With the fall of Saigon to the communists in 1975, Vietnamese and other Indochinese left their lands, boarded boats and braved the high seas.
Many drowned and died but boatloads of refugees ended up in Morong, Bataan, where they were accommodated by the Philippines as a humanitarian gesture and were processed by the international community for asylum in Northern America and Europe.
In the refugee camp, the Vietnamese set up small dining places; some of the refugees eventually reached Manila. I remember a Vietnamese stall at the fast-food center right beside our restaurant Au Bon Vivant in Makati.
The joint was run by four Vietnamese ladies and their food was simply amazing. There were a variety of pho as well as fried and fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings. I remember seeing a lot of fresh mint and bean sprouts in the noodle soup dishes. That to me was my first introduction to this fine cuisine. Progress eventually closed the place.
My stay in Vancouver was also an exposure to great Vietnamese cooking. I would visit at one particular place called Song Huong once a week specially when it was cold and raining. I miss that place.
Now back in Manila, most of the Vietnamese restaurants are a bit of a letdown. They are far from what I remember the authentic cuisine to be. Even the big chains that have hit our shores are good but to me, not that authentic in taste.
Like Bataan, Palawan also became a refugee processing center and many Vietnamese took residency there. I looked forward to visiting this place and once again experienced the authentic cuisine I craved for. When we did our Nestlé Chef to Chef there, I made sure we went to the popular Vietnamese restaurants. I sampled their Vietnamese sandwiches called bahn mi and the pho. I was very disappointed. It was far from what I knew them to be. They made good Vietnamese bread though, but I was generally frustrated.
Food finds
But my frustration has disappeared since discovering the Bahn Mi place in San Antonio Village in Makati (tel. 808 7979). Finally, a place that offers authentic Vietnamese sandwiches in the Philippines!
And what’s nice is they are slowly spreading all over. In Angeles City in Pampanga, there are two authentic places that are making waves too.
Lately, we have been visiting the Pasig area and looking at the possibility of opening a commissary and a third branch of Wooden Spoon restaurant. Among the row of dining places was a Vietnamese place called Ba Nois.
On a quick lunch there one time, I tried my two favorite dishes—fresh spring rolls and bahn mi. The spring rolls were delicious. It came with a peanut sauce on the side. With that sauce mixed with some Sriracha, I delayed my appointment and I took my time savoring every bite. Sarap!
I just thought the way they were rolled lacked a bit of practice for the wrapping was not as tight as I remember it to be. Its taste was perfect though.
The bahn mi was also very good. It was slightly different from what I was used to. Ingredients inside were mayo, pâté, pickled carrots and radish, cucumber, chili, wansoy, a Vietnamese sauce and choice of beef, pork or chicken. I like the the chicken version.
Ba Nois is at 12 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo in Pasig (tel. 4779761).
Allow me to do more scouting on the other dishes and I will report to you on my findings. Meanwhile, let’s celebrate for Metro Manila is now beginning to experience again authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
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