Jasmine tea with Mekong honey, bee pollen and kumquat juice // Royal Jelly with Honey - Saturday, May 24, 2014

Dish of the day: Jasmine tea with Mekong honey, bee pollen and kumquat juice // Royal Jelly with Honey

Where it’s found: In the Mekong Delta, Vietnam; the ingredients can be purchased at grocery stores and for royal jelly, at health food stores.

Breaking it down: See the names above (pretty straightforward)

Another busy Saturday of teaching (7:45am to 9:15pm with a couple hours for breaks), but it went really well.  I love teaching here, despite the chaos sometimes involved with traveling between places.  I consider myself very fortunate to have this opportunity.

Today’s dish actually hails from the future, when I went to the Mekong Delta (May 26-27), however, I have lots of dishes from that trip, so I’ll treat you with a “taste” of the trip before those are posted  ;)

Sitting at a table overlooking the Mekong River, myself, Patrick and three others we met on our trip got to taste-test hot jasmine tea with Mekong honey, bee pollen and a squeeze of kumquat juice (a small citrus fruit, similar to a lime, except sweeter). We drank our tea with a plate of snacks, including sticky peanut bars (somewhat similar to brittle), crystallized, candied ginger as well as dried banana chips with honey glaze.  Following our tea, we were allowed to sample the royal bee jelly, which is quite plain and bitter on its own, but with a drop of honey to sweeten it, is quite nice and smooth.  We learned how royal jelly is an incredibly healthy supplement that can be taken daily (a teaspoon-full) to help your health, energy, youth and is also often used in dieting.  Although they took the opportunity to try and sell us the products as souvenirs, it was still a very interesting and yummy experience, especially sitting outdoors amongst bamboo palms along the water and gorging on sweet tea and snacks!

Holding the baby bees. Not the beeeeez!

Bánh tráng cuốn - Friday, May 23, 2014

Dish of the day: Bánh tráng cuốn

Where it’s found: My favourite spot for it is at a small shop on Nguyen Thuong Hien Street (between Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) that specializes in bánh tráng trộn and cuốn; Also, it’s found all around HCMC at street vendors (often they will have both bánh tráng trộn AND cuốn)

Breaking it down: Thin orange-coloured rice paper, thai basil, quail eggs (inside the roll and another full one on the side), asian-style mayonnaise, chili dried and shredded beef, shrimp, fish or squid, green onion, fried shallots and peanuts

I had quite a full day of teaching, running from a private lesson, to the kindergarten (aka sweatville, Vietnam), to a private language school and then to a café for a final private lesson (10am-9pm with short breaks between for travel and meals)! But, I still had to try something new.  How could I not?

My dish of the day, Bánh tráng cuốn can be best described as rice paper rolls (roll= cuốn) with bánh tráng trộn (rice paper salad) filling, minus the thai green mango.  It costs about 15,000vnd ($0.75).  They also added some asian-style mayonnaise, so it was soft and moist inside.  The outside was only slightly chewy because they used fresh rice paper wrappers (unlike some bánh tráng trộn/ cuốn vendors).  Once they roll the filled rice paper, they use scissors to cut it into bite-size pieces to make it easier to eat.  They also threw in a quail egg and topped it all off with some herbs, shredded dried fish and peanuts. It’s definitely considered a “junk food” here. I paired it with a healthy avocado smoothie to round out my lunch though. And wow, is it ever addictive! 

My favourite place to get it, which I just recently stumbled upon, is on a small street called Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, close to my language school.  It’s a cross between a small shop-front and a street vendor, except they have multiple people working there, each with their own job, like an efficient factory-line.  They far surpass street vendors because they serve the cuon in plastic containers, not plastic bags, their ingredients are very fresh and they have a super-amusing machine that they insert in their banh trang tron that blows air to mix it all together, instead of the traditional method of using a plastic glove and mixing it with your hands. Vietnamese street food of the future!

The young Vietnamese girl who lives in my house even saw me with it and begged me to get some for her next time I’m there.  Will do, Mushroom! It’s definitely popular among school-kids, as the vendors often congregate around schools.

