Food brings us together
Trip Start
Aug 07, 2008
1
26
79
Trip End
Ongoing
Nha Trang,
Vietnam
Sunday, September 28, 2008
byoung on motor bike
the day started at 8am. we met at the restaurant with Hong and even the two Aussie boys came along as we all had a favor to ask of Hong. you see, there is an orphanage in Hoi An that has approximately 70 children. and like all 2nd/3rd world countries, children don't get the best supplies in terms of diapers, food, and overall general care. so, the four of us chipped in and instead of us getting "foreigner prices" on goods, we asked Hong if she would purchase the items for us with the small bit of money we pitched in. "no problem" she answered, "we'll take care of it when we go grocery shopping this morning for the cooking lesson". with that, eunice, Hong and i went to the local central market to shop for our ingredients and supplies for the children.
as we walked through the market, hong named off some of the unfamiliar vegetables and even taught us how to pick out the freshest of fish at the fish market (look at its eyes). then we went through the spices area, vegetable section and picked out pork for our dishes. it was "good times". i liked it cuz we got to do something with one of the locals. and what better way than grocery shopping!
for the kids, we picked up some powdered formula, a few packets of diapers, some shampoo and a few bags of fruit. the aussie guys delivered some of it and eunice and i took the fruit to them later in the day. the orphanage itself is not much. therapy equipment is old and out dated, the buildings are but a roof over their heads, and the food they eat is best described as a green colored mush.
crab
kids are packed at least two to a bed/crib and there are rumors that any monetary donations are pocketed by the staff. sadness. i refrained from taking any pics in respect for the children so you'll have to use your imaginations.anyways, let's get back to the cooking class.
on the menu:
appetizers:
- shrimp and pork spring rolls (fried)
- vietnamese salad
- pork wonton with spicy sauce
main course:
- grilled shrimp with lemongrass wrapped in banana leaf
- deep friend squid with spice
dessert:
- mango cake
we diced, we chopped, we grilled, sauteed, stirred, mixed and ate... we ATE SO MUCH FOOD... we were stuffed! AND we had enough food packed for dinner. the food was SO GOOD! hong's recipes are fantastic, she has the culinary skills that cannot be taught through powerpoint. the tastes she creates, to me, are one part natural talent, one part experience and one part a true love for what she does. her food is good. the mango cake is simple with the sweet taste of mango in random bites. her pork wonton with spicy sauce is a delicious medly of sweet, spicy with crisp and smooth textures. and her shrimp dish is just a fine coordination of explosions from the garlic, the lemongrass and the small SE asian peppers that catch your tongue with the perenial little man's complex.
at the end of our cooking course and glutonny session, we exchanged hugs. and as we were saying our goodbyes, hong surprised us with a small gift showing her appreciation for us spreading the word about her restaurant.
deep fried squid
she gave us a couple sets of chopsticks and a couple cooking utensils to use once we return home.with fond memories of hoi an, we boarded a 12 hour sleeper bus to Nha Trang, the beach resort city of Vietnam. after an uneventful ride, we arrived in Nha Trang at 6:30am without a place booked for that night. we were recommended a place, but it turns out the prices was not what it advertised, nor was it located "right on the beach" as we were told. so, we walked... to Duy Hung hotel. for $9 US, we had a clean, quiet double room with A/C, private bath and cold shower. what more can you ask for? also, through the hotel, eunice and rented a motorbike (scooter in US terms) and rode along the coast only stopping to eat at restaurants packed with locals. it was a nice, pleasant day just taking in the sun. Nha Trang itself was nice... nothing spectacular though. just a long coastline, multiple restaurants, etc... and since we'd spent the last 6 days or so near the beach in hoi an, we decided to board another bus the next morning for the mountain town of Da Lat. we'll write more when we get there...
finally, thanks to BRIAN AND JANE for envelope #2! we love surprises! and the nice letters are appreciated too! but inside the envelope.... MORE MONEY! YAY! thanks guys! we love you both... we'll use it wisely and share the experiences with you guys!!!! thanks a mil!!!
enjoy the pics!
Comments
so nice
That's so nice of you two to help out the children at the orphanage =)
Please remember how to make those spring rolls so you can 'show off' when you guys come back. I'll be the judge on which one of you can make it better!
recipes?
So did you write down any of the recipes that you got from Hong? If you did...christinachung@gmail.com. I was literally drooling looking at the pictures!