Ok, so I heard that Vietnamese bakeries are amazing, and despite their unassuming store fronts, they have an amazing and loyal following. So armed with a big hunger and just a few dollars in my pocket, I finally entered one such establishment named, predictably, ‘Saigon Bakery’ on Victoria St, Richmond.
Honestly, I’m no expert, but I do know fresh ingredients and food prepared with love. Little Saigon, on Victoria street in Richmond, is just another wee Vietnamese cafe amongst many. The interior’s plain, and it’s full of locals who do their best to keep this well kept secet under wraps- no pun intended…
Note to self: whilst in Melbourne, stop at any sandwich bar and marvel at the potential for a super fresh, high stacked salad sandwich. Remember with a shudder, the nasty mayo laden coronation chicken, sad single soggy lettuce leaf and watery tomato slice, so typical of the London equivalent I had to make do with. So rejoice, order with the lot, add avocado and pineapple and a splash of sweet chilli. This is my favourite Australian lunch. Obviously a bakery like Babkas will supply the best freshly baked bread, but with the rise of the Vietnamese bakeries across town, you can get one super cheap just about anywhere. N. Tran bakery at 263 Chapel street Prahran is great; their white bread rolls lighter and crispier than most.
Since Princess Lottie joined an online cooking challenge (bit like a book club), she’s been presented with numerous recipes and dishes to make each month. One such challenge was to produce the national Vietnamese treasure of Pho. Being of Vietnamese origin, her husband Wayne, naturally wanted to partake, and do it the long way. I, on the other hand wont do it, but I will eat it with. Anyone recommend the best pho in London? Otherwise read on to make your own.
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This week it’s Princess Lottie’s uglier half giving you a taste of what it was like to grow up in Mama Hue’s kitchen. Strong aromas (!), fresh ingredients, and flavours that packed a whole lot of punch: that was Mama’s trademark. And the in-laws certainly approved on Saturday when we cooked up this Vietnamese inspired feast. Credit also goes to Mr Ramsey’s Chinese five-spiced pork for leaving the in-laws thoroughly fed and ready to burst, but it was really Princess Lottie’s chocolate delight in a box that made us roll them out of here…
PS: if you want to taste Mama’s home recipes, just give us a shout. I’m sure she’ll be on the first plane over here!
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Always fiish my trips to Melbourne on Victoria St with the family. We go crazy, 6-8 of us, polishing off plate after plate of fish, and squid and crabs and greens. It’s true delicious fresh carnage.
