Musings Of The Viet Coffee Lover

The Food Safari 1

So, last weekend came and went. It is hard to come to the realisation that after weeks of hectic preparation, the event is already down memory lane.

Last Friday to Sunday (14-16 November) saw My Cafe Adventures participating in our very first outdoor F&B event. Known as The Food Safari, the event attracted about a hundred vendors offering delicacies from all over the world.

Needless to say, we took pride in showcasing our specialty, premium Viet coffee. The timing of the event couldn't have been better. We launched our brand of coffee, ROYAL MOMENTS TM, at the event. Offering coffee by the cup as well as taking in pre-orders for both fresh coffee as well as Christmas coffee hampers, ROYAL MOMENTS TM received a very warm response.

The Food Safari 2

Our most memorable customer has to be a corporate lady who visited on Day 2. Hailing from Shanghai, she had come to visit after a day of meetings at the Raffles Convention Centre. She ordered three packs of coffee plus a coffee hamper, and asked for the whole lot to be sent by airfreight to her home.

We were all very greatly-encouraged by the results of this three-day show. There is no doubt a great demand for exotic coffee among Singaporeans and foreigners alike!

Well done, My Cafe Adventures team! Special thanks goes out to the student helpers. The event wouldn't have run so smoothly without all of you!

Viet Coffee

My Cafe Adventures will be participating in The Food Safari, a gastronomic event at the Suntec Convention Centre, on 14-16 Nov 2008. Over these three days, get to savour gourmet treats from all over the world in the main event and bring back an art with you with the various workshops!

My Cafe Adventures will be launching a new line of Vietnamese coffee products at this event. Watch out for it!

For those who are new to Viet coffee, come join us at our workshop, aptly-titled The Unique Viet Coffee Experience! Only 40 participants will be accepted, so register now!

Visit www.TheFoodSafari.com today.

Fresh Coffee

Lovers of Vietnamese coffee, My Cafe Adventures will again be bringing to you coffee that packs in the UMPH!

Hot on the heels of the successful 1st Bulk Purchase in September, we're proud to bring you the next one! From 16-31 October 2008, order your favourite blends of coffee and we'll bring them in for you. The expected date of delivery is 10 November 2008.

Once again, all-time favourites like Blue Mountain and Specialty Coffee are available! Remember, your coffee is specially flown in by air, just for you!

Hurry down to the Bulk Purchase Forum now!

Jack with Coffee Berries

So, back to my travelogue... At long last, I had the chance to get REALLY close to coffee berries! I was on the way back to Buon Ma Thuot when we spotted some coffee trees by the roadside.

Oh, the sight of these red and green coffee berries (red=ripe, green=unripe) was so heavenly! Here, you see yours truly holding some of these beauties for that perfect shot.

Yes, I know I'm more prominent than the berries, but hey, look at those little sources of caffeine, not moi!!!

I just have to interrupt my travelogue for just a brief moment. Today, I was informed by a nice customer of mine that his wife, for whom he bought my Viet coffee products as a birthday gift, loved her present so much that she talked about it on her blog! Read all about it here: http://talesacrossthesea.com/singblog/?p=6

Now it feels good that someone appreciates you for your service! Never mind the part about (the implied) illicit arms or drugs trade... :p

Dray Sap Waterfall

Following the very nice experience at the coffee shop, my companion -- Oh yeah, I had a well-travelled, retired Frenchman for this part of my tour! - and I were herded to the Dray Sap Waterfall. This place is about 45 minutes to the west of Buon Ma Thuot and the sight was a majestic one to behold!

The waterfall may not impress in this photo, but trust me, anyone who has seen Dray Sap will attest to its might! Lose your foothold and you would be part of history! Okay, I'm just kidding.

My Guide Tuan Playing A Guitar

Before heading to the Dray Nur Waterfall for more visual feast, our dear guide Mr Tuan decided to provide us with some entertainment by picking up a guitar and strumming away. It was also at this rest area where I met this nice gentleman who runs the Ban Don Eco Resort & Spa, a nice, 3-star resort hotel not far from where we were. I promised to stay over when I return to BMT in December!

Preparing Coffee In A Coffee Shop

It was Thursday, 25 September 2008. That day I was on a day trip between Buon Ma Thuot and Da Lat. I had indicated to the guide that I needed to have a look at the Dray Sap and Dray Nur Waterfalls, and they said okay. And so we set off, west of Buon Ma Thuot, but not before enjoying some superb coffee at a local coffee shop!

Here, you see one of the staff preparing some coffee for me. At this shop, you have the option of getting your beans and having them ground on the spot. You don't find many of such places in Singapore these days!

The Victory Monunent In Its Evening Splendour

So, I am now in Buon Ma Thuot City, the provincial capital of Dak Lak. BMT is nestled deep in the Central Highlands, the biggest and most well-known coffee-producing region in Vietnam.

I arrived last night on an old ATR72 from Ho Chi Minh City and today has been a busy day of sorts. The day passed with the bat of an eyelid as yours truly checked out the most aromatic coffee he has ever tasted in some of the coolest cafes he has ever seen.

Tomorrow I will be on my way to Da Lat, but in case you think I'm going to hop on a Mai Linh bus for a 4-hour ride, I have booked for myself a 7-seater car (lots of room!) that will take me to the waterfalls and lake and most importantly, the coffee plantations and factories. The travel agent said they would try to arrange for me to try my hand at roasting coffee. I am excited about tomorrow. I love the Central Highlands.