Comfort Food

After a day of "foreign"--food, people, streets--we treated ourselves to comfort at the Sofitel Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. We took a long nap and awoke at 9pm a little dazed and confused so we did the only thing we knew we could count on. $2 taxi to the Sofitel for a drink. Hey, if Anthony Bourdain stays here you know it's alright. The Sofitel is the nicest hotel in Hanoi by many many reaches and one of the oldest, rich with history. Charlie Chaplin and his wife honeymooned here.

The hotel is decorated a bit modern and a bit old school. The walls are covered in old black and whites from French colonial Hanoi and the ceiling fans look like the old slow Bermuda ones. Or Bahama. I don't know. The rooms have big wooden shutters covering the windows and the pool is lined with big banana leaf plants. Beside the pool is what looks like an African safari tent with wicker chairs, tables and blankets for couples. Mostly all tables for 2. We sat inside at the bar with a very friendly Vietnamese bartender. I ordered a champagne cocktail made with bitters, lemon juice and champagne (almost identical to Otto's Sardinian Iced Tea). Carter ordered Tiger beer. And since we hadn't eaten since lunch we indulged ourselves in cheese and pate. The entire menu is French with a couple of Vietnamese dishes interspersed but hardly enough to call it "fusion".

I asked Carter what food brings him home when he's far far away. His answer: Italian. Mine: cheese. I know it's bad to fall back on what's familiar when you're in such a foreign, exotic place but I couldn't help myself.

After we settled our tab we walked to the Opera Wing of the hotel and had another drink at their hip Italian eatery/bar called "Angelina." Very very modern bar with DJ. You would never guess you were in Hanoi. We think they named the place after THE Angelina because one wall was covered in pictures of Angelina and Brad on a motorbike in Hanoi and had a framed, hand written letter from her saying she loved the hotel. bla bla.