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Category Archives: Viet Nam
P is for Preserves and my Favourite Vietnamese Chilli Paste
Viet cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients. At my mother-in-law’s table, greenery abounds, the fish and shrimp come from my sister-in-law’s family pond, and Mother buys fresh meat daily at the Đông Ba Market. Canned, bottled, and dry ingredients … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Cooking, Food, Recipes, Viet Nam
Tagged chilli paste, Huế, preserves, tương ớt, Vietnamese food
5 Comments
Writers Reading Writers
Imagine you’ve recently discovered an internet radio show where the host, a stuffed bear, pairs literary readings with music. (He might also pair readings with the occasional nip of whisky.) Imagine the show is called Mr. Bear’s Violet Hour Saloon, … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Events, Readings, Viet Nam, Writing
Tagged Asian Cha, Boston Free Radio, Flood Season, Georgia Bellas, Mr. Bear's Violet Hour Saloon
1 Comment
X is for Xửng…Mè Xửng
In the Việt kitchen, the letter X is tasty. I considered writing about xào, stir-frying, or xoài, mango, or perhaps xôi, sticky rice. Then my in-laws sent a huge package of goodies from Huế. Among the many local specialties were … Continue reading
N is for Nghệ / Turmeric
“After women give birth,” my Vietnamese mother-in-law explained, “they get coldness. Turmeric heats the body and protects against colds or flu. Also,” she said, “turmeric makes the skin soft and beautiful again. Any woman who just had a baby should apply a turmeric … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Cooking, Food, Viet Nam
Tagged Andrea Nguyen, Eating Asia, Kim Fay, Leela Punyaratabandhu, Nicole Routhier, She Simmers, Turmeric
9 Comments
Photo set: Canada, Việt Nam
Between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m., the streets of Huế abound with people walking, jogging and excercising. When in Việt Nam, I’m often outside by 5 for a walk with my mother-in-law. . . When I took this photo of a group … Continue reading
Posted in News, Photography, Photos, Publications, Viet Nam
Tagged Asian Cha, Canada, Huế
5 Comments
Runner-up in Briarpatch Magazine’s Writing in the Margins Contest!
I’m pleased to announce that my personal essay Bombshell has been chosen as runner-up for the 2015 creative nonfiction prize in Briarpatch’s fifth annual writing contest. Thank you to Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, who judged the creative nonfiction entries. Bombshell faced … Continue reading
V is for Vả Figs
We tend to think of Vietnamese cuisine as a single entity, but really it’s made up of many regional dishes and ingredients. The cooking of Huế features a variety of such foods, and a variety of locally grown fig is one … Continue reading
Sweet and Sour Tamarinds for Tết
Hard work. Peeling sour green tamarinds to make sweet and sour Tết preserves. My sister-in-law and I have already spent a couple of hours on this, and we still have hours to go. When tamarinds are ripe, the shells separate … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Cooking, Food, Viet Nam
Tagged dưa món, Huế, tamarind, Tết, Tết preserves, trái vả, Vietnamese food
7 Comments
T is for Tôm Chua (Sour Shrimp)
The cuisine of Việt Nam’s old imperial city of Huế features a number of local specialties that aren’t so well known in the rest of the country. The lightly fermented shrimp condiment called tôm chua, sour shrimp, is one of … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Food, Photos, Viet Nam
Tagged Huế, Shrimp, Tôm Chua, Viet Nam, Vietnamese food
7 Comments
M is for Mãng Cầu (Custard Apple)
It’s mãng cầu seaon in Huế right now. I spotted these ones next to a pile of bright pink dragon fruit at the market. My mother-in-law knows how much I like to eat them, and often buys them in threes just … Continue reading
Posted in A to Z, Food, Photos, Viet Nam
Tagged Custard apple, Huế, mãng cầu, Tết, Vietnamese food
11 Comments