Buzz
In a country distant 17,000km from Vietnam, like Brazil, is it possible to savor Vietnamese delights such as Pho, fresh spring rolls, and caramelized fish? Absolutely! Explore the culinary wonders at Mekong restaurant in Rio de Janeiro.
“Hello, I'm Rubem Junior, your server at Mekong restaurant. I invite you to enjoy our delicious Pho,” the tall and friendly waiter welcomes in English. The restaurant is located at 188 General Urquiza Street, Leblon district, south of Rio de Janeiro, considered one of Rio's culinary hotspots.
“Pho bo tai” – Rare beef Pho
Upon entering the restaurant, an Eastern scene unfolds: reception tables adorned with bamboo, a row of lush green plants surrounding the cool railing, and the menu cover featuring a map of Indochina with the Mekong River stretching prominently.
As you open the menu, aside from Portuguese and English, Vietnamese words appear: “goi cuon” (fresh spring rolls), muc rang muoi (salt and pepper squid), ca kho to (caramelized fish), thit bo banh mi (beef banh mi), bo luc lac (shaking beef), pho bo tai (rare beef pho)…
We immediately ordered a medium-sized bowl of Pho at 248,000 VND (Vietnamese currency, with a large bowl priced at 314,000 VND). Shortly after, Rubem brought out the steaming Pho bowl, enveloped in fragrant smoke, accompanied by bean sprouts, fresh herbs, basil, soybeans, and chili sauce. The soft Pho noodles, the aroma of Brazilian beef-infused broth, and the sweet flavors of the Far East make dining on Vietnamese Pho in a faraway place like Brazil an unforgettable experience. It may not rival the traditional Pho from Bat Dan in Hanoi or Pho Dau in Saigon, but patrons are moved and even prouder to discover that the owners of Mekong restaurant are a 'Brazilian wife and English husband' who have never been to Vietnam but have fallen in love with Vietnamese cuisine!
Vietnamese food is beneficial for health
This is the assessment of Mary Byker, the owner of Mekong restaurant, a British national. What's surprising is that Mr. Byker is not a true restaurant businessperson but a... renowned singer who was part of the once-famous rock band Apollo 440 (established in 1990 in Liverpool, England) or now the alternative rock group Pop Will Eat Itself. Currently, every night Byker also works as a DJ at Londra bar - one of the famous nighttime music entertainment spots in Rio.
“When living and working in London, my wife Ana Vance (Brazilian nationality) and I often dined at many Vietnamese restaurants. Both of us love Vietnamese cuisine. Then, when I followed my wife to Brazil seven years ago, we decided to find a way to open a restaurant with an Asian culinary style, and it opened in 2010. In Rio, people only knew Japanese, Thai food... hardly anyone knew Vietnamese food, and so far, this place is still the only restaurant in Rio selling Vietnamese dishes like Pho” – Mr. Byker said.
The restaurant is named Mekong by the Byker couple who love to admire the winding course of the river on the map of Southeast Asia and “want to express their respect for this river”. Initially, the couple themselves were the chefs. They learned how to cook Asian dishes from everywhere, from asking friends to researching online, gradually gaining experience in preparing dishes to have the most delicious flavor in their home country.
Mekong restaurant gained fame as it was introduced by many local newspapers and magazines. The first time, Rio's largest newspaper O Globo highlighted Vietnamese dishes such as “shrimp spring rolls, stir-fried squid” in a feature about Mekong restaurant as the “joy from Asia”.
In 2013, Mekong secured a spot in the list of outstanding restaurants, as voted by readers on the renowned global travel website TripAdvisor.
As per Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 16, 2014