Sweet and Sour Beef Pasta Stir-fry - Thursday, May 22, 2014

Dish of the day: Sweet and Sour Beef Pasta Stir-fry

Where it’s found: At the Sân van dóng Tao Đàn (Tao Dan swimming pool) poolside cafe (just south of Reunification Palace)

Breaking it down: Tube pasta, sweet and sour tomato sauce (made from pineapple, tomato and sour tamarind), onions, sliced beef, pepper

Today we went to our local public pool for a swim and then grabbed some lunch.  I had no idea what I was ordering, but it ended up being tube pasta with sweet-and-sour tomato sauce with fried onions and beef.  It was quite tasty, although I had been hoping for more veggies! 

Banh it ram - Wednesday, May 21

Dish of the day: Banh it ram (Vietnamese rice flour dumplings on a fried disk, filled with mushroom and ground pork)

Where it’s found: Co Do Restaurant (367 An Duong Vuong St., Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh city); also found at many Vietnamese restaurants (not street vendors)

Breaking it down: Banh beo, a thin steamed rice disk (see this post) on top of a crispy, fried disk; topped with minced, dried or fresh shrimp, onion or herbs; dipped in fish sauce

Although they aren’t the healthiest of Vietnamese foods, the top being made of glutinous rice flour, the bottom being fried batter and the fish sauce being full of salt, banh it ram are definitely snack-worthy because of the interesting smooth & crispy texture combo. Maybe just one each? And if eaten alongside a veggie-packed salad or soup, it all balances out, right?

Vietnamese Lotus Salad with Pork and Shrimp (Goi ngo sen tom thit) - Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Dish of the day: Vietnamese Lotus Salad with Pork and Shrimp (Goi ngo sen tom thit)

Where it’s found: Co Do restaurant (367 An Duong Vuong St., Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh city); also found at many Vietnamese restaurants (not street vendors)

Breaking it down: Julienned lotus stem, carrot, celery, large shrimp, thinly sliced pork tenderloin, peanuts, chili, cilantro, mint leaves, fried shallots; A dressing made of: fish sauce, white vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, salt/pepper; served with crunchy rice crackers on the side

What happens when you crave salad, but also want full flavour and enough protein to fill you up? You order Vietnamese Lotus Salad with Pork and Shrimp (Goi ngo sen tom thit).  This salad is eaten with crunchy rice crackers, which you use to scoop up the salad. Served on a large banana leaf and garnished with an artistically-crafted carrot flower, the presentation was beautiful too.  A definite must-try when you’re in Vietnam, especially to balance out all the pho noodles and rice dishes (com tam)!

Kem (ice-cream) - Monday, May 19, 2014

Dish of the day: Tropical ice-cream (Kem)

Where it’s found: Pinky’s (148 Le Thi Rieng, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Ice-cream (strawberry, coconut, pineapple, orange and lime), whipping cream, some sweet syrup, sprinkles, orange and chocolate wafer sticks and a cute umbrella for decoration

Today, Patrick and I finally checked out the notorious oddity, Suoi Tien Buddhist Theme Park (and Water Park), a place that left us scratching our heads in a mixture of intrigue and confusion.  Half the time, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at or why it was there.  Yet, for that reason, it’s also amusing – it’s an amusing amusement park.  See giant Buddha statues, a plethora of interesting temples, ornate palaces and pagodas, a 4D theatre, a Harry Potter-themed haunted castle (why it was there, I don’t know, but hey, I’m not complaining – I love HP!), a snow castle, an alligator farm, a roller coaster, ferris wheel and other small rides, a morbidly creepy (but fun-to-try-and-make-sense-of)  Buddhist hell called “The Unicorn” and so on.  There were also myriad bizarre scenes and statues throughout the park, ranging from stone-age humans making fires to Vietnamese people riding oxes to giant animals and representations of Buddhist symbolism. 

The highlight was definitely the water park, which has a jaw-dropping, yet bizarre backdrop of a giant Buddha on a mountain.  We spent a couple of hours in the wave pool, going down their dragon water slides and playing a bunch of random activities, such as water polo, paddle-board racing and other games reminiscent of the American tv show “Wipeout”! It’s a very kid-friendly water park as well, as there are lots of fun climbers and slides for children.

