Chef Bobby Chinn signs his book introducing Vietnamese cuisine at the Taste of London.  — Photo vietnamplus.vn

LONDON (VNS) — London-based restaurant The House of Ho, run by chef Bobby Chinn, introduced Vietnamese dishes at the Taste of London event held between last Wednesday and Sunday in Regent's Park, London.

For his debut appearance at the annual event, Chinn served up traditional Vietnamese dishes such as bun bo Nam Bo (southern beef noodle), banh my pate (bread stuffed with cooked minced pork liver) and nem cuon (spring rolls stuffed with vegetables, pork and shrimp).

The event attracted thousands of customers, who came to sample the food and beverages from 200 stalls representing various countries including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain. Japan, South Korea, China, and Thailand, as well as the United States, also featured their local cuisines at the event.

Janemane and Francois Mazoudier said they greatly enjoyed the Vietnamese food, especially the spring rolls.

They noted the difference between Chinese and Vietnamese food, where the former is quite heavy and has lots of starch, while the latter is lighter and contains more vegetables. As a result of their experience, they hoped to travel to Viet Nam soon to taste more of the local cuisine.

Chinn also demonstrated to the audience his version of a bowl of bun bo Nam Bo, made in only 30 minutes, and signed copies of his book Vietnamese Cuisine, which records his experience of living in Viet Nam and cooking Vietnamese food for 20 years.

Meanwhile, My Hanh introduced her signature line of sauces with special Vietnamese flavours at her booth "Thuy's Viet Kitchen".

This event marked the tenth anniversary of the Taste of London festival, which has become a much-anticipated occasion every summer in London, creating an opportunity for countries to popularise their culture and encourage tourism.

Bobby Chinn spends most of the year in Viet Nam and travels extensively throughout Asia.

At his restaurants in Viet Nam, Restaurant Bobby Chinn in Ha Noi (open since 2001) and Bobby Chinn Saigon (open since 2011), Bobby's style mixes French technique, Californian sensibility, a pinch of Middle Eastern spices and a touch of Southeast Asian flavours.

He opened The House of Ho restaurant in the heart of Soho, London, last autumn. — VNS