wateringly the best we have ever tasted and is reasonably priced.

Of course do not forget the Shabu Shabu: Beef fillet with assorted vegetables in hot pot.
A crowd favorite Good for four. The generous servings of beef, sprigs, onion leaks and mushrooms will boast of a deep robust aroma after hours of gentle cooking in low heat.

Korean gastronomy has arrived stimulating and exciting Saigonites for a hearty yet healthy culinary adventure. Food for the soul indeed.

Myung Dong Noodle Shabu Shabu
261 Hai Ba Trung, Dist 3 HCMC.
T +84-8 3820-4085
F +84-8 3820-4084

Passion for sweets : Panier Bakery

Passion for sweets: Panier Bakery
By Aly Abaquin

It’s been a passion of mine to discover up and coming new food bites in HCMC.
Whether it’s new food concoction, drinks, trends in food biz or be it a newly opened restaurant that delights its patron with its uniqueness.

And the new discovery leads me to the path of sweetness. This bakery should be in your itinerary if ever you pass by 149 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ward 5 Dist 3, HCMC.

To satisfy your craving for Sweets. PANIER BAKERY would do the fix.

Reminiscing at Martha's Vineyard...... me in Black dog shirt.

THE FEEL : This Bakery reminds me of those bakeshops in the Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, The blue and white colors matching the seaside appeal of cape cods breezy morning and seagulls flying in mid-air as the morning mist just starting to mellow down in that early September morning I vividly remember. As I was sipping a cup of coffee with muffins & reading a book while friends are all in the bay window viewing the sea.

THE PRICE : Their passion for sweets shown in their round chocolate cakes for only 210,000 vnd or $12 dollars and the little one from 11,000- 35,000 vnd or .60 cents- $2 dollars a piece the small bite ones comes to you for only cents.

Not bad for quality cakes with a reasonable priced in this side of the town.
It is not commercialize cakes of any kind for its serving a new sweet sensation and soon to be discovered by the ex-pat crowds as alternative to other mass produce cakes in the city.

This quaint Blue & White colored bakery just recently open its doorsteps about four months ago and is doing brisk business. Baked by the Pastry Chef extraordinaire Calderazzo Lorenzo a French men.

If your passionate for sweets that are low in Calories and are good for diabetes. Then its worth dropping by this bakery to enthrall you of its freshly baked goodies.
As they always say in Food network always make room for dessert.

A time to remember

A time to remember
By Aly Abaquin

When you think of the historical past you’ll be remembering the spectacular man made constructions and natural things in the world. Right???
A various list of the wonders of the world have been compiled from the natural wonders, to ancient wonders and the modern wonders.

You might be wondering where I am heading with all this thinking of the past.. hence the title a Time to remember well that is exactly what this restaurant drawn its inspiration from.

The 7 wonders of the world representing perfection and plenty of the by gone era are monumentally replicated in the sprawling grounds all 4,000 sqm meter of it.

The 7 wonders of the world namely : The Great Wall of china, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, AngKor Wat, Pyramids of Giza, India’s Taj Mahal, Terra Cotta Warriors and added the Ha long bay legend.

And obviously the choice to name the restaurant: 7 Wonder World Restaurant. And don’t forget the café word to complete the title.
It is near china town and located in Dist 6 at the back of METRO cash & carry the mega supermarket now in HCMC. The location is far really really far from the tourist crowds in HCMC. And going here you need a map. As you well know your eater outer foodie junkie knows how to read maps and took the public transportation to the test.

THE WAY : Make sure to go there on a Sunday so that the bus are not that full and easy commute. Take the BLUE BUS No. 01 from the BUS station opposite the famous BEN THAN MARKET then this bus stops directly in front of another landmark of china town in Dist 5 CHOLON market. Half way there. As Confucius says : Patience is a virtue…. So from Cholon market take the Xe Om bike to Dist 6 only few kilometers and presto at the back of the METRO mega supermarket you arrived in your destination in full no missing body parts I hope due to the streets are being built and diggings are a plenty this side of town.
Transpo expense:. 3,000 vnd Bus ride + Xe Om 20,000 vnd. around $1.2 dollar ONLY ONE WAY so total $ 2.4 dollars…..take note…..
If you will take the TAXI … Just imagine the traffic and since the place from Dist 1 to Dist 6 is quite far I tell you’ll be paying 200,000 vnd roughly $11 and this is only one way so total $22 dollars two way not a good thing if your stingy.

Upon arrival your tourist foodie took the pics for POSEperity…hahahah coz this might be the first and last time I’ll be here. So photo ops galore.

When you dine in the pavilions of the The Great wall of china I ordered of course What else !!!! Go CHINESE.!!! Well the establishment is know for their Vietnamese & Chinese cuisine. Okey all the way to china town just to sample the dumplings, siomai, fried noodle and the staple of honey cured pork with Chinese fried rice.

Did I mention the dumplings are from 23,000 vnd to 25,000 vnd $1- $2 and the main courses are 50,000 vnd to 90,000 vnd... $2-$5. They also have the Crabs & sea foods wok style.
Well folks I miss the Chinese take outs… but this one are the authentic ones… in fairness they’ re good.

Was this all worth it….. the food is good… but the travel and the fascinating road adventure I just wish they got this one in Dist 3 or 10 perhaps more nearer to the tourist.
That said my Sunday adventure as I return to Dist 1 with mask on hand. Is indeed a time to remember.

7 Ky Quang

Located at the back of METRO Dist 6.

