I’ve decided to give my posts relating to my culinary exploits in Vietnam a new name, introducing… Food Porn!
Now I have a category to keep you updated on all the delectable offerings available kn Vietnam and anywhere else I happen to visit.
My first update is a good’n. We went to try some mountain goat at a restaurant a walking distance from the house. It was a nice change from mopeding for food. This restaurant was busy which is always a good sign and full of locals as it’s quite a distance from the relative ‘safety’ of the backpacker quarter.
Now this restaurant specialised in one thing and one thing only: mountain goat. A meat that can be described as very similar unsurprisingly to lamb but perhaps more tender. The meat came away from the bone with consummate ease.
First off we had some ribs which came with okra, both marinaded in a slightly chilli sauce of some kind. The cool thing is you’re provided with your own table top barbecue with which to cook the goat and okra to completion. This makes for a more active dining experience, bu no one likes smoke in their eyes. Still, it was worth it.
Next up was some fried goat with lemon grass. This was interesting as I’d never had lemon grass like this before. It had a crunchy texture. This was nice but was slightly greasy. Oh and we were told this is how dog meat is often prepared. Gulp.
Finally, to close out our meal, the Vietnamese staple of communal dining; the hot pot. A pot of soup atop a tabletop gas stove filled with meat (goat of course), herbs, spices and more, to which you add fresh vegetables and noodles. This was delicious and the perfect way to round out a lovely meal.
I forgot to mention this was an outdoor restaurant. When it rained they had an ingenius roofing solution. A slide out canvas roof on a pulley system that was out within seconds of rain drops. Wimbledon should take note on how it should be done. Oh, and the best part about outdoor vietnamese dining? You just throw your rubbish and bones on the floor. No clutter on your table! Though I did leave a foot outline in my waste after I left. I wonder how Yi-ban would feel about me adopting this eating style when I get back to the UK?
