On Lunar New Year, I now typically aim for Vietnamese food. It's only recently that it's dawned on me how much variety there is, and how much overlap, too, between different Vietnamese eateries and within the regional cuisines of Vietnam. First, most modern Vietnamese cuisine seems distinctly different from Chinese, Thai, Korean and Japanese. Second, the deeper one goes, the more one finds. While a variety of excellent, relatively cheap soups or Phở / pho seem to be relatively common, tonight was the first time I saw goat on a Vietnamese menu; and not just any goat, but goat served sixteen different ways. Because it's Tet, some older Vietnamese guys were guzzling beer and finishing up what looked like Lau de Ragu (goat with fried potatoes), completely relaxing after dark. I kept it simpler, but made a note to try one of the goat specialties at some point.
Having tried vegetarianism for a few years in the 1980s, I will now enthusiastically eat a much wider array of foods, including different types of non-vegetarian foods, not just the more common forms. Life is short, might as well enjoy it. The proprietor at tonight's Vietnamese restaurant, she gave me a beer and wished me "good dreams," a sweet gesture, and passing strange. All in all, a good start to the new year.
Happy Tet, New Year of the Buffalo, Year of the Ox!
Today's Rune: Partnership.
3 comments:
Erik you are awesome brother. while others dream of experience you take it and run.
Yes good new year!
Eric, Happy Tet to you, too! I have a vietnamese friend who feeds me the best lunches ever. She makes a traditional stir fry (hot) and the tastiest spring rolls. Yummy..
When the Vietnamese came to Camp Chaffee in Arkansas after the war I worked there with them and always enjoyed the food. We had genuine vietnamese cooks and it was far better than the standard national guard food.
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