Avana Retreat has launched two new menus at their unique waterfront dining experience deep in the Mai Chau jungle.
Sat in front of the towering limestone cliffs and untouched waterfalls, the new offering is bookable for private or intimate groups. A chef and server work in unison to deliver multi-course meals along with the option for a small band performance.
Guests have the choice of four five-course menus. The Vietnamese signature menu is abundant in seafood with dishes such as grilled catfish served with rice noodles and local herbs and Vietnamese spicy & sour seafood soup. A plant-based option has also been added including a burrata and tomato salad with asparagus saffron dressing and mushroom tortellini with a carrot puree and almond foam.
The chef’s special and a sense of romance, have a European touch with courses like beef wellington, a popular British dish, and lobster cognac flambé. Local elements include a cao phong orange mousse, made from the cao phong oranges that are a specialty of the province, and smoked duck breast.
As an avid explorer, Avana Retreat’s founder Mr. Vu Huy, was hiking in the region over a decade ago when he had a gut feeling there was a waterfall hidden amid the forest. Locals couldn’t confirm his hunch so he set out to follow the stream and was rewarded for his efforts.
“Our waterfall is the heart of the retreat,” founder, Avana Retreat, Mai Chau, said.
“We also realize that the way to a person’s heart is often through their stomach. We wanted to combine stellar food with an incomparable backdrop to touch their hearts and help our guests create a lifelong memory of their time in Vietnam.”
Course menus start at 4,500,000 VND (AUD$2,866) per person or 9,000,000 VND ($5,732)++ for two people, exclusive of wine. Reservations are essential with a recommendation to book well in advance as there is only one seating per evening. The waterfall area is also bookable for small group celebrations with the capacity to cater for up to 30 guests.
