A taste of Vietnamese cuisine officially opens in Keswick on Sunday – influenced by a grandma more than 6,000 miles away.
Luan Phan, aged 28, will unveil Little Saigon at 9 Bank Street, as head chef and owner, ably assisted by his sister Thi Nguyen, known as Tina.
Little Saigon is inspired by their grandmother, Lien, aged 82, who helped stir up his passion for cooking, starting when he was 10 years old.
“My journey into the world of Vietnamese cuisine began not in a bustling market or a Michelin-starred restaurant, but in the cosy kitchen of my grandma’s modest home,” explained Luan, originally from Saigon, which is now Ho Chi Minh City.
He recalls peeling garlic and chopping lemon grass in her kitchen, along with his grandma’s “laughter and wisdom” as she passed down heirloom family recipes and told him: “Cooking is an art”.
Their new menu is lovingly headed “Our Grandma’s Recipe” – as a reminder of the woman who remains so close to their hearts but so very far away.
Luan decided to set up in Keswick following a visit he called “serendipitous”, and where he “instantly fell in love” with the town’s beauty and warm hospitality.
Far from the bustling streets of Saigon, he decided to pay homage to his grandma’s legacy and have a menu telling their story, with each dish carrying a “piece of my childhood” from fragrant pho broth to delicate summer rolls and crispy banh mi.
Lien’s early influence saw him leave Ho Chi Minh City to carve out a career as a head chef at restaurants in Brighton and London.
Little Saigon, with up to five employees, opens at 11am and can seat up to 12 people as well as having standing tables.
In keeping with environmental responsibility, it plans to encourage people “to bring their own bowls or containers”.
Tina explained that for each dish served in a customer-provided container, they will offer a 50p discount.
“Let’s work together to reduce waste and protect our beautiful natural surroundings,” she said.
