Oh, the fruit! Living in Canada, I never knew what fresh tropical fruit tasted like because I never ate any! I was never a big fan of pineapple because it always tasted like the can, or if bought fresh, it was never completely ripe and made my mouth sore. But here, I can't get enough of it! It is so sweet and juicy. There are many fruits that I'd never even heard of before that I have found to be so tasty: mangosteen, jack fruit, and my new favourite, durian. And then there those that I'd eaten in Canada but they never tasted like they do here: mangoes, melons, bananas, and papaya. There are several different varieties of bananas, and my favourites are the tiny ones billed as "baby bananas" in Canadian grocery stores. They are actually not baby bananas at all, but varieties that don't grow to be as large as the bananas we are familiar with.
Vietnamese use a large variety of herbs in their cooking. Basil and coriander are popular, as are several herbs that are not native to North America. There are several different types of mint, including one called fish mint that I don't like very much, due to its strong fishy taste.
A walk in the early morning or around dinner time will result in a horde of tantalizing smells, as street vendors are set up on every street corner in some areas to sell street food. There are markets where you can buy food to take home and cook, or you can buy from a vendor and either eat at the impromptu cafe that is often set up, or you can walk, or even sit on the curb and eat. I couldn't even begin to list the number of foods and drinks that are available.When I first arrived I was quite taken with banh mi, which can be loosely compared to a sub sandwich. It is made on a roll that is about 8 inches long, and is filled with a few different types of cold cuts, herbs, and usually some cucumber and a few slices of chilies. There are also other sandwiches that I have found to be very satisfying street food, but my absolute favourite dish is bunh xeo. It looks like a crepe, but instead of being made with egg it is made of mainly rice flour with some turmeric for colour. A bit of shrimp, meat (usually pork), and some bean sprouts are placed in the pan and partially cooked, then the flour mixture is poured over and allowed to cook. To eat, pieces of the pancake are broken off and wrapped in rice paper, lettuce, and herbs, and everything is rolled up and dipped in nuoc mam, or fish sauce. Sooo good!
Vietnamese cuisine is not based on meat, rather the meat is used as flavour and accompaniment. Like most Asians, the Vietnamese eat rice every day, sometimes with every meal. I eat much more rice than I used to, but am still nowhere near the amount eaten by my colleagues.
In the cities you can find restaurants offering every type of cuisine. In the rural area where I live, about 25 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City, I have sampled Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food. I found the Korean food to be a bit too fermented and spicy for my liking, with the exception of one dish that consists of rice, meat, and veggies all cooked in a clay pot, and topped with a raw egg that you mix in and allow to cook in the hot foods. I have enjoyed all the other foods I have tried. In the city I also ate at a Thai restaurant for the first time. Again, much Asian food is somewhat heavy on the heat for my liking, but I have found dishes in every type of cuisine that I thoroughly enjoy. And I am learning to eat more chilies than I used to!
Being a big fan of soups, I have not been disappointed here. Most of the soups are made with clear broth to which meat, veggies, and noodles are added. The broth is so flavourful! One of the staples of Vietnamese cuisine is pho, which is a soup that is often eaten for breakfast. One can have either pho bo, made from beef, or pho ga, made from chicken. You are served in a bowl only slightly smaller than a bathtub the broth, meat, noodles, and some veggies, along with a side dish of sliced chilies, herbs, sliced onions, bean paste, bean sprouts, and lime sections which you can add to taste. I've never been able to finish a serving.
Most desserts are based on fruits, and why not, when they are in such abundance. One restaurant which we frequent often features fruit sliced into a bowl of milk and crushed ice, or sliced fruit on a plate accompanied by some salt mixed with crushed chilies. You won't find the pies, cakes, and heavy desserts that are so common at home.
During Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, and at other festival times, sticky rice treats are served. I'm not a fan of sticky rice, as I find it to be bland and glutinous. However the Vietnamese seem to love it.
All in all, anyone who comes here has no excuse to ever be hungry. There is something for everyone, and if you just plain don't like any Asian food, there is always pizza, burgers, and steak available in the city.
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