Nghi Xuan Restaurant (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)

Bánh bèo tôm chấy (Tiny steamed rice cakes) 68,000 VND (S$4.10)

Nghi Xuan Restaurant located opposite the Saigon Opera House is a boutique restaurant that serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

It was not easy spotting this restaurant. You would need to spot its signage located at the left of the above photo at the entrance of the alley. After that you would need to enter the dark alley. The restaurant is located all the way at the end of the alley.

Entrance

The entrance of the restaurant. We proceeded the the second level.

The ambience and environment of the restaurant was excellent! Craved wooden chairs, flowers, wine glasses and lacquerware made the restaurant looked so classy.

Look at how elegant and classy the setting was. Suitable for even a royal family. The waitress were dressed in ao dai, a vietnamese national costume and some of them could speak English. The menu was available in Vietnamese, English and even Japanese languages.

Bánh bèo tôm chấy (Tiny steamed rice cakes) 68,000 VND (S$4.10)

We ordered the Bánh bèo tôm chấy (Tiny steamed rice cakes) 68,000 VND (S$4.10). Shredded shrimp, pork lard and spring onions were added on top of the rice cake. Each person would be served a separated fish sauce. Fish sauce would need to be added on top of the steamed rice cake. After which, mix the fish sauce with the toppings on top of the rice cake. Once they are evenly mixed, divide the steamed rice cake into quarters and then enjoy. The video below shows how this is done.

The Tiny steamed rice cakes were fantastic. The combination of the fish sauce, toppings and rice cake was heavenly. This is a must try if you are at this restaurant.

A Instagram video showing how the Tiny steamed rice cakes should be mixed.

Bún hến (Rice noodles with mussels) 68,000 VND (S$4.10)

The Bún hến (Rice noodles with mussels) 68,000 VND (S$4.10) which consisted of rice noodle mixed with mussels, mussel soup, roasted peanuts and fresh vegetables.

Bún hến (Rice noodles with mussels) 68,000 VND (S$4.10)

The waitress assisted us to mix up all the ingredients till it looked like the above photo as we had no idea what should be done. It had a good mixture of textures and flavours. Reminds me of Lei Cha.

Thịt bò nhúng dấm (Sliced beef dipped in vinegar hot pot) 148,000 VND (S$8.90)

We also ordered the signature Thịt bò nhúng dấm (Sliced beef dipped in vinegar hot pot) 148,000 VND (S$8.90).

Thịt bò nhúng dấm (Sliced beef dipped in vinegar hot pot) 148,000 VND (S$8.90)

It consisted of raw sliced beef, vinegar hot pot, rice paper, fresh vegetables and herbs, slices of unripe banana and star fruit, rice vermicelli and fish sauce

Thịt bò nhúng dấm (Sliced beef dipped in vinegar hot pot) 148,000 VND (S$8.90)

Again, the waitress demonstrated how it should be done before letting us try it ourselves. First, the vinegar hot pot was brought to a boil. After which, the raw sliced beef was dipped into the vinegar bath and cooked to individual's preference.

Thịt bò nhúng dấm (Sliced beef dipped in vinegar hot pot) 148,000 VND (S$8.90)

Once the sliced beef was cooked, it would be placed onto the rice paper on top of the fresh vegetables and herbs, slices of unripe banana and star fruit, and rice vermicelli. All that is left was to roll it up, dip it into the fish sauce before enjoying it. It was a unique dining experience, but taste wise it was not fantastic (i.e. not a must try).

Cơm hấp lá sen (Lotus steamed rice) 98,000 VND (S$5.90)

As we were still hungry, we asked the waitress for recommendations. We were recommended the Cơm hấp lá sen (Lotus steamed rice) 98,000 VND (S$5.90). The rice was steamed in a lotus leaf together with other ingredients such as carrots, corn, pork, shrimps and lotus nuts. It was the worst dish that night. A waste of the calories.

The food at Nghi Xuan Restaurant was more pricey given its top notch environment and service.  If you are there, I would highly recommend the Tiny steamed rice cakes. The staff were very attentive and prompt. They were always around and it was so easy getting their assistance. We noticed that there were no locals and that they catered to mainly Japanese. Their service was so good that we were shocked when we noticed that a Japanese couple asked the waitress to feed their child (who was playing with his ipad game). The child had to be coaxed by the waitress all the time to open his mouth to eat while the couple were just chatting away. And the child was constantly playing his ipad game even when he was being fed! I thought that crossed the line. Kudos to the waitress. Would you have done that if you were the waitress? 

