I never learn. Whenever I'm tired, hot and hungry, I always go for the easiest option - which, surprise surprise, often turns out to be the worst option.

So it was this afternoon when, after 15 minutes walking around under the midday sun in uncomfortable new shoes, I stupidly chose to eat at a place directly opposite my hotel and was duly disappointed. Still, the lackluster omelet and baguette did at least give me enough energy to go looking for something to fill me up properly, and on this mission I am happy to report I did succeed.

Not 5 minutes walk away I found a lady with a freezer, painted on the side of which was 'Kem', aka. ice cream. Thinking I'd perhaps be lucky enough to get a Magnum or Cornetto, you can imagine my surprise and delight to see it filled with cute little tubs and bags of what looked like homemade kem. Encouraged by the friendliness of the lady, I chose the 3 that you see in the opening photo, and this time, I was certainly not disappointed.

The yellow-ish square on the left turned out to be some kind of frozen banana and coconut cake - chewey, sweet and gorgeously cooling; the tub was yogurt, sweet and refreshing, but the absolute winner of the three was the green stuff in the bag - frozen sinh to bo, the avocado smoothie for which Vietnam is famous. This last kem was a perfect balance of sweet and savory, and oh so satisfying when sucked straight out of the bag.

I can see an addiction developing.

Kem vendor
Thai Phien Street, Hoi An.

Testing, testing, testing...

Hello all, and welcome to the new home of Jessie and the Giant Plate!

It's been a long process setting this thing up, but it's finally done and I am over the moon with the results.

HUGE thanks to Werner at Brocade City for helping me with ftp, css and all that other nonsense.

I've uploaded most posts from my old blogger account; for all posts, and comments, go to www.jessieandthegiantplate.blogspot.com Please note that I will no longer be uploading new content to the blogger page.

Hope you all like the changes you see - comments and suggestions much appreciated!

I'll be away from Chengdu for the next couple of weeks so won't have much time to blog, but will hopefully return armed with many beautiful new photos, stories and recipes.

Until then, man man chi!