Vietnamese Caf? (not) opening in October

[Ladygooner]

Yes Ultra, when I was in Vietnam you could purchase weasel coffee.......after the beans had passed through the critter!

[Jah Lush]

Yuk!

[Ted Max]

Oh we're open to all sorts down in funky Bellenden Village. I reckon weasel poo is spot on.

It's one of those, "Who first thought of that one" ideas isn't it?

"You know dear, your coffee isn't bad, but how about we try giving the beans to the weasels first, next time?"

[bald marauder]

Oh my God - I was in Vietnam years ago and probably drunk weasel poo without realising!

I think even in funky Bellenden Village that would raise eyebrows...

[pablogrande]

I bought some of their coffee from the Chinese grocery in Peckham last week, very nice it is too, has a hint of chocolate to it, possibly the chicory?

[Louisa]

After a while away I come back to even fancier coffee than anywhere along LL, and worst of all, it's in SE15! Will the bourgeoisie stop at nothing to condemn the rest of us to a life of goats milk and ca phe vn.

[SeanMacGabhann]

You have been missed young lady - where have you been?

[Louisa]

Sean my love! Good to see a friendly face once more :).. I went to Milton Keynes to stay with relatives for a few weeks (the internet is beyond their budget and technological capacity i'm afraid bless their cottons).. But am back and more ready than ever to make the most of the last proper summer month! How are you? and oh yes something about coffee or summit or nuffin.. ;-)

[SeanMacGabhann]

* screenshots "Sean my love" and prints out for wall-framing *

The break seems to have served you well Louisa - in good form I see

(are we still in main forum?? dang ok... back on thread)

Vietnamese food wise I have only been to a couple in North London which I found to be not-a-million-miles-from other Asian restaurants in this country (which isn't to say bad - just not that different).

I am headed to the country itself in February however and look forward to trying the local scran

[Louisa]

Most of the local Chinese takeaways, especally in Peckham, are actually run by Vietnamese people. A large Vietnamese community locally has always meant that most of the Chinese we eat is influenced bv Vietnamese cooking. The food tends to be more spicy than Chinese and contains much more fish. Similar to Thai cooking but not so heavy on the currys and fusion of flavours.

[mamafeelgood]

oh how i loved bellenden road 10 years ago. it was a really nice place to go get a coffee, pick up an interesting read and find a bite to eat. oh, but now there is nothing for no one. no cost cutter, no fry up, no nice hot drinks, no choice of pubs, no book shop, no chicken take out ... such a lack of service for the whole community. boo hoo. and now a vietnamese place selling different food and coffee, adding to choice, in peckham, well we just can't have that. all this regeneration is just too exhausting, i'm going to have to go lie down with lucozade.

[tiddles]

typical, I move from the bellenden area and a new eaterie opens. I wish them the best of luck. It is a much nicer area than say, the top end of lordship lane which is where I have moved to.... soullesss!! bigger houses but a definite lack of community (ok, so haven't been here a year yet so perhaps a bit soon to pass judgement!)

I shall be paying a visit!

ps and if you wonder why I moved, it was for a bigger house - unfortunately there is not much between the standard 3 bed terraces and the fab houses in grove park)

[SeanMacGabhann]

jan t - many of us on here live up this end of the lane... It's not as pretty as Bellenden area but I think there is plenty community feel. My partner and I only have to ask Nisha in Val's grocer (opposite library) if the other half has been in, what did they buy and what did they forget - she always knows... You don't get that in rural Devon I tells thee

[Asset]

wasn't jan t the poster who a while ago was ranting about all ED residents being middle class rascist twats and she couldn't wait to move away? correct me if I am wrong.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I don't think so Asset - I could be wrong but I had a quick scoot via the search button and found plenty of solid posts from Jan but none on those lines...

[Asset]

ok, confused I may be. Who did Keef have that spat with a month or so ago? sorry jan t, no offence taken I hope.

[SeanMacGabhann]

not to mention veering off topic (ahem)

what say we all head off to this vietnamese when it opens and enjoy ourselves

[mamafeelgood]

hey jan t surely you're not that far from bellenden road as it's only LL?

i am intrigued by which soups they will offer, i hope crab meat is on the menu and they deliver. us poor mums only get to terrorise the neighbourhood with our 3 wheelers during the day and i figure my 23 month olds won't really appreciate chilli soup for lunch.

[tiddles]

just to clarify re the rascist nutter - not me!! I may be slow adjusting to my move, but I certainly have no plans to leave SE22 or london for that matter. Yes I know I have only moved a mile or so be it seems further!!

cheers

[Asset]

sorry jan t. no libel suit please!

[Chao Long Huyet]

Update on the Cafe, or Ca Phe I should say!!

still haven't got the contract drawn up so we can move in & start getting the place in order, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

other points

- yes a lot of Viets here are of Chinese origin - hence the food, but there is also the commercial imperative

noone here 30 years ago was going to buy oriental food other than sweet & sour, Chow mein , black bean sauce etc.

For money they cook erstatz chinky, but don't eat it at home

- we will be child/yummy mummy friendly and offer non chilli food.

-SE15 & Hackney have the largest Viet communities in the UK for over 30 years ( long before the yuppies!)

- WEASEL POO COFFEE- 99.9 % of this is an expensive rip off - we don't do it!

We will have an opening party when we ever get open ....hope to see all the bloggers there

will update website... http://www.caphevn.co.uk

[SeanMacGabhann]

Thanks for the update - and now we have an invite (or a come hither at least)

I'm so there

[wee quinnie]

Chao,

I am v excited about your new venture - sounds great. Will you be doing proper veggie food - ie without shrimp paste ??

[Chao Long Huyet]

wee quinnie

thanks for your enthusiasm, we will certainly have vego even vegan stuff. We are not going to be a restaurant, but offer

light foods to accompany & compliment our Viet drinks. We intend to keep it simple and to keep a small but changing range of foods to avoid stagnation/boredom!! We have a great resource of Vietnamese ladies here in SE London who make some really fantastic real Vietnamese foods/dishes that are virtually impossible to reproduce without a lifetime of culinary experience & expertise. We hope to bring some of it to you...

[Oglandia]

I can't wait. the lovely Viet deli on Choumert Rd is one of the few local sources of fresh quail, 'Indian Prince' curry powder, pork and nuoc mam. the more food you can offer the happier I'll be