Do I recommend it? If you live here, then absolutely, it’s worth a visit.  If you’re traveling through, then maybe skip it, unless you are fascinated by Buddhism, appreciate visiting temples or just want to see something outright bizarre. Or if you want to try a new water park and don’t mind venturing further from the city centre, it’s worth it!  You will pay for entrance as well as separate fees for each attraction inside the park, so be prepared with more money than the $4-5 entrance fee.  We brought in our own banh mi sandwiches because we had heard that weekdays have a much lower food selection available.  It was quite quiet, so I suppose they have less staff than weekends and therefore less food stalls.

Suoi Ten is located at: 120 Hanoi Highway, Tan Phu Ward, District 9, HCMC, Vietnam

After a day out, Patrick and I went for kem (ice-cream) at a small ice-cream parlour near our house.  He ordered a strawberry sundae and I got the 4-scoop tropical mixture, which included orange, coconut, strawberry, lime and pineapple.  I didn’t know strawberry was considered tropical... The ice-cream was tasty, but we were hoping for some fresh fruit on top! Cute presentation though, so for around 40-50,000 vnd each, it’s a reasonable dessert. 

Pesto Ravioli with Chicken and Homemade Tomato Sauce - Sunday, May 18, 2014

Dish of the day: Pesto Ravioli with Chicken and Homemade Tomato Sauce;

Leftovers: Chicken and baked potato in homemade tomato sauce

Where it’s found: My kitchen! (Ravioli from Annam Gourmet Food Market -16-18 Hai Ba Trung St., Ben Nghe Ward, Dist. 1, HCMC , Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Pesto ravioli, diced chicken breast, homemade tomato sauce (stewed tomatoes with sugar, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, some beer, a spoon of tomato paste and some garlic), served alongside cucumber balsamic vinaigrette salad (or with green beans and a baked potato, as we did for the leftover sauce).

The main event, including classy wine in a mug ;)

Leftovers!

Sunday dinners with Patrick usually involve cooking or ordering in, then relaxing with a good tv show or movie (and maybe a game of monopoly!)  This Sunday was no different J

Banh Beo - Saturday, May 17, 2014

Dish of the day: Banh Beo

Where it’s found: Nam Giao (136/15 D Le Thanh Ton | Dong Khoi Area, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam); and many other Vietnamese restaurants

Breaking it down: Steamed rice disks with dried or fresh minced shrimp (and sometimes herbs, dehydrated onions or other flavourings) on top; served with fish sauce on the side

While yesterday I featured Banh Bao, today my dish features a similar-sounding, but incredibly different-tasting Banh Beo.  This is considered a starter or a side dish, as it’s a small portion, just a flat disk of steamed, smooth, soft rice cake.  It is just slightly chewy (as rice cakes always are) and is served with fish sauce, which you can spoon over it for some extra flavour.  On top of the banh beo is shrimp, dehydrated onions and other flavourings, depending on the restaurant.  

Banh Bao - Friday, May 16, 2014

Dish of the day: Banh Bao (Chinese Steamed Bun)

Where it’s found: At most convenience stores and many street vendors in Vietnam

Breaking it down: A soft, warm, steamed bun filled with pork (sometimes chicken and/or Chinese sausage), onion, mushroom, vegetable and a boiled quail’s egg)

On the go all day, rushing from private class, to kindergarten, to language school, to private class, I ended up getting a quick breakfast from a street vendor.  

There’s nothing like a warm, freshly steamed banh bao, especially when you get one full of your favourite fillings, such as a pork (or chicken), onion, mushroom, other vegetable and/or mung bean mixture with a boiled quail’s egg surprise thrown in there.  Sometimes they also include Chinese sausage, as it is a Chinese bun after all. The majority of them have tender pork though. The best ones are obviously in Chinatown, but I see them everywhere.  Large ones tend to range from 10,000vnd to 17,000nd ($0.50-0.75), with the higher range meaning you get more ingredients in your filling.  Mini 2-bite banh bao can also be found for as low as 3,000vnd, but they might not necessarily have any filling (or much). 

