Deep honour: Ngon Garden owner Phạm Bích Hạnh ( red jacket) presents the Cổ Loa Citadel painting to the DPRK delegation.

After a delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) enjoyed a luncheon at Ngon Garden in Hà Nội last week, the restaurant decided to launch one of its specialties bánh xèo Hòa Bình (peace sizzling crepe) to mark this event, said restaurant owner Phạm Bích Hạnh.

The 30-member delegation was in Hà Nội for the DPRK-US summit and went to Ngon Garden, one of most beautiful views and luxurious restaurants on Hà Nội’s 70 Nguyễn Du Street in the downtown.

If these walls could talk: A corner of the dinning room where the DPRK delegation enjoyed their traditional Vietnamese dishes at Ngon Garden.

They were served with Vietnamese traditional dishes such as bánh xèo Ngon Garden,  nem cua bể  (sea crab spring rolls) bê chao Mộc Châu (fried Mộc Châu’s meat of young cattle, or veal), bò nướng Nha Trang (Nha Trang’s grilled beef) and many others.

Peace of history: Ngon Garden’s bánh xèo is now named bánh xèo hòa bình (peace sizzing crepe). It was the most popular dish at the restaurant among the DPRK delegation.

All the DPRK guests expressed impression on all the dishes, particularly the bánh xèo which has its special aromatic flavour that they said they have never had enjoyed before, said Hạnh.

Something smells fishy: Chả cá lăng (grilled lăng fish) at Ngon Garden is also among tasty and delicious dishes.

Head of the delegation, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the WPK Ri Su-yong, expressed thanks to the restaurant, praising the Vietnamese dish for its very delicious taste.

They said Ngon Garden was an ambassador for Vietnamese cuisine.

Bánh xèo was among the dishes that won most interest by the dinners, said Ri, noting that they would return to the restaurant next time.

Place where dreams come true: A corner view of the beautiful and luxurious Ngon Garden Restaurant on Hà Nội’s 70 Nguyễn Du Street.

To mark such memorial event, the restaurant named the dish: bánh xèo hòa bình (peace bánh xèo).

“The dish would become a bridge for peace, and friendship. We are very proud to contribute a small effort in introducing our Vietnamese cuisine to the world via the summit held in Hà Nội,” said Hạnh.

Completely unique: Ngon Garden’s salad is quite different from others for its fresh and aromatic flavour.

She presented a Vietnamese painting titled Thành Cổ Loa (Cổ Loa Citadel) by painter Lâm Đức Mạnh as a gift to the delegation.

“The painting of Hà Nội’s historical prestige, would remind the guests to remember about Việt Nam’s capital, a city for peace.

Stunning: Ngon Garden presents the painting titled ’Thành Cổ Loa’ (Cổ Loa Citadel) to the DPRK delegation who were in Hà Nội for the DPRK-US summit. Photos courtesy of Ngon Garden

“Ngon Garden’s dinning room that the DPRK delegation enjoyed the dishes is also named Hòa Bình to express our memory and also towards close relations between the two countries,” Hạnh, who is also a Vietnamese culinary artist, said.

From now on diners and visitors that enjoy bánh xèo Hòa Bình at Ngon Garden will be presented a postcard printed this Cổ Loa Citadel painting, Hạnh said.—VNS