Greetings New Hanoians! We hope this finds all you enjoying your summers in Hanoi and on the various getaways this time of the year usually brings. We've all been having a grand time keeping the best of Hanoi coming your way. Just a couple weeks ago we had a massive turnout for the July Meet Up that went down at The Loft. Nearly 240 of you showed up throughout the night, and though the space got plenty packed, everybody stayed in great spirits and showed them one of the biggest nights they've had since their opening. This month, we'll be heading to an even larger venue and expecting an even larger turnout. But first...

A Six Course Tasting Menu for Tengu and Friends

It's time for us to tell you about what this last month's outstanding level of activity on the site means for a couple of our notable site users. First up, we have tengu charging into the New Hanoian review pages. Tengu didn't merely knock out a couple reviews, but became the one of the most consistent voices on the site during July. For those much appreciated contributions, tengu will be treating three friends to a wonderful evening eating and drinking their way through a diverse, six-course tasting menu at Matchbox. As one of the hottest new restaurants in Hanoi, this little eatery will be up to the task like few in Hanoi can claim. Tengu and friends will be enjoying: 1) Tomato Fondue in Poached Tomato Cup with Basil Oil, 2) Fried Haloumi Cheese with Roasted Eggplant, Courgette, and Pumpkin on Cous Cous, 3) Sliced Duck Breast Salad with Frisee, Orange Segments, Red Radish and Oriental Dressing, 4) Seared Garlic Tiger Prawn on Capellini Tossed though Chili and Lemongrass-Infused Olive Oil, 5) Beef Fillet Mignon with Mushroom and Blue Cheese Gratin, Baby Crabs and Bok Choy, 6) Spiced Baklava with Rose Water Jelly and Cardamom Cream. Topped off with a bottle of wine, tengu and three friends will see what all the talk is about, and why Matchbox has shot up the charts.

Khumbu, Three Friends, and All Kinds of Chocolate

Next up is a contributor who's been on the site for some time, and shows that you need not only write reviews to be a big part of the community. While only contributing two reviews for July, Khumbu is a big time contributor on the Ask A.N.H. pages. For all the great work, Love Chocolate Cafe will be inviting a foursome out for an afternoon of chocolate indulgence. The four of them will start out with their choice of gourmet coffee and chocolate drinks, first crack at Love Chocolate Cafe's new Banana Flambe (which they will be making available come August), and an assortment of their renowned cookies that have expanded from the critically acclaimed Chocolate Chip, to also include Cappuccino Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Cappuccino Chocolate Chocolate Chip. This isn't a chocolate prize for the faint of heart, but Khumbu's past reviews show an appreciation of quality that makes us all but certain that the unique style and flavor of Love Chocolate Cafe will not be lost on this New Hanoian.

The August Meet Up at Green Mango

What a great couple of contributors to have the honor to recognize! With luck, you'll all get a chance to tip a glass in their direction in the next couple weeks. As mentioned before, the August Meet Up is right around the corner. August 23 at 8pm, the New Hanoian masses will be enjoying the hospitality of Green Mango. In their spacious back room, we hope to see both tengu and Khumbu mixing with the rest of The New Hanoians, while enjoying Green Mango's generous night of giving back to the community. Like many of our meet ups, Green Mango will be offering all TNH members three hours (8pm~11pm) of free beer. However, above and beyond that, Green Mango wants to truly reward those who have taken the time to add the most to The New Hanoian. In the coming week, we'll be designating a group of our fifty top contributors. Of those, Green Mango will be offering the first thirty who rsvp for the event (by clicking on the "I'm attending" link on the event page) a night of more than just beer. They will be getting a complimentary glass of champagne upon entry, plus free wine or cocktails throughout the evening. If they're feeling a bit famished, they'll have their choice of various finger foods set aside for their hands alone. We'll be contacting all those eligible for this great chance to experience the full range of Green Mango's expertly mixed cocktails, fine wines, and first rate takes on Western and Asian cuisine. Stay tuned for more details of this big night as the day approaches. It promises to be one of the biggest we've ever had...if not the biggest.

Cheers,
The Staff of The New Hanoian