At Saigon Lotus you'll find Vietnamese egg coffee, a miraculous pho and a place that aims to feed the community in more ways than one...
Saigon Lotus might look like a Vietnamese restaurant from the outside, but owner Thi has always intended it to be something more. Based in Middleton, the restaurant also operates as what she calls a ‘cultural house’, bringing people together through food, language, cooking and practical opportunities for young people.
We began our visit with traditional Vietnamese egg coffee, a rich, sweet drink made using egg yolk, vanilla extract, organic honey, condensed milk and sugar. The ingredients are whisked into a thick, custard-like topping before being spooned over the coffee.
Thi explained that there are three ways to enjoy it. You can eat the topping with a spoon, sip through the layers or stir everything together to create a sweet, milky coffee. Naturally, we gave all three methods a fair trial.
The same care goes into the pho. Bones, brisket, ginger, onions and spices are slowly cooked for between six and eight hours, creating a fragrant broth with masses of depth.
For Thi, pho is about more than flavour. She sees it as comfort food that encourages mindful eating, celebrates the art of balancing spices, not to mention bringing families together around the table.
That philosophy of family runs through the wider Saigon Lotus project. Thi offers language and cooking classes, teaches practical life skills and gives local young people hands-on experience in a supportive environment, the aim to help them become more confident and independent.
Thi’s relationship with Middleton was tested when the restaurant’s shutter was damaged by a group of teenagers. The response from the wider community, however, was overwhelmingly positive.
Local people visited the restaurant, bought food and offered messages of support. Thi speaks with enormous gratitude about the kindness shown to her and the sense of warmth she has found in Middleton.
Saigon Lotus is a place to eat excellent Vietnamese food – and it is excellent – but it is also a space for learning, sharing and nourishing a community with more than just food.
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