food trip buddy: Vietnam and the city...

My insatiable cravings for food and my eagerness to try out something new is taking me places.

My food buddies planned to visit the newly opened specialty restaurant along Perea St. in Lagaspi Village, Makati City. Since we all work in a call center and have different schedules, it’s hard to work out a plan. Luckily, on the week of the trip, we had the same scheduled days off. After shift, we took a taxi ride from Northgate, Alabang to Greenbelt, Makati City. There wasn't enough traffic and the trip was quick. I was tired and having a slight headache from a toxic and ‘queuing’ workday. And I was thinking, I'll be very disappointed if the food is not satisfying.

When we arrived, we saw the simple yet elegantly designed signage of Ba noi’s. And as we entered, the sound of Vietnamese music was playing on the background. After all introductions were made, we settled on a black, wooden table for four. It’s a new restaurant that had its soft opening last February. The daily rush of customers had just subsided and only a couple of tables where occupied upon our entry. The place is relatively small that could house, as I estimated it, not more than 40 diners.

Enough about the place, time for the food. We're here on a food trip so we ordered just a few dishes of the menu list.

Goi cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls)-has shrimp, vegetables, herbs (basil), pasta (looks to me like sotanghon) rolled and wrapped in rice paper. Best eaten with a peanut butter-based dressing

Ga nuong (Grilled Lemongrass Chicken)-grilled chicken with the satisfying flavor of Lemongrass. Served with a dressing that tasted like oyster sauce and soy sauce but sweetenedho bo (Beef Noodle Soup)-has basil leaves and other vegetables, best tasting when made hot and spicy with chopped chili

Goi ga bap cai (Vietnamese Cabbage Salad)-served with chicken strips and Vietnamese dressing, nuoc mam. It is sweet with slight sour taste because of the dressing.

Goi buoi tom (Vietnamese Pomelo Salad with Shrimp)-good for people on diet or those who who's watching their oily food intake due to health reasons, has sweet pomelo with macapuno strips, shrimp and sesame seeds

Ca phe sua da (Vietnamese coffee)-authentic Vietnamese coffee beans, brewed and mixed with condensed, served with ice. This is very flavorful and could rival the taste of commercial coffee companies like Starbucks and Boston Cafe

Ba noi is Vietnamese for 'grandmother'. The restaurant serves fresh flavors from Vietnam with the feel and authentic experience for Vietnamese food. According to Chef Rob Desalisa, general manager, the restaurant was set-up as a way of “bridging the gap between Philippine and Vietnamese culture”. And true indeed, Vietnamese culture and food is not much publicized in the country, or very few Filipinos are aware that there is a market for Vietnamese food in the Philippines.

With the proliferation of specialty restaurants that serve authentic international cuisines, one does not have to travel outside the country to experience a taste of a different culture. And food is always a better basis to determine the identity of a certain culture and tradition.

Ba noi’s offers something new for food enthusiasts. Its a great dining experience suitable for intimate group dates. And yes, I may add, food is healthy and clean. There is Vietnam at the heart of urban Makati ready to be discovered and experienced. 

Plus, it didn't disappoint a hungry body and a craving soul.