As temperatures plummet, the recently opened Saigon Pho restaurant in Dorset is turning up the heat for those who love, or are willing to try, Vietnamese food.
The pop-up restaurant is operating out of the Pizza on Earth building in the village.
The venture came about because Mia Nguyen used to work for Pizza on Earth co-owner Elizabeth Johnson three years ago. The two stayed in touch and have become good friends. Mia said Elizabeth asked if she and husband, Wayne, would be interested in running their own restaurant over the winter months while Pizza on Earth is closed.
Mia, who studied culinary management at college in Barrie, and loves to cook, jumped at the chance.
Now, she and Wayne and their one-yearold son, Lucas, as well as cousin, Louis, are the Saigon Pho team offering traditional Vietnamese food Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They held their grand opening Dec. 15 and were surprised by a great turn-out.
It’s the first restaurant venture for the couple, and Mia has been getting advice, and recipes, from her mother, who lives in Vietnam and ran a restaurant 20 years ago.
Mia said, “everything is going well. It’s not very busy but everyone tells us when we have more snow, the snowmobilers will come and the business is going to be busier. For us, there is nothing to lose as we are gaining experience.”
Wayne chimes in that, “Mia has a passion for cooking. She has been an amazing cook at home. We’ve been great friends with Elizabeth since Mia worked here and we bring food for people up here all the time.” Mia said Elizabeth and her family are her Canadian family, since her own, with the exception of Wayne, Lucas and Louis, are all in Vietnam.
Wayne said he worked in a kitchen about 10 years ago while in university so it’s a bigger learning curve for him.
“We’ve been doing better than what we expected,” he said. “It’s been great and our customers, everyone, has been really great supporting us. The whole town kind of came when we first opened up.”
Mia added, “everyone welcomed us here.”
During a tour, Louis is busy in the kitchen stirring items in a wok. The menu for now comprises crispy spring rolls; pho noodle soup, stir fry noodles, and a traditional Vietnamese pork sandwich (Banh Mi).
During a tour, Louis is busy in the kitchen stirring items in a wok. The menu for now comprises crispy spring rolls; pho noodle soup, stir fry noodles, and a traditional Vietnamese pork sandwich (Banh Mi).
She said the experience thus far is making her think of a long-term career in the restaurant industry.
She said the experience thus far is making her think of a long-term career in the restaurant industry.
