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www.grandviewhotel.vn: As the city becomes increasingly westernized, restaurants in HCMC have diversified. Western cuisine restaurants are sprouting up everywhere. Celebrity chef, Lam Phuong Vu, who is making a comeback as a restaurant owner, is targeting his western menu at Vietnamese.

Inaugurated two weeks ago, Vu's new restaurant, 12h, is located in quiet Tran Nhat Duat Street. If you have seen the TV show "New Vitality" (Suc Song Moi) recently, you will probably already know.

12h targets office workers, who would like to try Western food for a change at reasonable prices. And they are reasonable with the price range from VND19,000 to 69,000.

As a chef, Vu is confident that 12h has a variety of dishes to suit different tastes.

"Many dishes are invented by me. I think it is important that guests enjoy the experience and don't feel bored by the food."

All the meals are cooked to suit the Vietnamese taste with less fat than the original Western recipe.

Service is important at 12h. Vu trained his staff himself.  He has high expectations of his people, but in return, he treats them as if they belong to his family. "I take good care of my staff because they only work well when they feel good."

Coming back from previous attempts at restaurateuring, Vu has adopted an entrepreneurial outlook. He is in charge of the whole operation from funding and marketing to recruiting staff.

"As a chef you always dream to own a restaurant of your own," he says.

"I've been through losses before but this time, I believe I am well-prepared." He is lucky because he has already got a reputation from appearing in TV cooking shows, publishing cookbooks and as a country chef at Unilever Vietnam.

Although the restaurant only aims at Vietnamese customers as the menu and signs are all in Vietnamese, Vu says he hopes to make some changes soon.

He plans to seek cooperation from tour operators to attract new customers, such as foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.

The next challenge is to monitor the progress of 12h when Vu goes on a 6-month training course in Germany as part of his work in Unilever.

"My innermost dream is to be a chef in a 5-star hotel."

Vu reveals his role is model Quach Kien Cuong who is the first Vietnamese chef of a 5-star hotel in Vietnam.

"I admire him for his efficient working style as well as excellent management and communication skills."

Source: Saigontimes