Tuna and Mozzarella Salad - Thursday, May 15, 2014

Some days I just crave a salad – something with loads of veggies and no rice or noodles.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy rice and noodle dishes (living in Asia, how can you not?) but it can be a bit much sometimes.  Today I wanted something lighter, so Patrick and I made tuna salad, complete with plum tomatoes, olives, romaine and iceberg lettuce, carrots, green pepper, cucumber, shredded cabbage and mozzarella cheese. Complete it with some light balsamic, and it was the perfect salad to fill my veggie craving, but still give me the protein I need.

Dish of the day: Tuna and Mozzarella salad

Where it’s found: My kitchen!

Breaking it down: Canned (or fresh) tuna, plum tomatoes, olives, romaine and iceberg lettuce, carrots, green pepper, cucumber, shredded cabbage, mozzarella cheese, ground black pepper and a light balsamic dressing (or oil-based dressing).

Beef Char Siu Noodle Soup - Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Dish of the day: Beef Char Siu Noodle Soup

Where it’s found: My SamKang (265-269 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao, D1, HCMC, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Thinly sliced beef, egg noodles, cabbage, cilantro, green onion and a char siu (Chinese barbequed pork) broth

Before going into my kindergarten to teach, I needed a good and hearty bowl of noodles.  Since Patrick was craving Sam Kang, which is a foreigner-friendly chain serving banh mi sandwiches, rice dishes and noodle soups, we went to the one in the backpacker’s area, the closest one to us.  

As much as I like their banh mi (sandwiches) and Patrick liked their char siu rice dish, the char siu noodle soup didn’t quite live up to my expectations.  The noodles were just like instant ramen noodles and the beef and veggies were lacking in my opinion, at least compared to most local soups that I’m used to having.  However, Sam Kang definitely has some great combo deals with coffees and red rice drinks. In fact, I really recommend trying their red rice drink, which is slightly sweetened and very refreshing! 

Red Pepper Pesto Chicken Pasta - Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Dish of the day: Red Pepper Pesto Chicken Pasta

Where it’s found: In my kitchen! The red pepper pesto, mature cheese and pasta comes from Anna Gourmet Food Market; the chicken and vegetables come from Co-op Mart and the banh (baguette) comes from our wonderful local “bread lady” who works beside Zen Plaza (but plain baguettes can be bought all over, including banh mi sandwich carts).   

Breaking it down: Fresh baguette, chicken breast, sautéed green pepper, onion and garlic, roasted red pepper pesto, shredded mature cheddar, salt and pepper to taste.

Dinner was concocted at home because I had the night off from work, which was a great way to unwind after a busy morning of teaching. We used some gourmet ingredients (well, from Annam Gourmet Food Market) and made roasted Red Pepper Pesto and Chicken Pasta with rustic fresh baguette on the side. We also threw in some mature cheddar, and sautéed onion and green pepper.  Easy and delicious meal!

Vietnamese Beef Salad and Home Fries - Monday, May 12, 2014

Dish of the day: Vietnamese Beef Salad and Home Fries

Where it’s found: Bookworm’s Coffee (4 Do Quang Dau street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Stir-fried beef with green peppers, onion and tomato, in a peppery soy sauce, served with a simple side salad and home-cut french fries.

Although I had to work when I originally thought I’d have a day off, it still ended up being a great day – after work, Patrick and I went with a couple of friends to Bookworm’s Coffee, a great little place where you can eat, drink, play board games or even borrow (or buy) used books.   They even give you a free drink (beer, tea, etc.) if you order a meal there while you play games!

Sunday Chicken Roast Dinner - Sunday, May 11, 2014

Dish of the day: Sunday Chicken Roast Dinner

Where it’s found: The Spotted Cow (111 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao - District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, meaty mushroom gravy with onions, steamed veggies (broccoli, carrot and green beans), baked thick-cut fries (large hash browns) and chicken meat balls.

Happy Mother’s Day! I got to Skype call my mum back home, which was really nice.  Then at night, I toasted a drink for her from the other side of the world. Cheers to the best mum ever. I love you and miss you – you mean everything to me <3

Because Patrick and I wanted to go watch the final games in the Premier League, we chose The Spotted Cow in D1’s backpacker’s area. Sunday nights there feature a big Sunday (Chicken) Roast Dinner, so we opted for that. British sport, British food, right? And sure, it’s heavy on the carbs, especially with its assortment of 3 types of potatoes (a bit much?), but it was incredibly satisfying. After eating, we finished watching the game, enjoying gin and tonic, a Bloody Mary and an extra special treat, British cider!

