A Taste of Vietnam

A couple of weeks ago a friend introduced me to Aobaba close to the cosmopolitan area of Elephant and Castle. This bright Vietnamese cafe selling authentic street food also has a small supermarket attached.

There was no food sampling on this visit but instead our curiosity led us to order Bubble Tea.  A Taiwanese 80's invention.

This was new to me and the web site tells more www.aobaba.com/ First you choose a tea base either black or milk, then your flavour Taro was recommended for us as "not too sweet" and finally a choice of topping either jelly or chewy tapioca balls which you drink through thick straws.  Would I rush back to try it again probably not.

I do plan to return to Aobaba though to try the food which was a welcome reminder of a visit to Vietnam a few years ago. This long thin country is one of contrasts. In the north we stayed in Hanoi a bustling city with french colonial influences. A mix in chilly February of colourful new year celebrations and an austere heritage.

A few days spent in Hoi An the ancient city in the middle of the country on the South China Sea was completely different a relaxed and vibrant world heritage centre full of sunshine and colours.

The food everywhere was stunningly good think fresh ingredients, bright colours, crunchy vegetables and vibrant herbs in abundance together with the classic Asian five flavour elements of sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter.

Finally here is my own version of Vietnamese Spring Rolls perfect with a chilli dipping sauce