Our good friend, Aline (born in Vietnam - then a French colony), offered a few weeks ago, to make a Vietnamese dinner for us and up to 10 people. We invited Lesley and Andy, Caroline and Glyn, Kay and Jay, Audrey is visiting, Aline, and Papa and me. Aline came by the day before to drop off ingredients for the fridge and freezer. Yesterday, she arrived at 4 and the two of us peeled and chopped green mangoes, courgettes, peppers, and more. She made the sauces and I took instruction. Guests arrived at 6:30. We had wine and appetizers on the terrace, and then dinner in our garden room, elbow to elbow. We had green mango salad, rice bowls, with shrimp and vegetables in a very tasty sauce. We had a typical Vietnamese dessert of tapioca banana pudding. All was delicious and we enjoyed every bite. We retired to our salon for more conversation after dinner. It was a fun evening for all of us!