Nghi Xuân (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)
5/9 Nguyễn Siêu
Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: +84 (08) 8 3823 0699
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
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Fanny Ice Cream (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)

Demi Bol 149,000 VND (S$8.95): Chocolate Sauce and Almonds

After our dinner at 3T Quan Nuong, we proceeded to the building next door for dessert! Our destination was Fanny Ice Cream, a highly raved about french owned ice cream parlor in Vietnam. I heard about this place on Celine's Carpe diem. 一期一会 blog.

Fanny Ice Cream was established in Vietnam in 1994 by Jean-Marc Bruno, a pastry specialist graduated from the renowned Le Nôtre Paris school. It manufactures 100% natural ice cream with natural ingredients, using tradition method which the Jean-Marc Bruno acquired in the school. Today, it manufactures and distributes its premium ice cream to over 1000 restaurants and hotels, and has 7 ice cream parlors in Vietnam.

Fanny Ice Cream's outlet at Ton That Thiep Street was huge, occupying 2 units.

This was what greeted us when we went in through the entrance. Clean, warm, cozy, air conditioned with a pink theme. Even the waitress were wearing pink too!

Part of the selection of ice cream with real fruits being displayed. I was wondering how come it seems like no one ate

Fridge with more ice creams, probably for takeaway.

As we were undecided on what to order, we were lead to the next unit where they had more seats available. They provided both alfresco and indoor sittings. All their other customers chose to seat outside (i.e. alfresco). But we chose to take the indoor seats and we were the only ones =).

This was what was on each table. By the way, the flowers were real.

Menu

Part of the menu. We decided to order the Demi Bol after pondering for sometime as there was so many choices and all the pictures were so beautifully taken!

Demi Bol 149,000 VND (S$8.95)

We ordered the Demi Bol 149,000 VND (S$8.95) which allowed us to try a little of everything. There were a mix of sorbet and ice cream, chocolate sauce, almonds, caramel sauce, whipped cream and fruit salad.

Mix of sorbet and ice cream

From the left to right: (i) Chocolate, Pistachio and Mint Chocolate ice cream, (ii) Mango sorbet, Vanilla and Stracciatella ice cream, (iii) Strawberry sorbet, Vanilla and Chocolate Coffee ice cream, (iv) Green Tea, Coconut and Vanilla Macadamia ice cream, and (v) Strawberry and Cookies ice cream, Mix Berries sorbet.

Fruit Salad, Caramel Sauce and White Chocolate

Demi Bol was very beautifully presented, just like how it looked like on the menu. I was impressed with the effort. The mix of ice cream and sorbet was very good and allowed us to discover so many flavours. We also had the choice of adding chocolate sauce, fruit, caramel sauce or white chocolate as a topping. For just 149,000 VND (S$8.95), the Demi Bol was so value for money! If you are around the area, you should give this a try! Great place and ambience for dessert!

A Instagram video (aka Instavideo) which I took.

Good news for Fanny Ice Cream fans. Fanny Ice Cream is in Singapore! The franchise outlet was opened in Feb 2014 at 99 East Coast Road, Singapore 428795 (opposite 112 Katong). It is Fanny Ice Cream's first outlet outside Vietnam. The prices are charged in Singapore Dollars (of course!). The Demi Bol would cost $25 in Singapore!!!

Fanny Ice Cream (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)

29-31 Tôn Thất Thiệp
Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1
Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: +84 (08) 3821 1633/0949

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other outlets in Vietnam
1) Vincom Center, tầng B3, 27 Lê Thánh Tôn, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
2) 22 Phạm Hồng Thái, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
3) 63 Xuân Thủy, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
4) Foodcourt Lầu 4, TTTM Pandora City, 1/1 Trường Chinh, Quận Tân Phú, Hồ Chí Minh
5) 6A Trần Hưng Đạo, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
6) 51 Lý Thường Kiệt, Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.

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Mr Bean Singapore: 1 For 1 Fruity Soya Milk on Weekdays

Source: Mr Bean Singapore

Mr Bean Singapore: 1 For 1 Fruity Soya Milk on Weekdays

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