Table Decoration - Class 18 Assessment Dinner
Social life has slowed recenlty but included an invitation to KOTO class 18's assessment dinner where the trainees had to provide an a la carte dinner for about 40 people including Vietnamese media personalities. I chose the fresh prawn spring rolls followed the salmon fillet and wasn't disappointed. A glass of excellent Argentine Malena cabernet/shiraz followed the "Warming Feel" cocktail (which lived up to its title).
A drink with Jimmy before dinner
My colleague, Janet, and her son on the left. Ms Hanh, KOTO senior staff, on the right.
Class 18 with guests on the night of the dinner
My English Section boss, Ms Dung, with Class 18 kitchen trainee, Mr Hung.
A welcome surprise recently was the visit to Hanoi by James Rees who lives at Bungendore near Canberra and who has been a close friend for many years. He's manager of business in the House of Representatives in Canberra and was chaperoning a bipartisan group of five politicians and three spouses on an ASEAN Liaison Visit to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. We all had lunch at KOTO restaurant last Sunday where they met Jimmy Pham and heard the KOTO story. With all four levels at the restaurant fully booked the place was a madhouse but feedback from the group was positive. James and I had a chance for a quieter encounter a few days later when met for drinks and dinner.
Drinks were at "La Fee Verte" bar in the new Accor Group's five star Hotel de L'Opera. Fee verte (green fairy) is the French slang name given to Absinthe and reflects the fact that this is the only bar serving Absinthe cocktails in Hanoi. They're delicious, by the way, especially when prepared by KOTO class 13 graduate, Mr Huan, who is now bar supervisor there.
Lobby at the new Hotel de L'Opera, Hanoi
La Fee Verte bar
Dinner at KOTO restaurant followed where James had a more relaxed opportunity to meet KOTO trainees and staff. The French Marsanne Chardonnay nicely complemented the grilled Sea Bass. He generously bought a "brick" for KOTO Saigon's restaurant for $100.
The excellent English language weekly newspaper, Thanh Nien, (which often criticises Vietnamese government policies and practices - including corruption) featured KOTO Saigon's new restaurant in a full-page article recently. The restaurant has also been getting good press reviews.
Thanh Nien Weekly's article on KOTO Saigon's restaurant
Traffic in Hanoi (and in Ho Chi Minh City) gets worse every year as the emerging middle class buy cars to replace their motorbikes and those that can't afford cars continue to buy motorbikes! Commuting to KOTO's training centre out at Westlake and other destinations by motorbike every day isn't too bad provided it's not during peak traffic periods but is still a hassle. When the road is congested, the footpath becomes a secondary road and pedestrians lose their territorial rights and must scatter to avoid speeding bikes. The pleasure of a late afternoon walk is thus diminished!
Bikes on the footpath - Pedestrians, run for your lives!
I'll leave you with this photo of one of the many derelict bikes in the car park of the Horison Hotel nearby, where I'm a member of their fitness club. This bike has a delightful little moss garden growing on its seat. And yet another photo of my grand-daughter, Dieu Linh.
Mossy bike
Dieu Linh
