HO MODERN VIETNAMESE, SOHO

My very first visit was back in 2013, when it was opened by TV celebrity Bobby Chinn and known as House of Ho. This Pan-Asian joint in Soho has now been rebranded as Ho Modern Vietnamese, with the menu now being overseen by Chef Ian Pengelley.

We popped in on a Monday for a quick lunch when it was not too busy. The restaurant interior is quite dark so I usually prefer the seats by the windows at the front. For drinks, I opted for the Rum Yum Dragon which was sweet, fruity, and not too full-on for a cheeky afternoon tipple, whilst Ge went for the Swordless Samurai, an innocent fruity mocktail which was topped with a pretty floral garnish.

The menu consists of some nibbles to start with, a selection of Pho, Salads, Small Sharing Plates, Rolls, Ho's Signature Sharing Plates and some sides.
We shared three dishes between the two of us. The first was the shredded chicken pomelo salad which was served in a bowl with vegetable 'noodles', mint leaves, sesame seeds, toasted peanuts, crispy shallots and some prawn crackers. A light and refreshing salad which was vibrant and had nice textures - I liked the flavours but it could potentially be a bit salty for some as was for my friend. I particularly liked the juicy pomelo bits that added sweetness to it.

The second dish was the pan fried smoked duck with black sticky rice, orange miso and young vegetables. The duck was slightly overcooked and could have been a bit more tender. There was a nice sweet and salty flavour balance of flavours to it and I liked the black sticky rice which was wrapped in a thin cabbage leaf parcel. The spring onion was however under-cooked and too close to being raw to be enjoyed.

 

Our third dish was the crispy whole sea bream with lemongrass, ginger and coriander, which was my favourite dish. The fish was crispy and golden and came with a tasty sweet dipping sauce on the side. Delicious crunchy textures and definitely one to order if you enjoy fish.

For dessert, we shared the warm green tea chocolate pudding with passion fruit and vanilla ice cream. The pudding was served nice and warm and the liquid centre immediately oozed out when cut through - a bit runnier than what I have had with other puddings, but nonetheless sweet and indulgent, and the flavours of the green tea definitely came through. 

Overall, apart from the minor points that I mentioned, it was a pretty satisfying meal and our waiter was really lovely throughout. I can only comment on the dishes that we had, but the menu is quite extensive which you can view online here.  

They also have a sister restaurant, House of Ho, in Fitzrovia, which I have not been, which is set in a four storey townhouse, and also offers contemporary Vietnamese food.

The Cheekster, signing out x

 
The meal was complimentary, but views remain my own. 

CAPHE PHO, SMITHFIELD

I seem to have a constant craving for Asian food lately, and Vietnamese food has always been one of my favourites, not only because it's healthy but also for their fresh ingredients and scrumptious array of dishes.

Located less than 10 minutes away from Farringdon station is Caphe Pho, a family-run Vietnamese restaurant which opened in June. Some of you may already know them well from their previous site in Bermondsey under the name of Caphe House.

The interior is rather large with plenty of rustic wooden furniture and flooring, and looked much more extensive than from the outside. By the front is a communal type dining table and at the back lies the open plan kitchen area.

Iced Vietnamese Coffee

I ordered a glass of Iced Vietnamese Coffee which sweet and refreshing.

There were plenty of tempting starters to choose from, but in the end we settled for the salt and chilli soft shell crab and king prawns, both served with sweet chilli dipping sauce. 

The prawns were juicy with a nice bouncy texture, and the batter was crisp and light. I enjoyed the soft shell crab just as much which was also light and crunchy. 

A good portion size for both starters which were filling yet not too greasy or heavy.

I love a good, hot bowl of noodles on a rainy day and went for the Rare Beef Pho which came with the typical side dish of bean sprouts, ginger, onions, spring onions, coriander, lemon and chilli. 
The beef was not as rare and pink, but still really tender and delicious.

A tasty and aromatic broth and great to have during these chilly autumn/winter days.
My dining partner, Marie, had the Spicy Coconut Chicken which was served in a claypot with a bowl of jasmine rice. The chicken was succulent and the curry was creamy with a hint of spice.

I like ending my meals with a sweet dessert, and I ordered the mochi ice cream which came with some frozen strawberries and blueberries.

Overall, we had a pleasant and satisfying meal, and with it's location I'm sure that it is a popular spot for city workers looking to get their Vietnamese lunch fix. For those in a hurry, they also have a takeaway menu with a decent selection of starters and mains.
I would be tempted to visit again to try out their Bánh mì, Bánh xèo, and many of their other dishes.

You may check out their website here for more information, or follow them on Twitter @caphepho .  

The Cheekster, signing out x

The meal was complimentary, but views remain my own.

MOBA LONDON - NEW MENU LAUNCH

Last weekend I had the opportunity to preview the new menu at MoBa that officially launched this Monday.

MoBa is a modern boulangerie and casual dining spot; the food that they serve a fusion of French and Asian cuisines, cultures and stories.

Their menu has had makeover, consisting of a selection of starters, and customized Bánh Mi (with sandwich or salad options). Some interesting new additions include matcha and black baguettes that I will be tempted to order on my next visit.

Sweet desserts include matcha brownie, white chocolate and lime brioche, and chocolate and hazelnut cake.

There is also  good selection of hot and cold drinks, and some alcoholic options.

In addition to the new menu launch, we also had the pleasure of 'test-driving' some of the delicious and innovative desserts and pastries specially created by the amazing pastry chefs from Paris - because French chefs make the best pastries, right?
I loved the little chocolates, each like mini dessert bite - and because they're so small you can always have more than one without feeling too guilty about it.
The brioche was really light and was filled with cream, giving it a rounder flavour.
One of my favourites (which are probably all of them...) was the indulgent chocolate and raspberry cakes with matcha Chantilly cream - I would have gladly eaten a whole bar...
And lets not forget that pamplemousse cake...the glaze so shiny you could even see your reflection in it!
With the ever popular trend of 'skinny cakes' in France, the also talked about their plans for the coming year, with the hopes of bringing in more pastries and desserts which are ideal for takeaways but still maintaining presentation and flavour.
Until then, you will just have drool over these photos of the scrumptious delights that we had that evening...

For someone who loves cakes and all things sweet, I have to admit that I was on a bit of a sugar high that evening! But lets also take into consideration that I had just had afternoon tea an hour prior to arriving. Sometimes even I am amazed by my stomach's capacity...
Although my hips, not so much.

Thank you to the wonderful team at MoBa for such a fun evening. I will be popping in to try those tasty Bánh Mis soon.
And more dessert, of course.

The Cheekster, signing out x