Thai Mango Salad - Saturday, May 10, 2014

Dish of the day: Thai Mango Salad

Where it’s found: In the NowZone food court’s Thai restaurant (235 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Thinly-sliced mango, green onions, shrimp, thinly-sliced pork, red chilies, peanuts and side nuoc mam (fish oil and chilis sauce)

In the mood for Thai food? Because I was today! I finally tried a Thai Mango Salad.  Inside were lots of thinly-sliced mango, green onions, shrimp, thinly-sliced pork and red chilies.  It was topped with peanuts and came with chili oil on the side, but it was so flavourful it didn’t even need it.

NowZone is unlike any other Asian food court I’ve seen.  You get a NowZone card that you load up and then the only way to purchase food there is with the card.  It’s quite an easy system because you don’t have to deal with cash, only occasionally, when you want to re-load it!

Mi Tom Thit Bo (chien) - Friday, May 9, 2014

Dish of the day: Mi Tom Thit Bo

Where it’s found: The 11^th floor cafe of Aston 1 (Language School).

Breaking it down: Stir-fried ramen noodles with thin beef slices, green beans, carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts and onions; served with soy sauce and spicy chili sauce on the side

I don’t often go to Aston 1, as I always work at Aston 3, however I went there today for a meeting.  Hungry for lunch before going in, another employee recommended the 11^th floor cafe. Up there, you can get a nice view of the surrounds streets and enjoy the fresh air.  Although my order took a good 20 minutes for them to prepare it for me, it was freshly made, full of veggies and beef and quite tasty (and N.B.... it made me come back a second time!) For about 25,000 ($1.25), how can I not love it? 

Futo Maki - Thursday, May 8, 2014

Dish of the day: Futo Maki

Where it’s found: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1, near the corner where Tous Les Jours is.  Sushi can be found throughout Ho Chi Minh City – Japanese food is definitely not lacking.

Breaking it down: Seaweed (nori) and sushi rice rolled with various ingredients inside, often vegetarian.  I.e. daikon radish, carrot, cucumber, imitation crab, mushroom and egg.  As with all sushi, it is served with wasabi, soy sauce and ginger.

It was a pool day – our third time going to the swimming pool and tourist village/park at Go Cap Van! Complete with a tasty Banh Mi (baguette sandwich) and sliced guava fruit for a poolside picnic, it ended up being a nice relaxing afternoon! Too bad I had to leave early to get to work for 4pm!

Fresh Japanese futo maki, with the standard wasabi, soy sauce and ginger on the side made for a tasty, quick nice dinner tonight before my evening private class. Futo Maki is larger than typical maki, often requiring you to eat it in more than just 1 bite! Mine had cucumber, crab, mushroom, carrot, egg and daikon radish inside.   

Bo Bia - Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Dish of the day: Bo Bia

Where it’s found: Various street food vendors along An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, HCMC (especially by the University of Science and Saigon University and near NowZone).  

Breaking it down: Circular thin rice paper wrapped around chinese sausage, julienned jicama and carrot, herbs (such as thai basil), thin strips of egg and dried shrimp. It is served with a hoisin-based sauce, often with peanuts inside.

 My on-the-go dish of the day is Bo Bia, which is a type of roll, not to be confused with a spring roll and not to be assumed that they contain bo (beef, in Vietnamese)! Inside the circular thin rice paper is Chinese sausage (a dry, cooked sausage), julienned jicama, carrot, herbs (such as thai basil), thin strips of egg and dried shrimp. It is served with a hoisin-based sauce, often with peanuts for dipping, too! Some versions use bean sprouts, shrimp or other vegetables, but I don’t usually see them around here. Bo Bia is said to come from a Chinese dish called “Popiah”, hence the similarly pronounced name. They are very cheap (often 3,000-6,000VND each, around $0.25), so ordering a couple for a snack and a plate full for a meal isn’t a bad idea. 

