Good-bye Vietnam and Hello Egypt!

Pretty tired these days, especially when I leave one country and head to another. It’s fun to prepare for the last days in Vietnam. I spend a lot of time thinking about the food and how to celebrate the culture in my home. I usually work hard to make sure all the details are just…

Chao ong (ba)…Greetings in Vietnamese

I am sitting in my living room thinking of how much I really love Vietnamese food and culture, but alas, this is the last week in Vietnam and I feel like I just got here. Here is a mention of some of the more interesting facts about Vietnam that I liked and wanted to know…

For my dad, a Vietnam Vet.

My dad on the right The Vietnam War. It started in 1954 (some say 1959), before I was born, and ended 5 American Presidents later. It was a war that raised nagging questions for me personally and for the nation in general. For what reason did this all begin and WHY? To help answer some…

Chopsticks or Forkchops -really? Confucius say…

Daughter:   “Do we have a choice?” Me:  “Well not really, if we truly want to appreciate all things Vietnamese.” It’s true, we have not used a fork at all for our Viet meals. I wanted our family to learn and appreciate the culture and part of that was using Asian tableware and chopsticks. The…

Asparagus and Shiitake Mushroom Stir-Fry

When you want something quick and light, think Vietnamese.  Vietnamese chefs consider their food craft as the “nouvelle cuisine of Asia.” Personally, I love the idea that meat in Vietnamese recipes is considered  a condiment rather than the main meal deal! Vegetables and soup reign superior to meat, maybe because of the cost, but I…

Egg, Shrimp and Scallion Pancake Recipe

If you want to have a little something easy to whip up for brunch on a Saturday, these “pancakes” are a great addition with fruit, a biscuit or scone.   You can showcase your creativity and beauty with the pink, yellow and green colors in the pancake.  Have a great tasting cup of coffee or a…