I have known Chariya for a number of years, and her MasterChef UK 2023 win was richly deserved. Her drive, enthusiasm and expertise has always been amazing, plus she is annoyingly likeable for someone so gifted.
When I learned Chariya was opening her own restaurant in Alton (also home to her coffee shop Coffee Cherry), I was extremely excited and booked a slot as soon as I could.
Now I am not quite sure how accurate this post is.
This is bun cha:
I have been waiting for a while in hope that Vietnamese food is about to be the next big thing.
Every town, however small, would have a takeaway, and one could devour delicious noodle salads, bowls of pho and fresh summer rolls with ease. The food is often healthy, always delicious and there are enough crispy things available for treats.
There are the odd restaurants here and there, plus a cluster around Kingsland Road in London, but they are sadly far too rare.
When we decided to visit Bournemouth for a few days, I did my usual food research and was therefore thrilled to come across a restaurant called Pho Viet (976 Wimborne Road). I visited the website and drooled over the menu, sent the link onto H who was likewise afflicted, and he booked us a table.
On a previous visit to Thailand, one night we ate out at the “99 Baht Buffet” (on the Pattaya Thai Road, Pattaya, behind Big C). The name was a real tongue-pleaser, as was the meal (…too much?).
On our recent trip the price had risen to a less mellifluous 129 baht, but the food was still as good, and at £3 a head, wonderful value.
The proceedings start (oh yes, this is no simple setup) with an alarming charcoal brazier being set into your metal table. This is then topped with a shallow metal bowl with a raised hole in the centre, to which is added a conical slatted metal hat.
While reading one of my favourite food blogger’s websites for tips on Penang, I came across a long post on a 2010 trip to Hong Kong.
One place mentioned that caught my eye was a café called Sun Kee (Shop 13-14, G/F, Champagne Court, 6-20 Kimberley Rd).
To be strictly honest, it was less the place than a particular dish, namely grilled pork neck and cheese noodles. My love of cheese made my attendance a must, and so one evening we pavement-tangoed our way to Kimberley Road and tracked down Champagne Court.
