Bún riêu -Vietnamese food

Though I can eat all types of western food now (except Gorgonzola cheese which contains the fungus), it doesn't mean i forget my Vietnamese food which always makes me so mouth- watering when i randomly check out some Vietnamese food blogs
The dish i proudly present today is called "bún riêu" I remember when i was small i could eat this type of noodle soup day after day but never got bored.
The soup came from Hanoi-the North of Vietnam. It was very simple with tomato and minced crab in spices (*I have no idea how to call it, nowadays, in supermarket, we can find this type of food in cans; though traditionally, people minced the whole small crap in pieces including their shells, then we mix that mixture with a quantity of water, and strain them through a net, or a thick basket just to have the water mixed with tiny tiny pieces of crab meat. AFter that, we cook that water in low heat, little by little, the slightly foam of crap appears on top --> we have a real crap soup). by the way, after a long development, bún riêu has become "richer" with meat stock, pork tails, tofu, chả lụa (a type of bologne/mortadella), ... Some substitute crab with a mixture of minced dried shrimps with beaten eggs, maybe it is more economical and less time-consuming. For serving, just like the other traditional Vietnamese foods, we aways have bún riêu with a large selection of vegetable, a slice of lemon, and one thing very very special: mắm tôm - shrimp paste I know a number of people who cannot stand its smell including my husband, but that's what make bún riêu so special and unforgettable

Because of the limited access to Asian ingredients, it is very difficult for me to manage a bowl of bun riêu in Italy But i made it anyway!

Bún riêu made from dried shrimp, stock, mortadella, tofu, and noodle

Yummy!!!!!
 
Midaway City, CA92655
Written by Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Ca Trù the non object cutural heritage of Vietnam

Ca Trù is one of original art performances of Vietnam . Appeared in the early of XVI century, passes by many up and down, rise and fall of history, a few times was thought that couldn’t exist, but with the features of original art, the excellent mix of words , singing voice and musical intrusment like: Phách, đàn đáy, Trống Trầu… Until now, Ca Trù has been affirmed the important position not only of Vietnam in particular, but also of people in general. This folk art is suggested to UNESCO to become a non object cultural heritage of people.


Ca Trù has got many names. Depend on each region, each period of times, Ca Trù was called : “Hát ả đào, hát cô đầu or Hát tơ… Albeit exist in any type of name, Ca Trù is inseparable with “Đào Nương”, female singers.

It’s not easy to be a singer of this music kind, who called “Đào Nương”( partly like Geisha in Japan),it requires many difficult and strict criterions like beautiful voice, musicianship, knowledge about music, the passion and the patience …

Ca Trù was sprung from folk-songs, folk-dancing and some kind of art. Ca Trù at the beginning and in the long time was a collective art which included music, poem, dancing … So the originality of Ca Trù is the varied, delicate, harmonious between poem and music.

Firstly, it served royal and relious rituals and was called Hát Khuôn. Later, it was used in banquets, weddings friendly meetings… and called Hát Hàng Hoa. Under the French domination, Ca Trù declined. Before 1945 revolution, there were many places performed Ca Trù: Khâm Thiên, Bồ Đề, Lộ Khê… And many talented poet like Chu Mạnh Trinh, Nhuyễn Công Trứ, Tú Xương, Tản Đà… composed many excellent tunes for Ca Trù. But then, Ca Trù turned into Cô Đầu, performed by a girl, who is kind of Gheisha. The art of it was forgotten because it was thought by the ruiling class, the singers and the audiences were no more than the hedonists. But nowadays, it is revived and become a original popular art.

So far, Ca Trù is known worldwide. It has been respected and published in terms of records by many international organizations.

The artist who deserved most praise for the world wide spread of Ca Trù is doctor, professor Trần Văn Khê. He has recorded Ca Trù, Quan Họ, Chèo .. songs and sent them to France for the UNESCO to study. As a result, many records of Ca Trù and Quan Họ song has been made.

Now, a Ca Trù club has been established in Hanoi, a place for all Vietnam Ca Trù artists and it also attracts many foreign musicologists from American, English, German and France…

But, I don’t know why, there is the fact that, some people don’t like Ca Trù. Of course they aware very clearly of the importance and the preciousness of it but they still don’t like it and even never listen to it. And I also have no idea that some people ( maybe it’s a huge number) don’t like a kind of music which attracts many foreign people . And me, personally, very hardly hear that kind of art ...

Midway City,CA92655
Written by Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Jane Austen -- Out Loud

I think I've mentioned here that I love Jane Austen. Have I mentioned that I also love audio books? Well combine the two and I'm in a little corner of heaven.


Over the past few years I've collected most of the Jane Austen books on audio tape or CD, but there has been one version that I was never happy with. I had a version of Pride and Prejudice that was read by a woman with a deep and gravely voice. At first listen I thought, oh this will be fun, she can do all the men's voices as well as the women's, but the overall effect was ... well, in a word, awful. Horrible. Icky, even.