So 12 Duong 26 P11 Dist6, HCMC

tel no. 37551 577

www.7kyquang.com

Affordable Tokyo deli

By Aly Abaquin
Once I remember my visit to OSAKA for two days ,due to a stop over from my flight from New York going back to the Philippines....... thats way back when they over sold tickets for this flight and the airline reps was saying if you sell your ticket back to them they are willing to accomodate us in the airport hotel free food included so that this flight won't be over loaded.
So without batting an eyelash. I doing the unimaginable..... why with free accommodation to the airport hotel and they’ll book your flight thru Thai airlines anyways ...so fear not ... right???? The adventurous me wishhhhpering ( wishful thinking & wisper conflex words) to myself.
So what I did. I sold my seat/ ticket and since this is a window of opportunity to see breath and have a glimpse of OSAKA JAPAN with matching free stay in their airport hotel. I made plans to board the train and wonder in the tech savvy Japanese and found the sushi stand…. Boy living in Japan for two days was so excitingly different and expensiveat that...... but my love for sushi and the bento boxes made my gastronomical experience more memorable in that evening in OSAKA.

Now in HCMC there is this TOKYO DELI that sells this delectable bento boxes in 70-90,000 vnd . $3-4 dollars . The artistically crafted by hand sushi, sashimi and California maki’s enliven the plate with color. While you mix your green paste wasabi with my personal favorite KIKOMAN soy sauce.

You can’t wait to taste the fresh tuna, shrimps and what have you. As you get to pick which to eat first as your chopsticks clicking with vigor and happily talking Japanese.

Tokyo deli in Le than thon did not disappoint it’s really value for money and great tasting too.

Try the green tea ice cream too....It is okey to say YUM???

TOKYO DELI sushi

240 Le Thanh Ton St., Dist 1, HCMC

Tel No. 5404 -2244

Le Enchantuer : Mien Dong Thao Café

By: Aly Abaquin
Cafes in Vietnam are one of the kind. There are cafes playing loud music upon entry you feel there to drown you of there Disco feel music, Strobes lights, or the tiny firefly lights / flicker lights the thing we see on Christmas and New Years are a decorating must haves.

With Large LCD TV screens are staples that features football matches from Europe or Hollywood blockbusters while others harbor on the KAOROKE with matching bands on the side and lets you loose control for you to sing MY WAY or YESTERDAY or our “ANAK” - A Filipino Song popularized by Freddy Aguilar now an ASIAN Staple SONG which was Translated in every dialect worldwide.. including a Vietnamese version as per request from person singing .
Then afterwards that Soulful rendition they’ll give you a rose as appreciating your bravery for taking that time to damaged our ear drums. While beer and coffee mix together with nuts and bun (noodle soups) are always a favorite.


However if you like me are looking for quieter place to just talk and offer an indoor / outdoor feel of ENGLISH MANOR in a far far away land.. dream like feeling with Water and River stones where French music is at reasonable level in which one can just stay relax with friends over a Café sua Da or Tra. And you feel like your transported in UK.
Then you must go to this hidden treasure of a café house. Mien Dong Thao Café.
HIDDENLY Located at 221A Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển P.8 , Q. Phú Nhuận , TP. Hồ Chí Minh
Tel no: (84-8) 38451357 - (84-8) 62782208 Hours : 7:00 - 23:00

THE WAY : It so out of the way that no taxi can maneuver thru its little nook and streets. Better take a local so that you can get there or "Xe Om" A motor cycle taxi is a must.
But again make sure the local Vietnamese know where it is. If not you’ll be lost in the labyrinth of small streets and alley ways.

Its right beside the Train Tracks in Phu Nhuan District. Again I repeat yes its beside a TRAIN TRACK. …..Whatt???? Yes FRODDO it is true. What I did is I took a cab then I made him drop me off in the middle of the railroad in Nguyen Van Troi… Again you’ll Holler…. middle of a Train Track????….. Again Yes I am adventurous!!!! The taxi driver must be saying to me this crazy tourist.. Hahahahahaha..
So to continue in the middle of the main street where the Railroad tracks intersects the road (NGUYEN VAN TROI) you must turn on your right (Coming from Dist 1) walk one kilometer . Do this is the morning I suggest not in the night time to be safe then a few minutes you’ll reach your destination and presto welcome to the Middle earth./ English country side of Mien Dong Thao Café.

THE FEEL : LE ENCHANTUER: Inspired by the woodlands atmosphere of the English Manor in which your creative self will reside in a few hours and spent time amongst the trees there, listening, watching, waiting, for the Nymphs, Fairies and Froddo to appear.

Think of the English Manor House / Lord of the Rings/ Middle earth theme. Where the lords and the lady’s of the Lemurian abbey abode. . Wow the owners took painstakingly making this Manor stone house appear enchanting. Hence, the title….
Imagine for a moment that you are stretched out on a couch of rattan sofas, with a comfortable group of friends who are brought together by their love of the written word and their love of their own voices. Yeah ….People who sit together on numerous occasions for the simple pleasure of talking about anything that comes to mind.
All the while sipping Café Sua da and nibbling Tiramisu cake is offered and platters of food are passed around to quench other forms of hunger and thirst.
THE FOOD: Practically average but the cakes are sumptuously with quality.
THE PRICE: Reasonable and not pricey. 32,000 vnd – 55,000 Vnd ( $2-$3 dollars)
Overall a good hang out for friends looking for a quieter alternative of this bustling HCMC…good thing I have the book Lord of the rings to past my time reading. WinK!!