I bought my bo bia “to go” near Saigon University, which is an area full of students who crave cheap, tasty and quick foods – and hence, bo bia, noodle and rice dishes, banh trang chon, banh mi and other street food crowd the sidewalks! There’ll always be something to munch on there.

Chicken Casserole - Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Dish of the day: Chicken Casserole

Where it’s found: Decibel (79/2/5 Phan Kê Bính, Ph. Da Kao, Q.1 HCMC)

http://www.decibel.vn/

Breaking it down: Chicken breast, carrots, green beans, peppers, onions, and garlic in a tomato sauce, served with mashed potatoes

Since I eat Vietnamese food everyday and often I go back to my tried and true favourites, I’m going to feature another western dish today.  Today’s dish, Chicken Casserole with mashed potatoes on the side was free – free with the purchase of a drink! Paired with my guava juice, it turned out to be a great, filling meal. In fact, every Tuesday night, Decibel, a bar-restaurant-lounge popular among foreigners, holds a free food event. Simply buy a drink and you get some free food, which changes each week.  It gives amateur chefs the opportunity to try out their new dishes on a large crowd, so it’s win-win! The first time I went, they served shrimp pesto pasta and I’ve heard recently they served tacos one night.  It’s definitely worth the visit! Go early on Tuesday (by 8pm, when they serve the food) to get a good seat, especially if you go with a group!

British Fish n' Chips - Monday, May 5, 2014

Tonight’s dinner-tainment was provided by Bookworm’s Coffee, a small little nook near the corner of Bui Vien and Do Quang Dau Street in the Backpacker’s area of Ho Chi Minh City.  Patrick and I played Trivia Pursuit over a delicious British-style meal of Steak Pie (for him) and Fish n’ chips with mushy peas (pour moi).  Although my trivia pursuit knowledge was highly lacking, the food’s taste wasn’t! I finally satisfied my craving for fish n’ chips, a nice change from typical Vietnamese fish dishes that require you to pick through many thread-thin fish bones.

Dish of the day: British Fish n’ Chips

Where it’s found: Bookworm’s Coffee (4 Do Quang Dau street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Breaking it down: Fried battered fish, thick home cut fried, tartar sauce, mushy peas and lime (and of course, they have the malt vinegar, don’t you worry!) 

And of course Patrick gets THIS question when we're IN Vietnam. "In what country is pho a local dish?" Hmm that's a toughie!

Xôi chả lụa thịt heo - Sunday, May 4, 2014

Xôi chả lụa thịt heo is my dish of the day.  It made a tasty lunch on the go as I ventured from my language school to a cafe where I had an afternoon private class. 

Steamed and roasted pork slices (thịt heo), some dried pork skins, sticky/glutinous rice (xôi) with boiled waxy maize and fried shallots (lua) and a pickled, slightly vinegary carrot-cucumber-daikon radish salad. I also added a small pork-veggie roll (in a rice wrapper) on the side to round out the lunch.

Xôi mặn (see the wiki here) is the basic word for this dish, which basically means savory glutinous rice.  Then they add various toppings with the rice to make a variety of dishes.  Xôi ngọt refers to sweet glutinous rice, which is a popular snack in Vietnam. 

Below are two Vietnamese sites that show popular little restaurants where I often go to enjoy xoi as well as che (sweet Vietnamese drink/dessert)! The first is near my house on Le Thi Rieng and is hard to miss with its bright green sign and walls:

Dish of the day: Xôi chả lụa thịt heo

Where it’s found: Xoi restaurants, local eateries (quans) and at many street vendors. Below are two good xoi quans:

Bùi Thị Xuân, Quận 1, HCMC:http://afamily.vn/doi-song/thuong-thuc-xoi-ga-tuyet-ngon-gia-binh-dan-2013081412422305.chn

Xoi Express (Yên Thế, phường 2, quận Tân Bình – gần sân bay Tân Sơn Nhất, HCMC): http://kenh14.vn/xem-an-choi/xoi-express-ven-nguyen-vi-bac-giua-sai-thanh-20140411020151534.chn

Breaking it down: Sticky/glutinous rice, dried pork skins, boiled maize, fried shallots, roasted pork slices, pickled carrot, cucumber and daikon radish salad

LOVE-ly Pink Guava Smoothie - Saturday, May 3, 2014

The dish of the day is actually a homemade guava smoothie that I concocted for Patrick and I.  Guava is not commonly found or eaten back home in Canada, so I feel like I need to take advantage of it while I’m here in Vietnam!