The voice and the dramatic ability of the reader is SO important with audio books. Especially with something in a period piece like the Jane Austen works. Now, maybe I'm a bit spoiled having listened to Jim Dale do all the Harry Potter books, but honestly, if you're going to have somebody read through a whole book, unabridged, it ought to be somebody who is pleasant to listen to. It doesn't even have to be Jim Dale quality for me, but it does need to be pleasant, and not overly singsong (don't get me started on having Michael York reading ruining The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia boxed set I got -- although I have to say the bad experience was nicely balanced by the heaven of listening to Jeremy Northam reading The Silver Chair - oh yummy yummy, I could just eat him up!)

ANYway, despite the gruff voice that grated on me, I held onto my Pride & Prejudice tapes and listened to them frequently, not wanting to admit that I had wasted money.

Fate rescued me! One of the tapes broke. All gucked up in the tape player! Whoohoo!! I was free to order a new copy without guilt.

Shopping with no ability to preview the voice of the reader is majorly frustrating! That's worth an email complaint or two. But I'm here to tell you that the new CD version has arrived and is splendid, mahvelous, so soothing to the ear it's brought me back to my full state of bliss, in my little corner of heaven here, with Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice (read by golden throated Irene Sutcliffe!)

Color me happy!

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen
Midway City,CA 92655

Vietnam is one of five riskiest stormy areas

Being one of five risky stormy areas, Vietnam is warned of suffering from the worst influences of calamity at present and in the future.
About 12 to 15 millions people might be lost their land because of climate changing.

According to the considering of UNO, Vietnam is one of five nations having the riskness of climate changing.
The spell of disasters haven’t followed the normal rules any more, currently, they often happen unexpectedly , bring about serious losses and damages for people. The nation centre of hydrometeology told that, this year, storms on Oriental sea maybe have influence to our country much and early.
People said that, all of research projects also confirm Vietnam is one of countries will be suffered from the strongest effect of climate changing, the phenomenon of sea level rising.
Follow the results of survey, within 40-50 years recently, the average of temperature per year of Vietnam has increased about 0.5 – 0.7 C degree, the sea level raising has been higher about 20cm. For the country has over 3200 km length of seaside, lies directly with oriental sea and being in tropical area, annually, Vietnam has been suffered at least 8-10 terrible storms.
Because of influence of climate changing, the phenomenon of flood-tide in 20 to 30 years ago was met with very hardly in Vietnam but recently, it often occurs complicatedly in the centre of central part of Vietnam, the Mekong river delta and Hochiminh city.

At present, scientists are fllowing, estimating 3 scenariuos of climate changing in Vietnam, includes: the sea level increases 70 cm; 1- 1,5m; 3m.

If according to the least scenario that the sea level increased 70cm, 10% of the Mekong river delta would be flooded with water. Besides, over 80% area of Mekong river delta and 30% area of Red river delta is only higher than the level sea about 2-2.5 m. And if followed the scencario that the sea level increases 3m, all of area of red river and Mekong river delta would be flooded.

The sea level higher will influence strongly to almost of aspect, firstly, to agriculture. Up to now, 75%of Vietnamese are living, working on agricultural land. If this one flooded, it would influence to15% people, is equivalent about 12- 15 millions people. Besides, the sea level increasing also effects to traffic, infrastructure, construction and environment.

Over 1 million km square area, over 3000 islands, many low areas near sea have been suffered from strong flooding in rain season. And suffering drought in dry season. Climate changing just makes the situation above more seriously.

Maybe 10% rate of land will be deeply flooded, salted, difficlulties in irrigation…

The sea level increasing also leads to the risk for construction near the seaside like the dykes of sea, line of communications, ports, factories, urban areas near the sea…

Midway City, CA 92655
Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Fragrance of lotus.

I have no idea that why Hanoi people love lotus flowers so much. Maybe because of the simple and delicate beauty of them.

Each time bloom season comes, nearly every families in Hanoi at least once time have a vase of lotus in home to enjoy the pleasant scent, the feeling of ease and the elegance that lotus brings to their houses.

Very hard to find any kind of flowers carries inward the beauty is so unobstrusive and delicate as lotus.

Lotus blossoms in summer. And opposite to the heat, opposite to the hustle and bustle of streets and districts, lotus still blooms, bring to our life the colour is so beautiful, so peaceful outstanding on the green background of leaves.

Besides, lotus has many effects. Lotus bub is a kind of traquillizer. Lotus seed is ingredient to make many identity dishes of Hanoi, like: Lotus tea, lotus rice, duck stewed with lotus… etc. Even the stamen of lotus is also used to scent black-tea to make its flavour more tasty.

