Of course House of Ho is begging for a joke, maybe something along the lines of ‘sounds like the kind of place rappas would recommend’, but we’re better than that aren’t we?
Bobby Chinn will open his new London restaurant – The House of Ho – on Monday, 6 January 2014 on London’s gayest street, Old Compton Street, in Soho for dinner only and with a preview menu offering a 50% discount on the food, but full price for drinks.
It’s going to be a modern Vietnamese menu, a result of Bobby’s 18 years living and working in both Hanoi and Saigon. Signature small dishes on the launch menu include Smokey aubergine and crispy shallots with warm scallion vinaigrette; Apple-smoked pork belly with braised cabbage; Lemongrass monkfish; Duck “a labanana” (shredded confit duck banana blossom salad); Seafood ceviche with mangosteen truffle vinaigrette; “Shaking Beef”; Molton Marou chocolate cake; and Sweet Corn Che. Prices will range from £4.50-£15.
He’s assembled quite a wine list to try and tempt people away from beers, as well as a selection of sakes. There will be plenty of cocktails too, if you’re that way inclined the ‘Ho’rny Devil (lemongrass vodka, Vietnamese Devil’s Chilli, fresh coconut),‘Ho’-Groni (Campari, Tanqueray 10 gin and pomelo bitters), and Nam Fizz (lemongrass shochu withProsecco and lemongrass); prices range from £7-£9.
Bobby has hosted the award-winning World Café series on the Discovery TLC since 2007, and a new edition of Bobby’s cookbook – Vietnamese Food – has just been published by Octopus with a foreword by culinary thug Anthony Bourdain
From 6 January, The House of Ho will be open from Monday to Saturday, with lunch from Noon-3pm, anddinner Monday-Wednesday from 5.30pm-10.30pm (until 11.30pm Thursday-Saturday).
55-59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 6HW.
Reservations will be taken on 020-7287 0770, and online from 6th January.