I was feeling creative and was excited that I had finally found pink guava, not the ones that are just white inside.  Mixed with a bit of vanilla yogurt and milk, ice, a hint of orange juice, plenty of guava and of course topped with a LOVE-ly piece of heart-shaped guava, it turned out to be a perfectly refreshing and filling late morning drink.  I brought mine up to the rooftop with me to keep me cool while I tanned a bit.  Let’s just say it didn’t take long for me to finish mine off!

Guava is such a mild fruit and has a texture unlike any other because of the yellowish tiny seed-like bits inside. I was inspired to buy guava because last week I was walking down the street and 2 kind Vietnamese men (security guards outside of a store) were enjoying cut up guava and shared some with me! It’s those small moments that make me really understand how much food brings people together.  Food is a universal language, isn’t it? Mmm.  

Dish of the day: Guava smoothie

Where it’s found: The guava is from the market across from Zen Plaza (District 1, HCMC, Vietnam), but it can be found in many Vietnamese markets and stores

Breaking it down: Makes 2 servings: Blended ice, 1 vanilla yogurt (100g), a dash each of milk and of orange juice (for liquid, to help it blend) and a whole pink guava fruit.

Ostrich Soup - Friday, May 2

Today’s dish features Ostrich soup! From a small local eatery in the coastal area of Mui Ne, this soup is made from diced ostrich meat, rice, carrots, corn, green onion, fresh basil and cilantro. If you’re wondering how ostrich tastes, it tastes slightly chewy and gamey, but not overpoweringly so. 

The next day I saw a tourist attraction near the white sand dunes where you could ride ostriches! I felt so bad for eating ostrich the day before, so there was no way I could ride one!

Dish of the day: Ostrich Soup

Where it’s found: Mui Ne, Vietnam

Breaking it down: Diced ostrich meat, rice, carrots, corn, green onion, fresh basil and cilantro

Day 3 f our trip to Mui Ne involved waking up for a big buffet breakfast at our resort’s outdoor terrace, followed by a half hour morning drive on our rental motorbike to the huge white sand dunes.  Despite almost completely running out of gas, almost getting a flat tire on the bumpy dirt roads and almost sliding out of control on the sandy parts, we finally found the beautiful dunes.  We knew straight away we had reached them once we saw them – they were gorgeous white hills of desert in the backdrop of a green oasis, nestled beside a crystal blue lake.  Many people rode 4-wheelers and jeeps on them to avoid walking in the heat.  It was definitely a good leg workout (and was incredibly hot, even by 9 in the morning).  We climbed up to one of the highest dunes for the view, taking it all in!  Although we didn’t go see it because we needed to get back to the resort in time to return our motorbike, there is a quaint fairy stream nearby that is apparently worth the visit, too. 

Snake Wine - Thursday, May 1

Dish of the day: Snake Wine

Where it’s found: Mui Ne, Vietnam (and throughout Vietnam!) Some tourist places might have the cheaper, less tasty snake wines though, so I recommend that you try it in a restaurant if you can!

Breaking it down: A whole cobra (or baby cobra), rice wine

Our second day in Mui Ne was full of sailing, swimming, driving around on our rented motorbike, eating interesting foods, visiting the red sand dunes and sledding on them, drinking cheap Vietnamese rum and beer and playing cards at the beach while watching a lightning storm over the water. 

We went sailing at a quaint, relaxing beach – Manta is not a fancy and pretentious nor touristy and crowded sailing company.  It’s owned by a sweet and chill woman who was incredibly welcoming and made us feel like we were at home in her little surf cabin-like house. It felt like an escape, away from the world.  After a morning swim there, we set sail for an hour, which cost only about $50 ($25 each, and included a skipper on board.  Without a skipper, it is $40 I believe).  Patrick used to be in sailing races when he was a kid, so it came back slowly to him, whereas it was all new to me.  Something about bobbing up and down and gliding on the ocean, in the sun, feeling the refreshing splash of the salty waves and looking out at the red sand dunes in the distance was such a unique and zen-ful experience.  Our skipper, a young Vietnamese man, guided us and taught us a thing or two, making sure we yelled out “Coming around!” so we wouldn’t get hit with the boom and teaching us how to change directions and feel the waves. 

