November - 2012

How Vietnamese families celebrate Thanksgiving in America

Yes, our family loves Thanksgiving too. In our family we love American turkey dinner trimmings, but never the turkey. No matter how Mom tried to make the turkey, it is inevitably too dry for our taste and hers. No, it is not because of her lack of skills, but we simply do not like turkey! So we usually have a couple of roast chickens, or a huge prime rib, or even sometimes even racks of lamb. Here’s what one of our meals would consist of some type of juicy roasted meat, yams

Does cracking an egg to discover double yolks inside make me special?

I decided to make 1 fried egg for breakfast as I’m about to go to Hawaii and trying to be somewhat good with my eating this week to get into that swimsuit. I chopped up some red onions and sauteed it in olive oil. Took out my organic, free roam chicken egg and cracked it!. Woah!! There were 2 yolks inside. Large ones too!! I was so giddy inside as if I were 5 and wished someone was home so I could show it to them. It then occurred to me how life has meaning only when we hav

My aunt is an amazing Vietnamese cook and food stylist - Bánh Nậm

I have an aunt/cousin. I’m not sure how to classify her relations to me. It’s a whole other topic. She lives about an hour from me and keeps posting these amazing photos of the food she makes. I especially love the way she makes them look so pretty. I’ll start to share them with you. This is Bánh Nậm, it's a doughie soft steamed dumpling filled with mung bean and pork inside served with Vietnamese dipping sauce. Maybe one day, she’ll invite me over to have some Vietnamese dum

Ha Long Bay Cruise Ship what a vision!

I’m planning my upcoming trip back to Vietnam to work at an orphanage as well as tour the country. I haven’t been back since my family left in 1981. I am amazed how far things have progressed in Vietnam. Planning to visit Ha Long Bay. Check out these cruise ships from a line called Bhaya Cruises. It’s like going back in time. Besides a wonderful vacation, I am looking forward to gaining more inspiration for the book. #halongbay #cruise

Bánh Canh – Cake Soup from a street vendor

Bánh Canh – Wide Noodles or Cake Soup (Vietnamese Udon noodles). As you can see, we’re not very creative with food names. We just call it what it is. I remember grandma buying this soup from an old lady carrying it up and down our street chanting “banh canh, banh canh!” She looked about 80 to me. It’s hard to believe she can carry a hug hot pot of soup on one end and all the toppings on the other end. But oh it was delicious. I can still taste it! #banhcanh #udon #noodle #so

How things changed but managed to stay the same

I find myself always so surprised to hear Vietnamese moms still speak to their daughters in the same manner as how their mom spoke to them decades ago. We are in America, yet, behind closed doors, girls still get treated the same way. I saw a post from two of my facebook friends who are in their early 20s about this. I am 40 years old and experienced the same thing as them at their age. Why?? Why?? Why? How old were you when you remember being hugged by your mother as a kid?