HANOI — Remember the time U.S. President Barack Obama and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain kicked back with bottles of beer and bowls of noodles in Vietnam?
As part of the season eight premiere of Bourdain’s hit show ‘Parts Unknown’, the two men shared a US$6 meal of grilled pork and noodles back in 2016 at a tiny eatery in the heart of Hanoi. It was a major pop culture moment for the city, and no doubt the biggest celebrity sighting for Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant.
Recognizing the value that this dynamic duo brings to its humble establishment, the owners of the restaurant have decided to preserve this moment in time by encasing the table in glass. Even the stools, plates, chopsticks and beer bottles that were used throughout the meal have been included, making for a makeshift museum in the middle of the restaurant.
According to the owners, the idea to preserve the table for posterity came from their customers, who wanted to see where the former president had sat and what he had eaten.
It’s become a big tourist draw and a social media sensation. But what does Bourdain, who’s known to always speak his mind, think of all this? He captioned a recent pic of the table on his Instagram with “Not sure how I feel about this”.
We hope the oddity doesn’t stop Bourdain from returning to the family-run, working-class restaurant. But even if he doesn’t come back, we’re sure Bun Cha Huong Lien will have gained countless new patrons to make up for it.
Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer. pic.twitter.com/KgC3VIEPQr
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) May 23, 2016
