Chefs serve up true Saigon experience

Rebecca Field and Maurice Field, enjoying Saigon Alley, a Vietnamese style F.A.W.C! event at Hugo Chang last night. Photo / Duncan Brown

People were treated to a taste of Saigon last night with dragon fruit cocktails and some of Vietnam's finest cuisine.

Hugo Chang owner, Liv Reynolds, said they wanted to create a Vietnamese-inspired evening to showcase their Asian menu for this year's F.A.W.C!

"A lot of people know about our cocktails but not the food we do so we wanted to display our beautiful cuisine."

Tickets to the event were snapped up within 24 hours.

More than 80 people mingled under the night sky as a continuous flow of dumplings, pho and noodle salads landed. "We had four different food stations prepared by individual chefs and we delivered the food on bamboo boats with chopsticks."

Ms Reynolds said the vibe from the evening was really good.

"We filled the garden and bar with red lanterns to create a really cool atmosphere."

Rachael Dickerson's group said they had a wonderful evening and enjoyed the Saigon experience.

Also on yesterday was Tapas and Toreadors and launch Homage to Hawke's Bay; Launch of 2014 Homage.

Today's events
Waste not, want not: Class with Paolo Pancotti from 6-10pm at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier.
Sin City's Seven Deadly Sins from 6.30-12am at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier.
Raw Food for the Soul with Hapi and Organic Ash from 12-2pm at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel in Napier.
Eat Out from 6-10pm at the Old Tobacco Factory in Napier.
Judging a Cheese by its Cover from 7-9pm at Riverside Lodges, Black Barn Retreats.
The Underground Reserve from 6-7.30pm at Elephant Hill Estate Winery.