There was a live band from the Philippines that played rock 'n roll, and 2 for 1 Mojitos. We had some traditional American dishes to share. First we had a combination plate with chicken wings, potato skins, chicken fingers, onion rings and taquitos. Then we ordered a hamburger with extra pickles as they have no pickles in Vietnam and it came with no pickles at all. The burger special came with fries and a Saigon Green beer, so Ron drank the beer and we shared the fries. Then we got a big plate of nachos with sour cream and guacamole. Of course we couldn't eat all this food, so we had it wrapped up for Carie to take home. The restaurant is just like the ones in America with guitars, autographs, and clothes of famous rockers. Loud too.
Then Saturday night was the annual Somerset Apartments Residents party. They transformed our pool area into a huge festival with food, drinks, lights, floating candles, dancing and the internationally famous water puppets.
The food was traditional Vietnamese with an separate section for Muslims. There were dishes I couldn't even identify, but everything was delicious and everything was free. Even the drinks.
By Sunday morning, the whole area was cleaned up and back to normal.
Sunday we had our weekly Vietnamese language lesson then took a taxi to Carie's house for lunch. Her mother fixed a corn soup with tiny birds eggs, fried scallops and a spaghetti dish with shrimp, calamari and clams.
It was out of this world good! For dessert we had pomelo, watermelon and a cake with buttercream frosting! There is a real art to carving up a pomelo. I still don't have it down pat, so her aunt gave me a demonstration right there at the table. Her aunt speaks French and Vietnamese, so I can speak a little French and a little Vietnam to her. But other than that, I just watched as she carved. I need to go to the market on Wednesday, buy another pomelo, and practice.
I think you need to bring Carrie and her mother back with you to America. I feel like we know them.
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