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Saturday mornings usually mean waking up late. No appointments, No events. Today was different. I already marked my calendar two weeks ago for today’s event. All I know is that I’d be feasting on brunch with Discovery Travel and Living’s World Cafe Asia star Bobby Chinn. Brunch is a practice I normally follow on weekends when I get to sleep in. I look forward to brunch as the best meal of the day. You don’t have to wake up early, you get to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. But who is Bobby Chinn? Honestly, I’ve just heard the name Bobby Chinn but never really followed the show.

As soon as he started talking of his journey from banker in Wall Street to waiter-slash-standup comic to celebrity chef in Vietnam, I got hooked. He is such an engaging speaker even made interesting because of the challenges that faced him as he set up his restaurants in Vietnam.

Bobby received a BA in Finance and Economics, moved to New York City and began working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street. Quickly disillusioned, he left in search of something/anything that he loved. He tried a bit of everything – from attempting to sell seafood to the mob, to stand up comedy – and along the way, he also discovered his love and talent for cooking. To make ends meet, Bobby worked as a runner, busboy, and server in various restaurants. His culinary education began in earnest when, while waiting tables, he began hanging out in the kitchen of Elka, a cutting-edge, Franco-Japanese restaurant in San Francisco. Later, renowned chef Hubert Keller of Fleur De Lys took Bobby in and enabled him to further develop his skills. He would later work with chefs Jeffery Inahara, Traci des Jardin, and Gary Danko. After reading Burgundy Stars, he went off to apprentice in Bordeaux and Paris. Chinn has run several highly acclaimed restaurants in Vietnam before opening Restaurant Bobby Chinn, including Camargue, Saigon Joe’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Miro, and the Red Onion Bistro in the Hanoi Towers (formerly the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison).

(Source : Squidoo)

He has been through a lot and admire him for venturing out of his comfort zone and giving up a huge income opportunity. I also believe money is not everything.

Bobby run several highly acclaimed restaurants in Vietnam before opening Restaurant Bobby Chinn, including Camargue, Saigon Joe’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Miro, and the Red Onion Bistro in the Hanoi Towers (formerly the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison). Now he owns his own Asian Fusion restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Here is a video snippet on how he got discovered by, well, Discovery Channel:

Bobby also talked about the origins of the word “brunch” from Guy Beringer who says that “brunch is cheerful sociable and inciting. It is talk compelling and puts you in a good temper.” My gosh, if I had Bobby Chinn for brunch every weekend, that’s an added treat.

As Bobby continued on with his life story, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s served us their brunch, Salmon Scramble which is my favorite because I avoid eating red meat. If that is not your cup of tea, they also serve other brunch selections such as Brek O’ Day, Muffins, Eggs Ben and an assortment of Tea Lattes. Chicago Cheesecake, Camembert Oreo Cheese Tart, Choco Fudge, Warm Chocolate Cake, Lemon Squares and Triple Berry Coffee Cake to satisfy your sweet tooth.”

My brunch at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and listening to Bobby Chinn definitely made my day.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is located at TriNoMa, SM The Block, Gateway, Ortigas Park, Paseo Center, Bonifacio High Street, Mall of Asia, Convergys Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Alabang Town Center, Rockwell, Robinson’s Ermita, Grreenhills Promenade, Robinson’s Galleria, eastwood, Tomas Morato and 2 more branches in Cebu. Visit their website at http://www.coffeebean.com.ph.

Tags: Bobby Chinn, brunch, brunch at coffee bean and tea leaf, coffee