Thom ngon! Vitalizing Vietnamese Dishes

Image from PhoCafe UK

Expand your food choices from catering in Manila and request something different— Vietnamese cuisine. This Southeast Asian country has been capturing the palettes of different nationalities around the world, and you and your guests are sure to enjoy these Asian delicacies. If you don’t know what to serve, these dishes are sure to hit the right spot.

Goi Cuon

Ranking number 30 on CNN Go’s 2011 World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods, Goi Cuon is definitely a must try dish for anyone new to Vietnamese cuisine. Also known as Vietnamese Spring Roll, this dish is composed of pork, shrimp, a variety of vegetables and rice vermicelli (locally known as bún) all wrapped up in a bánh tráng (rice paper). It is traditionally served with tuong xao (hoisin sauce) or peanut sauce. Goi Cuon is a favorite in any Vietnamese restaurant around the world, proving that it is indeed and truly one of the most delicious foods on this planet.  

Ca Phe Sua Da

Ah, coffee. Where would we be without this bittersweet drink? Some of us cannot function in the morning without our cup of Joe, while others simply must have it if they plan to burn the midnight oil.  Yup, students, we’re talking to you. In Vietnam, there is a special kind of coffee any caffeine addict must try: the Ca Phe Sua Da. Passing by the cafes in Vietnam, you may have noticed glasses topped with astrange silverware. This is the Ca Phe sua da. At the bottom of the glass is sweetened condensed milk and the instrument on top is the cà phê phin or French Dip Filter. From it, locally produced dark roast coffee mixed with water will slowly trickle down the condensed milk. After it’s done dripping, the cà phê phin is removed and the coffee mixture is poured over ice. The result is a delicious, ice cold drink perfect for a hot day.

Pho

The first dish most people would think of when Vietnamese Cuisine is mentioned is usually the noodle soup “Pho”. Follow it with the protein and “Pho” becomes “Pho Ga” for chicken or “Pho Bo” for beef. It is said you can find its origins in Northern Vietnam in early 20th century. Its first appearance in a dictionary can be traced to a 1931 dictionary, being defined as a dish comprised of slivers of rice cake boiled with beef. These days this bowl is made of rice noodles, broth and a protein. Its garnishes include basil, bean sprouts and lemon.

Banh Xeo

It may looked like an overstuffed omelet at first, but with just one bite you will no longer be left wondering why many foreigners fall for the Bánh xèo. Meaning “sizzling cake”, it can be described as a savory fried pancake made from rice flour, turmeric powder, and water then stuffed with a variety of ingredients such as pork sliced, bean sprouts and shrimp. In some regions, it’s made with coconut milk while others disregard the turmeric powder. When eaten, one usually wraps it inside a lettuce leaf or a rice paper wrapper then dipped into a sweet and sour diluted fish sauce. 

Chè Trôi Nuoc

There are numerous varieties of Che, but Chè trôi nuoc is definitely one of the best known. It has a glutinous rice dumpling with mung bean paste in the center. This dessert is served in sweet ginger syrup and served warm with a garnishing of sesame seeds.

Vietnamese cuisine is healthy and delicious. For sure your guests will be saying Thom ngon (Vietnamese for ‘delicious’) at the end of their meal.