I thought it would be a smart move to visit a Vietnamese restaurant before actually going there. Although I have an ample supply of power bars and a small jar of peanut butter, I will still need to jump into the local food faire to get the total experience.
This place is run by a family where the dad got out of Saigon in 1975, 2 days before the April 30th fall, and settled in Minnesota. He then brought his son, our waiter, over in 1983. Located in Eden Prairie, it had an extensive menu (actually too many choices in my view) with Minnesota versions of dishes and then a dedicated page for people looking for more of a local venue. I opted for the latter, hoping that the beef designation did not mean snake, cat or some other species variety. It was great and I chased it down with a couple of Chinese beers.
When asked if there is anything we could bring back, he requested 2 cartons of branded "555" cigarettes. I had never heard of these before and looked at a pack that appeared identical to a box of Winston's. I guess he wanted to get a taste of the homeland but in assessing his age, he has probably spent more time in Minnesota than most of my friends so I am not sure why he needs the nicotine fix from the homeland.
He, Daniel, asked if we were going to play golf. I hate golf and would rather burn 4 hours and $200 dollars in local watering hole but was interested and impressed with his knowledge of the Vietnam golf scene. There are 7 courses in the country all designed by Americans or Japanese. A little trivia.
Departure countdown is at 3 days and counting.
1 comment:
"555" are the premier brand of cigarettes in SE Asia. They are very popular with the monied in Cambodia, too.
Be sure to have the Vietnamese "pho" (pronounced fuh). It's a noodle soup with vegies and usually beef eaten and served for breakfast everywhere in Vietnam (and Cambodia too, but it's a different name there: Chinese noodle soup)
When in Siem Reap, be sure to try the pho noodle soup at the Soup Dragon in the Old Market area. It's run by Vietnamese-Cambodians.
There's plenty of watering holes in SR. Try the Warehouse (it has art, too!), Funky Monkey (if not doing renovation), Temple Bar, and there's one more that is off the main "pub street" but is on the roof of a building and overlooks the pub street (just across from Monorom restaurant)
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