The Folding Fork

Low on money in Vietnam, I walked down to the food stand a few strides outside of my house. I stocked up on the orignal version of cup-o-soup. The noodles were the same, the salty seasoning was the same, but inside was a genius invention that I have not seen anywhere in the states. I present to you, the folding fork.

Tea and Fried Beef

  On my own in Hanoi today, I took a walk around charming Truc Bach Lake. The shops in this area are quaint and seem to specialize in Pho Cuon, which I have not figured out the translation. After the walk, I settled into a cafe for tea and a snack. I ordered a pot of green tea, and fried beef. This beef dish appeared to be the only food item on the menu, and it sounded similar to a divine dish I had a Ladybug cafe on Saturday, “Fried noodles with beef”. Hoping for a repeat, I ordered the fried beef.Suprisingly, fried beef is more like beef jerky than the delicious plate of noodles, beef and vegetables I had at the other cafe.

Spring Rolls

Fresh spring rolls are a popular item in many Vietnamese restaurants. Vegetables, shrimp and chicken are wrapped in delicate rice paper rolls. The dipping sauce was delicious, a light sweet and spicy sauce complemented the flavor of the rolls. Here is a recipe from epicuious for the dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons fermented fish sauce (nam pla)*
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced jalapeño chili with seeds

Cooking in Vietnam

Up Next: Culinary Therapy on the streets in Vietnam.Vietnam may be best known for their Pho and Spring rolls, but there are many more culinary delights available from street vendors. I am looking forward to duck intestines, monkey on a stick, frogs, bugs, and an array of small animals.I received this cookbook for Christmas to help navigate the unknown world of Vietnamese cooking.