Power lunch at the Refinery

Power Lunch at the Refinery …..
By: Aly Abaquin

Power lunch is a luncheon at which business people or others of influence discuss work or issues in an informal setting: the lunch itself.
What better to do this in a courtyard wherein a former opium trade refinery... of the old INDOCHINE days.

In the early 1900’s, nearly a quarter of the Indo China’s national budget was from the sale of opium. The production of opium and its consumption was intoxicatingly addictively in vogue until the end of the French rule.

WELCOME: The Refinery situated or tucked away in 74 Hai Ba Trung in the heart of Saigon. Today the former glory of this factory houses a whole array of businesses from Wine cellars, a Disco, a Vietnamese resto and cafes.

Meet REFINERY a French/Parisian set in the 1940’s with understated elegance of intimate furniture and original tiles plus the patio yard spells relaxing & refined eats.

Here’s my experience…..

THE FEEL :Rustic French tables and dark colored chairs set up along a long bench with the use of the mirror and old paintings mimicking & evoking the opium traders.

It welcome its business patrons a quick glance into the realm of the good old days of the opium trade… As you sit in the long bench caramel colored cushion made me feel like a OPUIM TRADER of the era waiting for its share of the loot or traders waiting for you to give in to their bets or pleas as you play with the golden coin in hand..

Remember this is a Power lunch with business executives without the laptop, iphones & cellphone .. It seems to stop ringing here and of course no monkey business of sorts due the serious talk comes with happy camaraderie of equals since the place makes you at ease with their Romantic little nooks for an intimate talk and that classic décor within the enclaves of the historic walls makes you feel at ease…… Chinese Mafia Style…that is..

THE FOOD: We preferred the set Lunch it is impeccably assembled that consists of: 3 courses for only 170,000 VND or only $9 dollars. Gazpacho or Nicoise salad, the Main Course Spahetti with roasted pepper, parmesan and pistachio… then end it with coffee and chocolate mousse.

Start it with the gazpacho is actually a cold Spanish tomato based raw vegetables soup. With its refreshing qualities made me feel good about this working lunch.

All the vegetables and herbs are chopped and blended with pureed tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil. And garnished with fresh bell pepper diced tomatoes over a pinkish reddish cold soup.

This time the main dish is a French revolutionary in taste. Al dente Pasta tossed in roasted pepper with that Bolognese tomato base sauce minus the rolled ground beef instead a vegetarian styled of slice tomatoes, broccoli and a huge serving of shaved parmesan cheese with pistachio makes a perfect French fusion pasta.

After rolling up your sleeves for the pasta and mouthing out some figures and datas to Colleagues . You are then served with a chocolate mousse in a cocktail glass and topped off with a fresh mint leaf.

One spoonful of this chocolate Mousse and you will be hooked forever. Its ingredients of chocolate eggs, butter vanilla and heavy cream with its chocolaty rich flavor and its silky smooth texture is airy, almost foamy. The foamy is an apt description as “mousse” is french for froth or foam… capping off a biz lunch….

Remember this is power lunch with a prospective client so by mixing business with pleasure is a sure thing.
Either you win the account or stay longer for that perfect cup of coffee and as you shake the hand of your biz partner smelling like billion bucks.

Whether you’ve clench the deal or not you win friends in the process that’s how a power lunch should feel in the refinery …....

THE REFINERY
ADDRESS: 74 Hai Ba Trung, Dist. 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
PHONE: (84-8) 3823 0509
E-MAIL: therefinerysaigon@gmail.com
HOURS: 10 am - 12 am
NATIONALITY: FRENCH