Short Singapore Trip

Hi all,

Singapore has many food courts offering an array of hawker style foods at reasonable prices.  One such place is a food court where the decor is scholarly with bookcases and fake book covers.  It is located in the Suntech Convention Centre, which is easily accessed from a number of MRT stations.  

Quite a good range of food is available ranging from suckling pig (the real thing, not the larger teenage piglets) to one of the best parathas in the island of Singapore and also Thunder Tea soup noodles (using tea for flavouring).

It is not to be confused with another foodcourt in the adjacent Suntech shopping centre which houses the (yet to be world famous) Japanese Royce' chocolate boutique with its signature luscious green tea chocolate.  I first came across the Royce' chocolates in Niseko in a Royce' cafe outside the Niseko Hilton.  Royce' has the very best hot chocolate I have ever tasted after a morning of skiing in powder snow but I have yet to bring myself to try their potato chip chocolates.  

It was a wonderful surprise to find that Royce' chocolates are available in Malaysia in the Tropicana City Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and also in Singapore’s Suntech food court. However, I did not see any sign of the Royce' chocolates in Vietnam but there are other equally expensive foreign brands available in the more exclusive parts of Ho Chi Minh city. 

VOAP Footscray Walking Tour (10 March 2012)

Hi all,

Hope you all had a great long weekend! As mentioned before, we had two Vietnam On A Plate Walking Tours in Footscray in conjunction with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on the 3rd of March 2012 and the 10th of March 2012. Thank you for joining us and we hope you had as good a time as we had!

Further to that, we got a testimonial blog post from one of our customers, Kyrstie from last Saturday (VOAP Footscray Walking Tour 10th March 2012).  Below are some screenshots of her post:

Thank you for your lovely blog post, Kyrstie! http://afreshlegacy.net/fried-flour-cake 

She also took some lovely pictures of vegetables at the Footscray Market, of the different kinds of traditional Vietnamese food at lunch and of various grocery store goodies. 

Thank you for that! :)

Upcoming Event: 
Please register with our Cooking Classes (Vietnam On A Plate: The Main Event #2 and South-East Asian Curries with Mei Ling Perry  in Philip Island over the Easter Weekend (08 April 2012) at  http://www.cleanskinkitchenware.com.au/  if you're interested!

Please feel free to contact us at (03) 9332 6848 or leon@vietnamonaplate.com.au if you have any queries!
We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

From all of us at VOAP :)

VIETNAM ON A PLATE®: THE MAIN EVENT #2 with Mei Ling Perry (08 April 2012, 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.)

VIETNAM ON A PLATE®: THE MAIN EVENT #2 with Mei Ling Perry

Date: 08-Apr-2012
Capacity: Not Set (0% booked)

Sunday April 8, 9.00am – 12.00pm (3 hrs) Cost $89.00

VIETNAM ON A PLATE®: THE MAIN EVENT #2 with Mei Ling Perry 

Fully Hands On 

For many years Mei Ling Perry has been conducting walking tours of Melbourne‘s best Asian centres in Springvale and Footscray. Specialising in Vietnamese and South-East Asian cuisine, Mei Ling’s knowledge of ingredients and culinary skills are legendary. She has appeared on TV cooking shows including Huey‘s Cooking Adventures and Coxy‘s Big Break. Vietnam On A Plate conducts tours of Vietnam and Mei Ling also teaches cooking classes in the USA. Discover the fresh delights of authentic Vietnamese food that caters for vegetarians and meat eaters alike!  Zinging with freshness, Mei Ling’s dishes truly are an absolute culinary event ... delights for the eye as well as the palate. You will also learn some essential techniques used to prepare these, and many other, Asian dishes. Dishes to be prepared include Vietnamese Beef Stew in Red Wine, Cai Ngoc (leafy asian green vegetable) with  Chinese Sausage, Tofu with both Oyster Sauce or Vegetarian Sauce, Chinese Broccoli prepared two ways, and Jasmine Rice scented with Pandan Leaves. Class participants will prepare, cook and consume, these delicious dishes as theclass progresses!

For bookings, please go to: http://www.cleanskinkitchenware.com.au/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=26507&A=SearchResult&SearchID=3516704&ObjectID=26507&ObjectType=48

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN CURRIES with Mei Ling Perry (08 April 2012, 2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.)

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN CURRIES with Mei Ling Perry

Date: 08-Apr-2012

Capacity: Not Set (0% booked)

Sunday April 8, 2.00pm – 5.00pm (3 hrs) Cost $59.00

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN CURRIES with Mei Ling Perry

Combination Observation & Hands On

For many years Mei Ling Perry has been conducting walking tours of Melbourne‘s best Asian centres in Springvale and Footscray. Specialising in Vietnamese and South-East Asian cuisine, Mei Ling’s knowledge of ingredients and culinary skills are legendary. She has appeared on TV cooking shows including Huey‘s Cooking Adventures and Coxy‘s Big Break. Vietnam On A Plate® conducts tours of Vietnam and Mei Ling also teaches cooking classes in the USA. The focus of this class will be the various techniques used to create three very different, yet complimentary curries: Vietnamese Chicken Curry Lemongrass and Coconut milk, Malaysian Beef Rendang Curry with Coconut Milk, and Thai Vegetable Curry with Kaffir Lime Leaves. You will learn how to create these curries, making curry pastes with fresh ingredients and Asian spices. Preparation and cooking techniques covered include the correct use of the mortar and pestle in comparison to the food processor, and many tips on selecting and prepping Asian vegetables. Class participants will observe and help prepare these delicious dishes, with tastings for all as the class progresses!

For bookings, please go to: http://www.cleanskinkitchenware.com.au/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=26565

Testimonials and Comments

2012
25 November 2012, 9:30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
Cleanskin Kitchenware - 'Vietnam On A Plate Cooking Classes'
http://www.cleanskinkitchenware.com.au/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=34041
Write-up on Mei Ling Perry: http://www.cleanskinkitchenware.com.au/_webapp_1424823/Mei_Ling_Perry

3 March 2012, 10 March 2012, 9.30 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.
'Feasting in Footscray - Vietnam On A Plate'
http://www.aroundyou.com.au/events/feasting-in-footscray-vietnam-on-a-plate#.T1WiWfEgeSo
http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/event/2689
http://www.vu.edu.au/events/vietnam-on-a-plate
http://www.liveguide.com.au/Arts_and_Theatres/723466/Melbourne_Food_and_Wine_Festival_2012_Vietnam_On_A_Plate/Melbourne_Food_and_Wine_Festival_2012_Vietnam_On_A_Plate_2012?event_id=723466

28 February 2012
'Footscray and food make a fine mix' by Charlene Gatt
http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/star/footscray-yarraville/337/story/149422.html
Herald Sun - 'Vietnam On A Plate'
http://events.heraldsun.com.au/featured/vietnam-on-a-plate#.T1WsbvEgeSo
Fodor's Travel Intelligence - 'Tours in Melbourne (Food Tour)'
http://www.fodors.com/world/australia-and-the-pacific/australia/victoria/melbourne/travel-tip_2341932.html
Sunbury Leader - 'Vietnam On A Plate'
http://events.sunbury-leader.whereilive.com.au/featured/vietnam-on-a-plate?occurs_on=today#.T1WwrPEgeSo
Whittlesea Leader - 'Vietnam On A Plate'
http://events.whittlesea-leader.whereilive.com.au/featured/vietnam-on-a-plate#.T1aQOfEgeSo


2011
July 29 Business Newsletter - "Learning, Earning and Networking No 1 - Vietnam On A Plate"
http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_id=7214&h=-1&newsletter=true
http://www.whitehat.com.au/melbourne/Events/ToursM.asp

2010
October 30 Vietnam On A Plate Tours
http://www.aroundyou.com.au/events/vietnam-on-a-plate-tours--2#.T1arZPEgeSp
October 23 'Vietnam on city doorstep' by Tricia Welsh http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/food-and-wine/vietnam-on-city-doorstep-20101022-16x4n.html
May 9 'Delicious Vietnam #1 - 'Vietnam on a Plate'' by Lauren
http://footscrayfoodblog.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/delicious-vietnam-1-vietnam-on-plate.html
May 23 'Vietnam on a plate' by Enza Gandolfo
http://femaleflaneur.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/vietnam-on-a-plate/
May 1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thescooponnutrition/4567572396/ by Scoop Nutrition
March 23
"Vietnam on a Plate" Food Tour by Q Strategies
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.379651650605.158965.177195710605&type=3


