Vivacious Vietnam

Chrisni Mendis

Vivacious Vietnam, an authentic experience of rich Vietnamese cuisine is being hosted by The Hilton Colombo Residencies Union Bar and Grill (UBG) till July 9 with two chefs Vu Nhan Hien and Nguyen Van Truong Giang flown down from the heart of Vietnam itself.

Guests will be offered a fantastic choice of Vietnamese cuisine spread between lunch and dinner during this period.

A buffet comprising of appetizers, soups, hot dishes, action stations and desserts will also be served each day with its own special taster and flavour.

The festival will include a wide variety of Vietnamese cuisine which is famous for its strong sweet and sour taste with a tad of Vietnamese spices. It will definitely tickle your taste buds with its strong aromic flavour.

Specially prepared Vietnamese ingredients, exclusive to the Asian culture will be used to enhance the usual Friday night outing into a glorious experience with delightful recipes ranging from seafood, full veggie, chicken and beef.

The Vietnamese chef had also given us an insight to what will be the most delightful and traditional dishes of the culture. "Beef noodles is definitely a must-try," stated the chef. "It is the most traditional dish on the menu."

Like the chef said, if you are a meat lover and you truly want to enhance your Vietnamese experience, the beef noodles is something that should be seen on your bill.

However, for all the veggie lovers out there, beef would probably not be on top of the list. The Vietnamese spread covers that. Vegetable spring rolls coated with soft wheat rice outer layer, blend and form the perfect balance of lemon grass, cabbage and carrot. Refreshing indeed.

Seafood lovers do not fear. A traditional seafood soup and delicacy will be served everyday, with a recommendation of the Vietnamese fish soup.

And finally, for those who prefer a more, generalized and Americanized dish, the Chicken salad and buttered pork ribs will envelop your tongue with a strong, mouth-watering flavour.

Drinks - an attribute every dinner must possess. Without taking the typical Coke, Sprite or Margarita, the UBG provides mind-boggling Vietnamese beverages. You will be served a variety of delicious drinks, each with its own personality and flavour. The ginger juice, a personal favorite, contains a zesty, tangy, sweet yet sour taste, not forgetting the fiery, stinging taste of the ginger.

For a more refreshing front, the lime and mint beverage clears your mind with its natural scent. The banana drink is nothing other than indifferent, with a mixture of fruity flavours and tingling spices.

So for the weekend, when you and your company decide to go out for your typical Friday night out at the typical Chinese, Indian, Italian or simple greasy fast food, think about trying out a new, interesting and adventurous cuisine instead - Vietnamese sure does sound great.