At long last, Shepparton has been graced with its first Vietnamese restaurant, and it couldn't get any more authentic.
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Pho Viet, which is officially opening its doors today, Friday, August 20, is the third restaurant venture of Hanoi-born-and-bred Loan ‘Rose’ Nguyen, and her first business foray into regional Victoria.
Spending most of her life as a tour guide for Singaporean and Chinese visitors, Ms Nguyen fell in love with food after opening a pho shop on a whim in her home city of Hanoi.
Then taking a gamble and migrating to Australia five years ago, it only took Ms Nguyen a matter of months to open a Vietnamese restaurant - Chain Chain Hot Pot - in Melbourne's suburb of Footscray in 2016.
The restaurant proved to be hugely popular, known for its buffet-style barbecue and lively interiors.
“It's very famous in Melbourne,” Ms Nguyen said.
“But because of COVID-19, it's been temporarily closed, with plans to hopefully reopen in the coming months.”
In the interim period, Ms Nguyen set her sites on the regions, and decided upon Shepparton as her prime target.
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“I didn't know where Shepparton was, or what Shepparton was,” she said with a laugh.
“But my friend in Melbourne recommended it here as a busy farming community.
“With everything happening with COVID-19, I wanted to go regional and give people a place to go out and enjoy themselves.”
Ms Nguyen feels the pressure, though, of being the first Vietnamese restaurant to try its luck in Shepparton.
“I've been determined to prove myself here,” she said.
“It's scary - what happens if people don't come, if I'm empty? But people have been loving my posts on Facebook, people are very happy and it's my home now.
“I have to try my best . . . I talk to my staff, my chef and say we need to do our best, because many people know about us, if we don't do well, my whole name suffers.”
It's been a long road to finally reach opening day.
“It has taken four months to get here . . . I wanted to open on August 8 but because of COVID-19 we had to delay,” Ms Nguyen said.
“Many staff and my handyman haven't been able to come here, because they're from Melbourne or interstate.
“And a lot of the equipment has come from Vietnam, which has been hard to get . . . normally it takes about a month but it's taken weeks and weeks.”
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Now it has arrived, and judging by the menu alone, Pho Viet will prove to be a hit.
Open for takeaway and dine-in for breakfast, lunch and dinner, expect a range of Vietnamese classics prepared as authentically as if you're stepping into a bustling laneway in the heart of Hanoi.
“Because I come from Hanoi, my style is traditional with the food there, where there is a lot of pho and bun cha,” Ms Nguyen said.
The Vietnamese noodle soup - served with meats or vegies, a squeeze of lime and chilli - and meatballs with vermicelli noodles and dipping sauce are famous in Hanoi, and are her favourite dishes on the menu.
But other staples don't disappoint - from a crackling roast pork and barbecue beef to banh mi sandwiches, pork bao and rice paper rolls, alongside a range of salads and desserts.
Pho Viet is still awaiting its liquor license, but in the meantime a range of fresh smoothies and juices will be on offer alongside teas and coffees - handmade in-house.
Come for the food, and stay for the durian juice or avocado smoothies.
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During her time as a tour guide, Ms Nguyen visited more than a dozen countries and has tried food from all over the world.
But Vietnamese food has always been her true love.
“Vietnamese food is very healthy, there's no oil, and many vegetables,” she said.
“I love my country's food . . . I love good food, and I want my customers to know and come to love authentic Vietnamese food.”
Pho Viet will be open from 7.30 am to 9.30 am for breakfast, 11 am to 2.30 pm for lunch and 6 pm to 9 pm for dinner sessions. It can be found at 247 Wyndham St, Shepparton. Call ahead on 0422 195 678.
Cadet journalist