Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila and the Embassy of Vietnam in the Philippines are bringing Vietnamese cuisine — which is more than just pho, banh mi and ca phe sua — into the spotlight with the newest installment of the hotel’s Flavors of the World culinary series. For the Vietnamese installment, Sofitel brought in master chefs Duong Dai Doan and Le Duy Thanh from the historic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi to transport diners at Spiral to the Land of the Ascending Dragon via food until April 29, 2018. PeopleAsia recently got to sample their culinary offerings at Sofitel’s Vietnamese Chef’s Table, where diners were able to watch and converse with Chef Duong as he prepared some of Vietnam’s most treasured dishes.
Goi cuon or fresh spring rolls
Bright, fresh flavors packed a powerful punch in these neat little parcels of fresh vegetables, herbs and seafood. Chef Duong prepared two versions: the traditional one with shrimp and a more savory one with smoked salmon. Served with a zingy, slightly sweetened fish sauce dipping sauce, these fresh spring rolls were a light and titillating way to begin the meal.
Vietnamese chicken and mushroom soup
The Land of the Ascending Dragon is full of delicious soups, and this chicken and mushroom soup is no exception. It was tasty, comforting and full of texture thanks to the asparagus and mushrooms, and felt like receiving a warm hug on a cold, rainy day from your mom.
Vietnamese grilled salmon with turmeric sauce
A hearty spin on cha ca thang long, this dish showcased the Vietnamese mastery over turmeric, which it was introduced to via the trade between the French-controlled port cities of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh) and Pondicherry, India. The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was perky and flavorful.
Cold sweet taro soup
Dessert soups are pretty popular in Vietnam, and this coconut-based taro soup was an colorful and uplifting end to a multi-course meal. Not only was it full of great textures from the taro and the tapioca, but it was also cool on the tongue and light on the palate.
The Vietnamese installment of the Flavors of the World culinary series will be held in Sofitel until April 29, 2018. Spiral lunch is set at P2,750 per person while dinner is set t P3,200 per person (April 23, 24 and 27) and P3,500 per person (April 25-26).
