Food

Saigonese of Chinese descent make a ‘cleansing’ sticky rice cake

By admin 11 months ago

Many households of Chinese descent in Saigon make a unique dish for the summer cleansing festival – the leaf-wrapped sticky rice dumplings 'zongzi'. Ha Cam Toan and his family in District 11 have been making zongzi, a savory glutinous rice dumpling, for the summer cleansing festival for the past 25 years. It is made especially for Tet Doan Ngo, a summer festival that cleanses the body and spirit. The Double Fifth Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which falls on June 14 this year. The Hoa people, the community of Chinese descent in Saigon, call the dish ba trang, with”ba” meaning meat and “trang” rice cake.
“Chinese people often have fruit, wine and ba trang hanging in their houses. There are many ways to make this cake. Every family gives their own twist to the recipe,” Toan said as he hung the cakes on two bamboo poles.
Inside Toan's house on Tue Tinh Street, relatives gather to help make the cake. Every year, the family makes about 6,00..

A fine dining banh mi

By admin 11 months ago

Peter Cuong Franklin, head chef of Anan Saigon restaurant, decided to step up the game, turning a cheap street food into fine dining. A fine dining banh mi A fine dining banh mi

Two vegetarian restaurants in Vietnam break into global Tripadvisor list

By admin 11 months ago

The outdoor space of Hum Vegetarian restaurant on Vo Van Tan Street in HCMC's District 3. Photo courtesy of Hum. Two restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An have been named among the world's 25 best vegetarian joints as voted by Tripadvisor readers. Hum Vegetarian on Vo Van Tan Street in HCMC's District 3 ranked 10th while Vegan Zone on Nguyen Duy Hieu Street in the ancient town of Hoi An secured the 20th place in the annual Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best list for vegetarian restaurants.
Tripadvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the winners, taking into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by its readers over a 12-month period.
Hum Vegetarian has three outlets at 32 Vo Van Tan, 2 Thi Sach, and 32 D10 streets.
Its highlights include wooden and eco-friendly furnishings.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and is capable of serving 100 customers at once.
Brown rice in lotus leaf, pineapple fried rice, ..

Vietnamese fashion designer appointed Italian culinary ambassador

By admin 11 months ago

Le Thi Quynh Trang (L), founder and president of Vietnam International Fashion Week, receives the Knighthood of the Order of Merit of the Star of Italy from Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, Dante Brandi, April 6, 2021. Photo courtesy of Consulate General of Italy in HCMC. After receiving the top Italian honor, Le Thi Quynh Trang has been appointed ambassador for the Italian true taste project in Vietnam. Trang will have an opportunity to promote Italian cuisine to more Vietnamese in the coming time as well as boost bilateral relations between both countries, the Italian Chamber of Commerce stated.
The project initiated by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held by the Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad in cooperation with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam to enhance the popularity of authentic Italian agri-products.
Italy has operated “True Italian Taste” events in 40 countries and territories since 2016 and in Vietnam since 2019.
Over the yea..