Music, theatre and food are amongst my favourite things in life, so you can imagine how keen I was to investigate Sonic Pho, the audio dining experience that combines all three – and more, writes Michael Holland.
Sonic Pho has been developed to reveal stories about the Vietnamese diaspora and create an intimate audio experience that shares Vietnamese food and culture with the wider community, as a part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2022 programme We Are Lewisham, in a New Earth Theatre Museum of the Home collaboration.
As my Pho companion Fiona and I waited in the Albany Theatre for the first part of the event to begin we discussed our own experience of the Vietnamese diaspora, which was memories of an influx of Vietnam War refugees arriving on our respective estates (Silwood and Pepys), so were both fascinated to see how the Vietnamese themselves have come to view their lives here.
We were led into a room where cooking facilities were set up and various spices and herbs placed on tables where we the audience sat. We were introduced to local man Tony – a Soho House chef – who would guide us through the creation of authentic Pho.
First, we had to smell the different herbs and spices to get a feel for Asian cooking, all while Tony was demonstrating the making of the chicken broth that is the basis for Pho, and how he infuses it with the spices. The delicious aroma soon began wafting throughout the space and kickstarted my taste buds.
While Tony created this iconic Vietnamese dish a colleague relayed Pho facts from the time when eating it with rice noodles could have got you killed, to how the Vietnamese resistance planned the Tet Offensive in a room above a Pho café popular with the US military in the old Saigon. And we heard about the Magic Bowl… Very soon we were sampling the broth and were now ready for a short walk round to Deptford High Street where we would be eating Pho in Viet Rest – all included in the ticket price.
It was here that we were provided headphones to listen to Anna Nguyen’s audio story Sonic Pho while eating this traditional dish. Her tale is one of how first-generation immigrants pass on their traditions from the old country to the second and third-generation sons and daughters. It is a story that has been going on among many cultures who find themselves escaping war or pogroms.
The soundscape that surrounds the spoken word is from award-winning composer Nicola T. Chang, and the two together make a very interesting way to dine. I was fascinated at how much I learned about Vietnamese culture while enjoying my steaming bowl of Pho, which culminated in having all the knowledge I needed to have a go at home.
Deptford is wonderfully diverse so I only had to cross the road from the restaurant to buy all the ingredients necessary to make my own Pho. I’ll be doing that as soon as I’ve finished this.
The next Sonic Pho event is Saturday 18th June, Museum of The Home, 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA, then Viet Hoa, 70-72 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DP
Lunchtime:12pm – 1.45pm; Early Dinnertime: 3pm – 4.45pm
Photos: M. Holland