Vanessa’s Bistro, sweet and savory the Vietnamese way
“You girls know how to eat”, our hostess smiled at us, the check attached. Ten things. At a tapas place like Vanessa’s Bistro where everything sounds tasty, I’d say we did a pretty good job narrowing down our choices, and we asked for the house recommendations only three times. All rendered success.
The first decision was the easiest: we’d got to get the sweet potato fries. Neither mushy like their orange cousins nor mealy like the white kinds, these Okinawan sweet potatoes, or purple yams, are sturdy in texture and just gently sweet. With or without the ginger aioli, they were loved. The small plates also stood alone splendidly, not that their dipping sauce came short.
Black pepper cured filet carpaccio with roasted peanuts, fried shallots and Asian mint (húng quế). A twist on the classic Vietnamese bò nhúng dấm (carpaccio with vinegar) bò tái chanh (carpaccio with lime). (Thanks for the correction, Linh-Dang!)
Crispy quail marinated in five spices and honey, with a light mixed fish sauce. Classic Vietnamese.
Doesn’t look like much but it’s my favorite of the night: Maple Leaf duck confit lettuce wraps with mushroom, onion and roasted peanuts; a sweet, slightly zesty black bean sauce for dipping. The pickled radish and daikon carry a gentle fruity note, had our hostess not been so busy with the other tables I would have asked her what kind of vinegar they used to pickle.
Green papaya salad with poached prawn, roasted peanuts and Asian mint. A hint of fish sauce. Pieces of sesame crackers, substituting for the traditional shrimp crackers or rice crackers.
Pork loin marinated in molasses and slow roasted to a crusty outside, unfortunately a tad dry inside, topped with a lovely Fuji apple chutney and accompanied by an average potato gratin.
Dungeness crab and mozzarella rolled in an oven-baked petrale sole filet, which was dressed in a lemon caper beurre blanc. The accompanied potato croquet is nothing to write home about, but we left no trace of the fish roll. It’s a Vanessa’s Special that doesn’t get served every night, we’re told.
And desserts, of course. Fuji apple and coconut eggroll with vanilla ice cream. Good ol’ comfort.
A ginger molasses creme brulee. Charming at first bite but quickly grew too rich.
Banana, raisin and peach bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Good ol’ comfort once again.
It’s been a while since I’ve dug into Vietnamese food, mostly because I’m afraid of getting less than I expect. The same thing happens to my Chinese, Korean and Japanese friends with their respective cuisine: we compare the “authentic” stuff at the restos with what our mom makes or what we remember eating in our motherland, and we shrug. Now Vanessa’s Bistro didn’t disappoint. It doesn’t dwell on authenticity, then again, the nature of Vietnamese cuisine speaks mix-and-match. The restaurant looks Western but it smells Vietnamese. The plates and their names are dressed up in French but the core ingredients ring familiar tunes. Everything is sweet and savory. We intentionally ignored the more Vietnamese shaken beef (bò lúc lắc) and claypots to have room for innovations, and innovations we got, but it’s nice to see that the roots are still there. 🙂
Address: Vanessa’s Bistro
1715 Solano Ave
Berkeley, 94707
(510) 525-8300
www.vanessasbistro.com
Dinner for three (ladies): $97.89
Only wanna comment on few general things, The website pattern is perfect, the subject material is really superb : D.
1Rattling excellent info can be found on blog.
2Dead composed subject material, thankyou for selective information.
3Definitely, what a fantastic website and enlightening posts, I surely will bookmark your site.Have an awsome day!
4I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100 certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos
5Yay google is my king assisted me to find this great website ! .
6Keep working ,remarkable job!
7I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
8Outstanding post, I conceive people should acquire a lot from this blog its real user pleasant.
9Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
10I was suggested this blog via my cousin. I’m now not positive whether this put up is written by means of him as nobody else recognise such unique about my difficulty. You’re amazing! Thank you!
11Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my website =). We could have a link exchange contract between us!
12Loving the information on this website , you have done great job on the articles.
13This actually answered my drawback, thanks!
14Whats up very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am happy to find numerous helpful information here within the put up, we want develop extra techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
15I will right away clutch your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
16Somebody essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Great job!
17Some really excellent posts on this internet site, thanks for contribution. “The difference between fiction and reality Fiction has to make sense.” by Tom Clancy.
18I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. kudos
19We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
20I’d always want to be update on new posts on this web site, saved to favorites! .
21It’s actually a nice and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
22I am glad to be one of many visitants on this great web site (:, thankyou for posting.
23I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again
24Magnificent web site. Plenty of useful info here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
25I definitely wanted to compose a small remark to express gratitude to you for these splendid strategies you are giving at this website. My extended internet look up has at the end of the day been honored with reputable facts and strategies to talk about with my partners. I would assume that most of us website visitors actually are very much blessed to dwell in a fabulous place with many special professionals with very beneficial techniques. I feel truly grateful to have discovered your entire web pages and look forward to tons of more exciting times reading here. Thank you again for everything.
26Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
27Good, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.
28Useful information. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
29I am not real good with English but I get hold this really leisurely to translate.
30I was just searching for this info for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative websites in top of the list. Normally the top sites are full of garbage.
31I enjoy gathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .
32As I website possessor I conceive the subject material here is real good, thankyou for your efforts.
33After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
34I really enjoy studying on this internet site, it holds good posts. “One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
35But a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding layout.
36I’ll right away grab your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
37Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
38Regards for this post, I am a big fan of this web site would like to proceed updated.
39But wanna input on few general things, The website pattern is perfect, the subject matter is real excellent : D.
40I am continually invstigating online for ideas that can help me. Thanks!
41magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a emblem new reader. What would you recommend about your publish that you made some days in the past? Any sure?
42You can definitely see your skills within the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always go after your heart.
43Really fantastic visual appeal on this internet site, I’d value it 10 10.
44I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i am satisfied to express that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I such a lot surely will make sure to do not fail to remember this website and give it a glance regularly.
45Absolutely composed content, Really enjoyed reading through.
46I have recently started a blog, the info you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
47Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such info.
48whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your articles. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are hunting around for this info, you can help them greatly.
49I really like your writing style, good information, thankyou for posting :D.
50