Hoi An is not just any town in Vietnam. It is in fact one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites of the country. And if I may add too, the culinary capital and cultural capital of Vietnam as well. To be safe, Hoi An and neighboring towns such as Danang, My Son could be the cultural centers where the ancient Cham culture flourished.
After spending an hour bicycling around rice paddies in Hoi An, I was definitely looking forward to a sumptuous and delicious lunch in one of the highly regarded restaurants in the area- The Morning Glory. We went first to a sample of culinary lessons but really, my stomach could not handle it anymore. I was literally starving but tried my best to conceal it. In as much as I would like to concentrate on the cooking lessons, my mind was just focused on the food and I was even tempted in eating the ripe mango beside me. What is this for, anyway?
“We will be using that mango in one of our lunch dishes, The Fried Fish and Salsa!” oppppssss, he must have read my mind! But haven’t tried that before, not with mangoes on fried fish!
Just as we were ready to have our delayed lunch, we were told that Morning Glory was jam-packed and literally no seats were available. But to our luck or perhaps, divine intervention, there was one free table at the opposite restaurant called the Cargo Club. Just so you know, both restaurants belong to one amazing lady which according to the local community revived the culinary revolution in Hoi An or in this region. She was the brain child of these culinary classes that prompted hundreds of locals and foreign students alike enrolling themselves to the program.
We were definitely in the right place. And Cargo Club it was!
The Cargo Club reminded me of some eclectic restaurants in Europe. It has that feel of being in a bookstore-slash-coffeeshop where you feel discussing your latest business venture over lunch. Or perhaps a perfect place to sulk over your failed relationship or at least for me, my failed attempt to even have one. It does sort have a welcoming hand to all groups of people without making you feel different. True to its name, The Cargo Club seemed to me like a floating cargo vessel that sailed across seven seas and oceans and finally made its first ever docking for such a long, long time.
But seriously, I couldn’t wait any longer. The moment we entered the place, my eyes were captivated by an array of delectable desserts. Whoa! Not just a place designed for heavy lunching but also for some sweet energy goodness. Oh, good Lord, please enough with all these small talks….Please pardon my impatient soul but I was really hungry. My social etiquette has been stretched long enough and I wanted to go the toilet and wash my hands.
The moment we found our table, I was shocked to see two gentlemen bringing the first dish, Spicy Clam Soup. I tried my best to slowly sip and taste the flavor and it hit me instantly, like being sold upon hearing the first note. That was one hell of a soup! Or maybe I was just hungry. No, super hungry!
Then slowly all our dishes came in sequence, one after the other. And with small talk here and there, we were just so focused at all those heavenly goodness in front of us. And yes, I found the fried fish with mango salsa. In fact, it was one of my favorites.
I was just so sad of not taking a photo of the other 3 dishes including dessert. They are for those curious people the stir fried green bean, stuffed squids and mixed fruits with ice cream.
It was indeed one unforgettable lunch. Now, where’s my coffee?
Seemed like an anticlimactic ending, eh? Let me tell you that after this lunch, I felt like an expert on Vietnamese cuisine. Perhaps on my succeeding posts, you’ll soon see the person that I become….Now you know what to do the next time you find yourself traipsing in this beautiful town! Simply eat and eat and eat!
Ciao for now!
Stirring Constantly 