A piece of Saigon in Bacolod

Sipping a hot soup of beef with rice noodles, cilantro and mint, I can’t help but allow a bowl of pho to transport me to the time when I was exploring the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, trying their local cuisine, and getting to familiarize the city that we have come to know as Saigon.

Yet, here I was, not in the District 1 of Ho Chi Minh, but in a discreet area in Brgy. Bata of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Philippines. I’ve read about Saigon Cafe in blogs. It is a small eatery tucked in a residential area of Bacolod. I haven’t visited it until the small eatery has grown into Rau-Ram Cafe and I was privileged to be invited to its opening, along with other members of the Negros Blogging Society.

We were one of the first guests to arrive and as we got off its pebbled front yard, I was drawn to the cool and artistic touch of the establishment. The tables and chairs were of thick wood. Murals on both ends of the wall reflect Vietnam. The open-air provides a homey ambiance. The chandeliers of mason jars add a provincial feel to everything.

The iced coffee, very typical in Indochina, was served on a hot cup with a mug full of ice. The condensed milk below and the brewed coffee created a distinct partition. I poured my coffee into the mug and the combination of hot and cold created magic to my sensation.

As visitors started to pour in, the host announced that the brief ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to start. We stood in front of the restaurant, its facade a beautiful view to us, especially to the crew who were to make it their home for days to come.

Sylvia, the owner, gave her message. She was unassuming and very hands-on in the operation. She went to our table several times just to make sure we were fine. I learned that she studied Vietnamese cooking in Ho Chi Minh.

Then food arrived on our table while a dragon dance went around the restaurant. I started with the Pho Bo or Beef and Rice Noodle Soup. The bowl was huge, I was astounded. I asked for a small one and served myself a cupful. I placed some mint leaves, sweet chili paste and a squeeze of calamansi. The soup was heavenly I had to get another serving.

I turned to the Suon Kho Man or the Braised Beef, which was very soft, it almost melted in my mouth. The dish was also sweet and a good balance to the soup I recently devoured. I got a slice of Thit Kho Nuoc Dua or the Pork Stewed in Buko Juice and found it tasteful.

But there was more to taste. I got a serving of Bun Thit Nuong or the Grilled Pork & Rice Noodle Soup, which was more like a salad. I finished my serving while I ordered for a Lychee Pineapple juice. I couldn’t help but have a few bites of the Balut in Sweet Chili Sauce.

Then, I finished it off with the Goi Cuon or the Vegetarian Spring Rolls which has a sweetened cucumber inside, topped with the yummy peanut sauce. I was so full already that I wasn’t able to touch the Banh Mi or Baguette Sandwich and the Ga Chien or the Five Spiced Fried Chicken.

As we finished our meal, we were served with a luscious carrot cake with cream cheese. Ah, whenever I yearn for a taste of Saigon, I can just go back to Rau Ram Cafe and enjoy their pho and other Vietnamese food.