Not many of my friends are aware of this
but for the first few years of my life I was raised in suburbs of Flemington by
my late ah mar (grandmother from dad’s side), and had an abundant of local
Vietnamese restaurants across the road from me.
We still returned to the local Vietnamese
restaurant after my grandmother passed, and that I had a younger sibling. It
was then pho and my brother obtained a love/hate relationship with me. That
slippery noodle always slid off my chopsticks before it even reached my mouth
really annoyed my rumbling belly.
But I watched this restaurant change
managements, and we never returned but the other day my parents and I walked
passed and I was a little saddened to see that the shop front had not only
changed completely but it the last restaurant there was well … the last.
So, being in Flemington – dad finds it hard
to choose a restaurant to go in to. But we had found ourselves in Saigon BBQ on this
cool autumn day. I mean, this perfect for pho day. Pho sure!
 |
| Iced lemon tea $3 |
Mum gets an iced lemon tea; it’s got a
quick zing before the palate is hit with the lemon sweetness.
 |
| Vietnamese spring rolls $10 |
The spring rolls are super crispy, it’s actually rare to get such a crunch and it’s
addicting. There are notes of vermicelli and bits of meat. But that crunch
totally has us biting in for more.
 |
| Deep fried chicken and rice $11 |
I don’t think I’ve ever blogged with dad
before, so he wasn’t very used to the whole, camera eats first. “By the time
you’re done, it’s going to get cold,” Another love/hate, he can be such a kid
at times but it’s rather amusing. He finds the tomato rice a little tasteless,
which he is a little disappointed about.
 |
| Combination beef noodle soup $10 |
Ah por (grandma from mum’s side), mum and
myself went with the combination beef noodle soup. I know, so much for variety
right? I’ve forgotten the hate I had with pho because it brings out more love
for me now, as I remember how my uncle used to cut the noodles smaller for me
to just spoon and it. So if anything, I have even more love for pho. There is a
generous serving with meats, tripe and loins. It made my belly all warm and
fuzzy. Although my main disappointment is that the beef had already come
cooked, and not raw. I’m not sure why, but Iove seeing the thin slices of red
beef waiting for me to dip into the burning hot soup to cook as I eat…
It’s so sad to know that something I had
grown up with, watch change constantly has now gone. I do anticipate seeing
what may take over in the future, but for now … I’ll hold onto those memories.
Have you ever had a restaurant you grew up
with and it’s now gone?
Saigon
BBQ
90 The Crescent
Flemington