Around sunset, we visited the red sand dunes, which are expansive dunes that have formed in Mui Ne and seem to continue on forever.  How such a wet country formed these pockets of desert, I have yet to find out, but it is definitely worth the trip.  Hoarded by children selling sleds and vendors with water and ice cream, we finally parked our rented motorbike and paid a couple of dollars to borrow a plastic board to sled on.  Although it was cloudy and the sunset reflecting off of the red sand wasn’t as majestic as it usually is there, it was still a stunning sight to behold.  Despite getting covered in red sand (in my eyes, mouth, nails, clothes...), eventually we figured out how to get better speed and conquered our fear of the largest, steepest dunes!

Nothing can compare to the taste of snake wine, which is my “dish” of the day! Well ok, drink of the day. Drinks, dishes, d and d – both are allowed!  What would food be without drink?  Snake wine is essentially a whole baby cobra, venom, organs and all, that has fermented inside a rice wine or another type of liquor. The venom, which ferments and is no longer deadly, is said to increase virility!  The taste was strong and somewhat reptilian, however we tried it a second time in the Mekong Delta and it was better, without a reptilian taste, but with a sharp alcoholic kick.  It definitely wakes you up.

Pineapple Chicken and Vegetable Rice - Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Today, Patrick and I ventured to beautiful Mui Ne for a three-day trip.  Located on the coast, south-east of HCMC, it is known for its water sports and activities, it’s stunning, huge sand dunes that are fun to sled on, as well as it’s seafood.  Although the 200km journey on the sleeper bus took a whopping 9 hours (think: holiday traffic, a huge downpour, horrible bumpy roads, lots of construction and no direct highway to get there), we finally made it and enjoyed our short vacation away.  We stayed at a quaint hotel, called Blue Shell Resort, which is off the beaten track, away from the busier tourist spots.   

After a dip in the ocean and relaxing by the ocean while using seashells as betting chips in a game of poker, we took a walk and picked up some drinks for the night, including a bottle of snake wine.  It’s essentially a whole baby cobra, venom, organs and all, has fermented inside a rice wine or another type of liquor.  Another dish of the day will be dedicated to this, don’t worry!  

For dinner, we ate on the terrace of Blue Shell Resort.  So, my dinner/dish of the day? Pineapple Chicken and Vegetable Rice, served in a carved-out pineapple.  I scooped some of it in the lettuce leaves, making small lettuce wraps, too. Appetizing to the taste buds and the eye!

Dish of the day: Pineapple Chicken and Vegetable Rice

Where it’s found: Mui Ne, Vietnam (Blue Shell Resort Restaurant)

Breaking it down: Pineapple (cubed, as well as half a pineapple used as the bowl), broken rice, green onion/scallions, carrot, diced chicken, pineapple soy sauce, spicy chili, cilantro and lettuce leaves

 

Jackfruit (and Jelly) Summer Mocktail - Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The dish/drink of the day (it was quite filling so I call it both!) was a Jackfruit Summer Mocktail from M2C, where I went to teach one of my private students.  Inside was jackfruit, tapioca, jellied fruits, light fruit juice/tea and ice. 

M2C is a very cute cafe in District 1 with a relaxed, artsy vibe, bohemian even. The downstairs and upstairs have lots of comfortable armchairs and sofas, antiques, paintings and flowers.  Although somewhat pricier than other cafes, you pay for the atmosphere and the location, as it’s located in the nicer area of D1, near Reunification Palace, Notre Dame and Diamond Plaza.  They also have some nutrition drinks if you want a healthy dose of veggie-fruit juice with a touch of honey or ginger.

Dish of the day: Jackfruit Summer Mocktail        

Where it’s found: MC2, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam

Breaking it down: Freshly shredded jackfruit, black tapioca jelly, grass jelly, sweet jellied fruits, light mixed fruit juice and ice