Goodbye 61 Van Mieu
Posted: November 17, 2006 Filed under: koto, Movies, Pics | Tags: koto, new home for koto, van mieu 12 Comments »
First a couple of very cool links.
There’s this rather wonderful film about KOTO which gives you its history from it’s start up to present day.
Secondly, while searching for the first film I came across this – a BBC piece from last year.
Rather scarily the first film features voice over from me and the second an interview.
Oh and you’ll never guess who we had in our restaurant yesterday. Look here.
Sadly the KOTO restaurant at 61 Van Mieu has now closed its doors for the last time. As I write its contents are being moved next door to 59 – our fantastic new home. Due to open soon.
I remember when I first came to Vietnam I was invited to the home of a former KOTO graduate. I got to her house to find pictures she had drawn herself, all over her wall, of the KOTO restaurant. She was very proud of it. It will always be very special to her. By chance I bumped into her again recently – she came to talk to the current KOTO trainees. She has continued to progress and now holds a senior position in the restaurant where she works.
As I have been told many times, and it’s corny but true – there was a lot of love in that place. The trainees benefited from and it was tangible enough for our diners to enjoy too.
Pre VIP-visit I took some shots of KOTO’s last day open to the public as everyone cleaned up for our special guests and got ready for the big change over. Those last day pics are here.
With a little over a week of my time here I am just starting to get very misty eyed about my departure. I thought it would pass me by. The last weeks have been a struggle and I am ready to go. I thought I would just slip away but apparently plans are being made. I still can’t comprehend saying goodbye to KOTO.
I have been involved with something very special here. When they tell you that KOTO changes lives – they don’t just mean the trainees.
* Pics are from the last day of KOTO set mentioned earlier. Top is Mr Duc caught in a moment’s contemplation in our dining room. Below the trainees take it in their stride and the shutters go down for the last time.
