Debbie’s Blog

I have listened to you ! ,  seemingly its special interests you all like, to be doing something whilst your on holiday ! , so what a better a tour than a …..cook and tour ! .  I have been working on a wonderful cook and tour programme for Vietnam , one of the most charming, enchanting countries I work in , as yet its not too spoiled , tourism is still in its early stages .  I think this is a wonderful tour, taking in Ho Chi Minh city ( Saigon , sounds better and has a more romantic feel to it )  Spending four nights at the four star plus Caravelle Hotel (right next to the opera house, yes…the opera house ! ) with ALL Tours and ALL meals inclusive , we will tour up to the Mekong Delta, we will go and visit the cu chi tunnels , the war remnants museum , all the highlights of a city tour, some shopping ladies at the local central market…..bargains ! bargains ! .  To keep the “cooking ” theme, we will sample the delights of Vietnamese dishes in the restaurants I have chosen .  We then fly to the unique trading town of Hoi an , we will stay in a beach resort sandwiched between the river and the beach .  Hoi an is one of the most charming, and enchanting places I have ever visited, very old and beautifully preserved , and it is here that we find the cooking school of Ms Vy , housed in an elegant old building, within the “old quarter” , Ms Vy is a third generation chef in her family. she runs three restaurants in the town, and over the years begun to share the secrets and tips from her kitchen , which has led to the creation of her gormet kitchen classes .  She has been featured in many guide books over the years as well as in the New York TImes, Travel and Leisure, World Food vietnam .

But the proof is in the tasting ! and I adore her restaurant the Morning Glory , the food is wonderful ….trust me ! .  We will be spending the day with Ms Vy , from getting up early ladies to go to the local market to buy our produce , we will learn about vietnamese food , history and philosophy , nutrition and food medicines…and then you will have a choice of ten vietnamese dishes to choose from !

Shrimp and pork spring rolls, Grilled Chicken and Lime leaf, Crispy Pancake (to die for ladies , make sure this is one of your choices… Banana Flower Salad, Stuffed Mushroom and shrimp mousse,  Stewed fish in a claypot , I cannot name them ALL on here ….Her aim is to keep Vietnamese Street Food alive, and her recipes have been handed down from her grandparents…

We will also be doing a bicycle ride through the most amazing countryside, as well as doing a walking tour of wonderful hoi an , and you will have time to relax and enjoy the beach !!

It will be up on the website within a week or two , check it out ladies…its a very competitive price, and I will be able to help you organise your flight with my agent ….Oh its not till next march and I will be keeping the numbers to 9 a tour,  so it will be small and personable , and I am thrown in for nothing .