Tom Phat embraces our passion for eating and exploring. Our cooking is simply an interpretation of the food and flavours which we love best - Asian. We believe any authority or authenticity of our dishes comes straight from the heart.
Looking back, we were destined forward to Tom Phat. We met as a couple, from opposite sides of the kitchen pass and opposite ends of the world; the Scottish cook and the Vietnamese waitress. We have celebrated more than ten years together and Tom Phat will turn four later this year. Our dream of opening an asian eatery has inspired us to explore the streets of Asia with a spirit of adventure; helped us develop our tastebuds and understand the freshness of produce and importance of balancing its unique flavours.
My favourite meal in Asia has to be the one from my honeymoon trip. Dougal and I took my two teenage stepsons backpacking six weeks, Saigon to Hanoi. And it was in our final week that we shared the most wonderful meal together - fried rice. Stir-fried in massive woks over high flame, this little corner outdoor stall was pumping with Vietnamese locals. Working class, peasants, high-flyers who would arrive in their shiny black Mercedes and one or two tables of foreigners like us. This place was far from flash: we squatted on doll-housed sized wooden stools over little fold-out tables. The standard order for everyone appeared only to be a plate of fried rice with chicken and a vinaigrette salad of freshly sliced tomatoes and cucumber but it was pure satisfaction. I've wondered many times since, was it the food or was it the dining experience that I loved most?
People often ask me what Tom Phat is about. Tom Phat is a real expression of our love affair with Asian food and culture. But perhaps simply, Tom Phat is just our way of capturing that moment and creating a memorable experience.
We hope you love your Tom Phat experience.