Hanoi people arrange specially lotus flowers in a vase. Very hardly lotus flowers are arranged with any another kind of flowers or something like that. If yes, they are only keeped together with lotus leaves.

Lotus grows in many areas of Asia. But in here, it becomes to a symbol. Symbol of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular. Lotus, the piquant charm of Vietnam.

Midway City,CA 92655
Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Night absorbed in thoughts.

Anytime I wanna run away, you make me come back, though i've decided since we did not even begin. How can you change my mind all the time ? Maybe its not simply love. Its something more... Do not know exactly what it can be called. When it rains outside the window and inside my heart, there's nobody but you to come. I'll find myself completely empty if you're gone. I've been used to having you as mine for a long long time. You've been the last point of all my thoughts. Its hard to take the road alone now, I guess. So I never have enough courage to quit.


Then I finally decide to stay until I find another one who can fill your place in my heart. When that day come, i'll kick you bum bum ! Sometimes I wonder if that day would really come ? If there's someone who loves me more than you do ? If i could just stop leaning on you ? If I could just face my life without you ? How can it suppose to be...

Keep telling myself there's nobody who just loves one time for a whole life. And me too. But its no use. I seem to regret all my sentiments for you than loving you.

Its strangle. The more we get close, the more we lose each other. Life has rules. And I always dont understand what to do to pass by.
If God says you're my final destination, I'll have no choice but nod my head !
Listen to Blessed của Elton John I love so much ! Hope I'll be blessed too, híhí !

Midway City,CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

What is the PHO 24?(Vietnamese noodlepie)

      Nothing makes me fussy like Pho. Vietnam's national dish, a belchworthy beef broth, belongs in scuzzy shacks, floors littered with broken chopsticks and cheap napkins and NOT the poncey tables of nouvelle cuisine, restaurants with chamber music or the 'ethnic' section of the Hilton breakfast buffet. For this reason I was reluctant to check out Pho 24 at 5 Nguyen Thiep Street in District 1. My Top 10 list of pho joints has remained stalled at a Top 2 after bumping up the belt notches on a mammoth '30 different soup kitchens' soup test over the years. Most pho, in my experience, is average at best.

      Both my top 2 are up the road in Hanoi: 13 Lo Duc Street, Hanoi & 2 Le Van Huu Street, Hanoi. These two pho-tastic soup shacks are within 30 seconds walk from each other and are well worth sniffin' out. Devoid of clueless foreign tourists, packed to the rafters with sino-soup slurpers and oozing grubby charm. Long may their paint peel, their floors gather grime and their service snarl.

      Pho 24, on the other manicured & moisturised hand, is all uniformed waiters, polished table tops, dimmed lighting, chefs with real chef's hats, china toothpick holders, logo embossed place mats and chopstick holders.

This is not pho as I know it - there are 9 beef/1 chicken varieties on offer for chrissakes - but prejudices aside, how's the soup? Well... much as it pains me to say it, Pho 24 just brings my list to 7 shy of a Top 10.

      The thing about Pho 24, I guess, is they've taken a street food and given it respectability, class or maybe just a fancy facade - you choose. But, what they have done is new and a first for Vietnam - at least to my knowledge. (In Saigon, there is also Pho 2000 - more of which later this week) - but it's Pho 24 which, I think, has set the standard for the rest to follow.

     Pho is a noodle soup and comes in either its beef variety - Pho bo - or chicken - Pho ga. The chicken variety has been missing from the streets of Vietnam since Asian bird flu struck the region in early 2004, but has started to make a tentative comeback in the last week or two. The beef variety consists of thinly sliced beef and fresh flat noodles, sitting in a steaming stock, heavy of star anise, meaty vapours and sprinkled with spring onions.

        In the south the broth often comes with a side of herbs, bean sprouts, chili slivers, half a lemon and maybe sliced raw onions. In the north, many folk, myself included, like to crack a raw egg into the soup. Although Pho is known as a northern dish, the Saigonese have added a certain sophistication to their broth which is missing from the bogstandard raw and alive deal in the north. I am reliably told that the key difference is; the Saigonese regularly skim the fat from the 100l vats the broth cooks in, go easy on the fish sauce - nuoc mam and know how to spice with a gentle touch. I'm far from being an expert, but the southern version does taste 'fancier', even if my base nature has an instinctive preference for Hanoi's basic broth.

        Meanwhile, back at Pho 24...
        To cut to the chase... I simply cannot find fault with these guys. The key is the soup stock. The steamy beams of aroma rising from a Pho 24 bowl demand immediate devouring. This is the most flavour-filled Pho I have found in Saigon (so far). And so it should be. At 24,000VD a bowl (my Hanoi faves set me back 7,000VD and that's with the added egg) OK-OK- I'm paying for the service, the setting - but still...

 Midway City, CA92655
Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen