A Vietnamese restaurant has opened in Covent Garden inspired by the late Nguyễn Thị Thanh (pictured) – the Ho Chi Minh City ‘Lunch Lady’ brought to culinary fame by the New York chef-turned-writer Anthony Bourdain.
Cô Thành, on the Henrietta Street site formerly occupied by Frenchie, has been launched by Hong Kong chef Brian Woo, who trained under Nguyễn for three years before opening his tribute restaurant in 2016. The new Covent Garden venue is his follow-up.
Nguyễn also partnered with Michael Tran to open Lunch Lady Canada in Vancouver. Sadly she died in May this year at the age of 58, soon after flying into Toronto for the opening of its second branch.
Anthony Bourdain featured Nguyễn in his TV series No Reservations in 2009. She served one dish a day at her Lunch Lady stall, from a rotation of noodle soups made fresh from scratch.
