Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Learning To Cook, Vietnamese Style

Vietnam is renowned for its food... an emphasis on fresh ingredients and balanced flavours. It has a reputation for being one of the healthiest cuisines in the world too... and I can vouch for that! I came back from my travels half a stone lighter.... it's not often that I can say that after a fortnight's holiday!


Pho - noodle soup with chicken (often served with beef)


While in Hoi An, we had the chance to learn to cook some delicious Vietnamese food at the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking School.

A half day at the school costs around US$27 and includes a tour of Hoi An's lively market....






 Rambutans


 Dragon fruit


 Durian fruit


 Where's the Colonel?


 All your eggs in one basket


The Spice of Life


Then a boat cruise down the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Restaurant....













Where we were taught some of the skills of Vietnamese cooking....


 Making fresh rice noodle paper


 My attempts at fresh rice noodle rolls


 and crispy pancakes


and eggplant in clay pot


and edible decorations


And after all that food.... we had the chance to sample even more dishes prepared by the restaurant!


15 comments:

  1. Ok . . . see what happens when I fall off the face of the earth? You literally travel to the OTHER SIDE of it!!! HOLY COW! NAT!!! I've missed our adventures so! And . . . VIETNAM!?!? WOW! These photos are so amazing. I am so interested in other cultures and day to day lifestyle routines, and I love these photos of the market there. Is vietnam food anything like Thai food? I must look into it (and feel quite silly asking.) There is a Thai restaurant that my husband and I frequent, and I lOVE the spring rolls there. These look just like the ones I covet!

    So sorry I've been gone. I have so much to catch up on with you . . . off to read some more! Hugs, my well traveled adventurer!

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    1. Hi Leanne
      Vietnamese food is a bit like Thai food only not quite so spicey I thought, more emphasis on fresh herbs and salad. Very light and yummy :-)

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    2. Hi Leanne
      Vietnamese food is quite like Thai food but less spicey I think and not so many creamy sauces, more use of fresh herbs and salads... very yummy :-)

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  2. What great photos and now I am sooo
    hungry..hours til a break..grrr

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    Replies
    1. Thanks faye.. hope you got a nice dinner :-)

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  3. It looks so yummy - I´d eat it all! :-)

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  4. Woah! I'm slobbering over the keyboard right now, that food looks delicious! The boats are just lovely, too, what a gorgeous way to be ferried about. x

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  5. Fantastic tour of the market, the dragon fruit are so pretty! How wonderful that you learned how to cook Vietnamese style!

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  6. The spring rolls and the soup look yummy.

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  7. These pictures of the market are incredible!!! I would be all over it! What a great way to experience the food- I think this is the coolest part of the trip so far! I love Vietnamese food, we have some yummy places for it here in Portland!

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  8. I don't know how much a stone weighs, nor do I know how long a fortnight is. What I do know is that it looks like you had a great time and as always, beautiful pictures!

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    1. A stone is 14 pounds (about 6 kg) and a fortnight is 14 days
      :-)

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  9. Oh yum! The dishes you prepared look delicious! I love Vietnamese food. There is a very large Vietnamese population in my county. There are many excellent Vietnamese restaurants in our area and we love to eat at our favorite one. Once again, your photos are fantastic...

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