One of the most exciting openings of 2023, Akuna in Le Meridien Saigon is where glamor meets radical innovation. Chef and restaurateur Sam Aisbett blends his Australian culinary background in Australia, including time at Japanese restaurant Tetsuya, with Vietnamese produce and techniques. Akuna is an Aboriginal word that means flowing water, and Aisbett says his six-course tasting menus are inspired by the “glorious chaos” of Ho Chi Minh City. This might mean his Smoked Australian Free Range Pork Jowl, slow-cooked for eight hours and served with scallop rice noodle sheets, Jade Tiger abalone, silken tofu, termite mushrooms, and lotus seeds in broth. Or his dish of Saltwater Crocodile, Broken Rice Porridge, and Shoyuzuke, with a base of poached crocodile tongue and cured quail egg yolk. Aussie chocolate bar Cherry Ripe gave Aisbett the story for his Cherry, Chocolate, Coconut, and Macadamia dessert.
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