A first in the foodie world and causing a bit of a hot flush in Victoria is the Capital’s first Laotian pop-up restaurant, Laos Café. The food of Laos takes influence from it’s neighbouring countries, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where you find bold flavours, punchy spices and lots of colour. So whilst it might be London’s first dedicated Laos joint you’ll probably have encountered some dishes in Thai/Vietnamese places.
The menu, designed for sharing, was created by the Head Chef and Co-Founder of Rosa’s Thai Cafe, Saiphin Moore. We tried the Isaac mini sausages (saigork-isaan), meaty parcels of pork and the Fried Chicken Wings (peek-gai-tod). The Seabass however was the star of the set, chargrilled and served with spicy aubergine dip. To eat, you wrap the fish and noodles in a lettuce leaf to make a mini parcel, the variety of textures and flavours coming together with great results.
Photos by Take Eat Easy
The Papaya Salad (som-tam) looks very much like it’s neighbouring counterpart of Thailand, though this Laos style comes with Laotian anchovies and crab meat, and just like the Thai version it’s fresh, punch and hotter than August. Eye watering stuff. With the quality of food and the chance to get something a bit different in London we’ve heard rumours of the pop-up becoming perm over in East London whilst the Victoria site will become another Rosa’s Thai Cafe once the pop up comes to a close. Get in before it pops down.
Until 28th February 2016
25 Gillingham Street, Victoria, London SW1V 1HN
www.rosasthaicafe.com