October 15 - 21, 2017: Issue 333

Mekong: Merchants Of Taste

Mekong 
Merchants of Taste
The Taste of Vietnam
53 Avalon Parade
Avalon Beach
Ph: 0409 913 687

During the last few weeks we’ve watched a new venture come to life in Avalon, the fresh taste of Vietnamese street food and a delightful visual addition to the Avalon Beach streetscape.

The lady chef, Phuong Saigan, explained a little about the fixtures that have been installed;

“Those beautiful tiles, they are Old Saigon French style. We have brought them all the way from Saigon to Mekong Merchant.

The fish traps from Mekong delta have a very successful transformation to beautiful pendent lights.”

“My childhood was in Mekong, I had moved to Saigon and now Sydney. But I always missed my little village in Mekong where I used to live there with my beautiful grandparents. That’s the story behind how I named my restaurant – it’s a bit of home.”

And the food?:
“Mekong is proud to represent Vietnamese food culture. Herbs and vegetables are essential to Vietnamese food. We use only fresh and high quality ingredients just like we would serve at home to our loved ones. It's Vietnamese comfort food with love and passion.”

You can explore traditional authentic Saigon street food in Avalon at Phuong’s eatery. We tried out a few dishes on a cold drizzly Spring day.

He chose the Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup - $14.00). Verdict;
“That’s excellent – you could also have it on a hot Summer’s Day, it would cool you down and hydrate you.”


Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup)

The other choice was sampling one of the Salads (Noodle or Rice based – all $14.00) with Da Lat (Marinated Tofu) the option among Hoi An (BBQ Chicken) Saigon (BBQ Pork), Mekong (Crispy pork belly) Ha Noi (Lemongrass Beef) or Nha Trang (Spingroll) chosen.

Sampling a salad on a cold day is preparation for Summer also.
Verdict: Excellent – fresh crisp vegetables, a delightful but not overpowering zingy dressing and lovely crunchy toasted peanuts.


Da Lat (Marinated Tofu) salad

Phuong also serves a range of Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguettes - $9.00) Ricepaper rolls - $4.00, Crispy Springrolls or B’hat Banh Mi – Bacon and Egg roll for that post early morning surf.

To drink you can select form fresh juices, Hoemade Vietnamese drinks or Vietnamese Coffee as well as a range of soft drinks – get your Cascade Ginger Beer here!

If you like fresh Vietnamese food you won’t be disappointed by enjoying Phuong’s cuisine. 
Open early until after dinner.
Phuong and one of her able assistants.

Recipe Ideas - Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Apricot - January Summer Fruits  

Artichoke – The Flower Vegetable that Crops in Spring  

Australian and Native Cherries (Summer Fruits) - the Duntroon Connection - Marrianne Collinson Campbell 

Autumn is Apple Season 

Autumn Feast of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for a Healthy Body

Broccoli - Early Spring Crop

Cabbage - Winter Food 

Cherry - Australian summer Fruit  

Chick Pea Burgers with Homemade Hummus 

Easter Feast - modern and historic  

Edible Weeds  Eggs: Five Ways - Savoury 

Fennel - Winter Vegetable  

Full Fruit Bowl for Seasonal Health

Figs - Late Summer Fruit  

Fresh Herbs for Health

Green Beans - Spring Vegetables

Healthful Cordials And Cleansing Tonics  Hogmanay (New Year) Dinner - Australian Style  

Kale: for Pure Energy

Make Your Own Treats For Christmas Gifts - Jaffa Rum Balls, White Christmas, Gingerbread People, Spicy Nut Mix, Strawberries Dipped in Christmas, Scottish Shortbread, Spanish Polverones, Melomakarona (Greek Christmas Honey Cookies), Kourabiedes (Greek Butter Biscuits), Italian Lemon Shortbread Squares (Shortbread con crema al limone)

Mandarins Spring Fruits  Mandarins Winter Fruits  

Mangoes - Summer Fruits  

Mum'€™s Vegetable Soup with Macaroni 

Mushrooms Autumnal Shifts

Nectarines - Summer crop Nicoise Salad: An Autumn Salad

Packham's Triumph Pears - The Australian Pear  

Parsnip - Winter Vegetables  Pear - Autumn Fruits  

Perfect Summer Picnics  

Potato Gnocchi    Pumpkin  Pumpkin Season 2015

Sage - the 'saving' herb Remembrance Day 2012 Food  

Self-Saucing Winter Puddings  Silverbeet - Winter Vegetable  

Spring Salad Season  Spring Strawberries Spring Salads  

Summer Lilli Pillis  Summer Passionfruit  Summer Peaches, Quandongs (Wild Peach) - Marian Rowan Ellis 

Summer Raspberries Native Ones - Adam Forster

Ten Minute Spring SaladsSpring Fare 

The Food of Love  Tomato 

Vegetable Bhaji

Winter Crops Winter Vegetable Pies   Zucchini Strawberries

To list your business, have a Pittwater Online News Food page run, or place a logo on the Pittwater Online News Food page, please contact us with details of your requirements. Logos may be embedded to redirect to your own website. Full pages include an overview of menus as well as beautiful images to make the food sampled look its best. Pages are archived into Permanent pages past their week of Issue.

Permanent pages in Pittwater Online News average 800 thousand visits per annum past their week of Issue ensuring diners will continue to view your eatery as a potential venue for breakfast, lunch or dinner or as the place to hold their larger functions. 

For Rates and Packages Contact us at: pittwateronlinenews@live.com.au