Pittstop's muckers Dan Dockery of Highway4 and Sarah Clarke of Hanoi Street Food both appeared recently on a Discovery Channel show called Bizarre Foods with an American presenter called Andrew Zimmern.

You can check out Dan who appears in this clip below after Andrew eats at Cha Ca La Vang restaurant, which he pronounces with wonderful French flair - c'est malapropos non?


As you'll see Dan and Andrew nibble on some scorpion, roasted sparrow and most impressively a 32-cm bull's penis with the accompanying cajones grande de toro. Tastes just like lamb shank apparently.

Sarah gets a whole segment to herself, or rather her and street food do... they try a few different dishes, some papaya salad with dried beef, some 'fuh' and some No.2 coffee.



There's another four parts which I haven't watched yet but this link will take you to part one and on the side you can the other segments if yer interested at all.

Excuse me sir, but I don't like the cut of your jib...

Well, here's a first - somebody told me I wasn't dressed appropriately for the first time ever in Vietnam. I've turned up in sandals to embassy dos and bantered with Ambassadors, I've strolled into weddings in jeans DEVIL-MAY-CARE and worn shorts to every bar and restaurant in town, not because I'm some kind of wild maverick who plays by his own rules but because it's really hot and socks are for October to April only with the exception of when I'm playing football, you see. I'm innocent.

But, regardless, my seven-year-streak of casually-dressed derring-do came to end, well nearly, when I went for a fancy pants dinner at the Metropole's Le Beaulieu and after sitting down I was interrupted by a fairly embarrassed waitress (her manager didn't have the bi (Cojones) to do it himself I'd wager) who said that she was sorry, aren't we all for something, but there was a dress code and sandals weren't allowed. I explained that I was just off the plane direct from Bali and had lost my suitcase somewhere along the way. She smiled, not getting the joke, and said as long as I remembered next time then scuttled away, exit stage left. We laughed for a while. The other "gents" at my table had very nearly done the same. One was only in shoes and trousers because he went straight to the bia hoi (pour un ou deux aperitif) after work. The waiter ignored us all night. My friends started to blame the sandals.

Next time I'll throw on the Crocs and really spoil them.

Here's a piece on Vietnam's emerging and increasingly liberal film industry.

Can't help but notice that one film's plot line sounds exactly like Tootsie: The most successful so far is "Two In One," a slapstick comedy about a man impersonating a woman — and falling in love with a real woman who doesn't know he's actually a man.

Need to start writing a few oh-so-subtle remakes of my own methinks.

Ong Mua: An incredibly handsome brother discovers his long lost autistic brother after their dad dies leaving all the cash to the autistic brother. They embark on a road trip to Do Son, but by foot, as the autistic brother won't fly Vietnam Airlines, or take a bus, car, motorbike, any kind of automated vehicle, and there they start to gamble their way to brotherly love.

Hanoi and it's Bia Hoi
Recently set up Hanoi Bia Hoi dot com aims to build a map of bia hoi around Hanoi. A genius idea.

It's only just got going, but there's already a good few bars reviewed. You can click on the flags to read the reviews, but also email off your own tuppence worth of any joints you tipple in. The website will grow accordingly.

The web master gives mucho kudos for any bia hoi that is very cold.

So for you Hanoi-based Pittstop readers your homework this week is to drink more bia hoi and send hanoibiahoi.com a review.

Also, another Pittstop associate who does food tours in Hanoi has her website up and running. Check it out here:

"Hanoi Street Food Tours give you the opportunity to get the inside scoop on where to find the best pho bo, the tastiest bun rieu cua, the freshest nom du du - and more!"

Nothing to see here today folks. I'm wasting my afternoon youtubing, which is not entirely a waste of time when you discover musical gems such as this.



Have a cup of tea (with or without ice depending on your whereabouts) and kick back with Uncle Al.

The Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail?

Yup - it's true. Surprised they're getting away with that as a campaign, domain name.

Certainly none of my business.

Here's a funny/ disturbing story about a man going on the rampage in Danang Airport with two swords after he was told not to park in the no-parking zone. Turns out he's got connections so everyone says he'll get off but I think he'll do well to worm his way out that pickle.

The local press aren't so sure: ...skepticism is widespread as many feel that M. had already escaped justice after another notorious rampage seven years ago in a Binh Duong karaoke shop. At the time, M. was accused of firing his gun at a waitress at the karaoke bar after she refused to “go out” with him. Though M.apparently missed his target, subsequent police reports confirmed four used bullet shells were found in the karaoke room.

Sounds like a right nutbag. But luckily my father, Teddy de Burca Snr., always did warn me, never trust a man who drives around with two swords in the trunk.

Whatever happened to Queensbury rules?

Someone said the words "Autumn's on the way" today. People just love proclaiming a new season and trip over themselves to be first. Of course, Autumn is just a second summer for the likes of me who have been genetically engineered to live in wet, boggy fields. For the record, the person who said this was wearing shorts and sandals.

Methinks the sweat will still be dripping, the ca phe will still have da and the sock drawer will remain untouched for sometime yet. As for long-sleeved tops and jeans, might be time just to let the mildew breathe a little - but there's no rush there either.

Which reminds me last time I was in Ho Chi Minh City, where the summer really does last forever, I passed a woolly jumper and hat shop. Of course, those heading north need to wool-up before boarding the plane, but still it's kinda like spotting a Bermuda shorts shop in Siberia. The sales assistant was alone in the shop and looked utterly miserable.

"A woolly hat shop in Saigon, what was I thinking?"

Here's a little something for a Tuesday afternoon on Vietnam's shifting perspectives on history.

Those interested in revisionism will love it.

There's a Letter from ...

...Hanoi in the Guardian weekly by yours truly which may give devoted Pittstop subscribers a fleeting bout of deja vu.

It's in an adobe programme. Just put your finger on the alt key and drag it around. Click on the text to zoom in.