2009
Maribyrnong Leader. 'Vietnam on a plate - it's yours for the walking'
http://maribyrnong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/vietnam-on-a-plate-it-s-yours-for-the-walking/


2003
August 14 'Eating in Footscray' by Leon Betheras
http://www.miettas.com/restaurants/rest_96-00/footscray.html

Good Food #1

Beef jerky salad, Hanoi

Pomelo Salad, Hanoi 

Beauty of Sapa

We made a recent trip to Vietnam in December 2011. Here's a few pictures from our trip to Sapa, Vietnam. Sapa is situated close to the border with China, in the Lao Cai province. 

Sapa market 

Among the few things that caught our eye were the vegetarian ingredients for hot pot in the Red Dzao restaurant, especially after having a glimpse of the young men preparing the ingredients at the back of the restaurant! 

Here's a souvenir shop in Sapa.  

 Young hill tribe mom carrying her baby at the souvenior shop. 

 Dad carrying his son on his way up to the hill. 

We were amazed by the scenic beauty of Sapa, to say the least! 

More pictures and updates to come! 

From all of us at VOAP :) 

Blogsite Revamped!

Hello all, 

First, thank you for your continuous support over the years! 

Our Footscray Walking Tour over the weekend was quite a success, despite the light rain. It was held in conjunction with the 2012 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Very excited for our next Footscray Walking Tour this Saturday (10 March 2012), and it's already booked out! 

Secondly, as you may have noticed, we have done some revamps with many exciting new features (located at the sidebar) to our blog site and we will be having regular updates with pictures of good food finds soon! 

Stay tuned! 

From all of us at VOAP

Guided Walking Tours 2012

GUIDED WALKING TOURS OF MELBOURNE’S BEST ASIAN FOOD CENTRES

Footscray has the biggest and best selection of Asian produce in inner Melbourne. Fresh and frozen, cooked and uncooked, packaged, pickled and preserved – it’s all there and more.

Springvale Shopping Centre, in Melbourne’s south-east, is home to dozens of exciting food shops operated by people from all over South East Asia – Cambodia, Laos, China, Thailand, Vietnam and India.

Both areas have their own characteristics, but have one thing in common: to the uninitiated, the vast range of food, colours, tastes and aromas is amazing and, for many, bewildering. 

Find your way through your choice of Melbourne’s leading Asian food centres with Vietnam On A Plate’s Ingredients Tours. We walk and talk you through Asian mini-super markets, fabulous fish shops, Chinese herbalists, great cake and sweets shops and a vast collection of  greengrocers, butchers and  other specialty food stores. We’ll show you places you never knew existed. We show you some of the better places to buy the right ingredients and fresh Asian produce for your next Asian dish. We give you tips on how to buy, use and store the best quality produce. Our tours are relaxed, informal and informative – and we share with you some of the secrets of creating great Asian food.

At the end, enjoy a delicious and different Asian meal at one of the many cafes with which both shopping centres are blessed

At Footscray, there is ample parking at our starting point on the roof of the Footscray Market, (enter from Irving Street).  Train, tram and bus take you right to the market.

Melways map 42 reference D4.

 

Getting to Springvale Shopping Centre is easy. It’s right next to Springvale station and buses run along Springvale Road. For drivers, there is plenty of parking at our starting point at the rear of Nan Yang supermarket, (enter from Warwick Avenue).

Melways map 79 reference K9.

Walking Tours are held for a minimum of four people. Allow about two and a half  hours, plus eating time. Tours are held Saturday mornings, starting at 9:30 a.m. Group bookings may be possible on other days. The frequency of tours is dependent on demand.

Tour cost is $77 per person, all inclusive.                 

Bookings are essential for all tours

Telephone 9332 6848                                         Email: leon@vietnamonaplate.com.au