Vietnamese

Vegan/vegetarian Asian restaurants are an interesting breed. For some reason, they're mostly obsessed with replicating the texture and appearance of original meat dishes. Despite the concept of mock meats being utterly confusing, I actually love the taste of it all!... Continue reading Meatless Monday: Loving Hut, Cabramatta »

The trouble with judging the best pho in Sydney, is not being able to taste them all side by side. So with that in mind, let me share with you my current most favourite restaurant for pho Continue reading Pho 54, Cabramatta »

I may not yet have a green thumb, but I've learnt an incredible amount of gardening tips and tricks from my Mum over the years. I've grown my own chilli plants from seed, I've kept my pandan plant alive (it... Continue reading Canh Chua Tom (Vietnamese sour soup with prawns) »

Inner-city Vietnamese restaurants have long been satisfying the appetites of those who crave the fresh flavours of Vietnam but don't necessarily want to drive an hour South-West of Sydney to the likes of Bankstown and Cabramatta. Gia Hoi (Haymarket) has... Continue reading Saigon Bay, Darlinghurst »

I had the most unusual craving the other night for my mother's homemade banana ice-cream. Reminiscing about my childhood, my mouth started salivating when I came across a particular flashback. It must've been at least 15 years ago, where hot... Continue reading Kem Chuoi (Vietnamese banana ice-cream) »

There's no shortage of Vietnamese restaurants in Marrickville but with tonight's opening of Bau Truong's third restaurant, the foodie scene at this Inner West village has just gotten hotter! Bau Truong's first two locations at Cabramatta and Canley Heights are... Continue reading Bau Truong, Marrickville »

Please excuse me while I jump between Melbourne and Sydney. I wish I could blog as fast as I eat, but the reality is that I have an enormous backlog of fabulous eats, waiting for its share of the spotlight... Continue reading Pho Chu The and Nhu Lan Bakery, Footscray (Melbourne) »

My mother was making nem chua (pronounced: nem joo) last week so I quickly took the opportunity to document the process of making this much loved snack. For those who aren't familiar with nem chua, it is finely ground pork... Continue reading Nem chua - Vietnamese fermented pork rolls »

I was recently invited to attend Fat Noodle's first birthday celebrations and was so impressed by the food at the event that I just had to return a few days later. Fat Noodle sits on Star City's gaming floor and... Continue reading Fat Noodle »

Happy new year! Thank you all JENIUS readers for your friendship, support, emails & comments, and for making 2010 a fabulous year! I spent this morning with the boy and his mother at the tranquil Nan Tien Temple down at... Continue reading New Year's Day at Nan Tien Temple Vegetarian Food Fair »

I came here to try the phở (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and left on a high note after tasting the bánh canh cua chạo tôm (Vietnamese thick crab noodle soup with grilled prawn paste). The phở đặc biệt (Vietnamese special... Continue reading Hoang Gia, Flemington »

I am often asked on my Cabramatta tours where good Vietnamese food can be found outside of the Little Vietnam hubs in Cabramatta and Bankstown... Well, if you live in Sydney's Inner West, then Nha Tranh Restaurant in Five Dock... Continue reading Nha Tranh Restaurant, Five Dock »

I know I've been really slack with the frequency of blog posts recently... I'm so sorry I've let it slip. With my recent move (furnishing a new house and kitchen is so fun, though time consuming!), the trip to Japan... Continue reading I Ate My Way Through Cabramatta »

Those who subscribe to SBS Food's e-newsletter will have seen that I am their latest Featured Foodie! What a honour it is to be able to share my culinary journey with such a respected publication. In a sequence of interview... Continue reading Featured Foodie on SBS plus a cherished family recipe - Xiu Mai (Vietnamese meatballs) »

There's something really likeable about eating lots of small dishes. From Chinese yum cha to Spanish tapas, the experience of sharing small plates of delectable morsels with friends and family is always an enjoyable one. Coda sits at the basement... Continue reading Coda Bar & Restaurant, Melbourne »

Childhood memories of Chinese New Year have always featured elaborate homemade banquets on the eve of the New Year followed by a day witnessing the roaring of firecrackers and drums as the lion dance parades through masses of crowds in... Continue reading Chinese New Year 2010 and our suckling pig »

With Australia Day coming up and the end of summer approaching, I thought I would share my special chicken wing marinade recipe which is always a winner at BBQs. I'm already dreading the upcoming shorter days (without daylight saving) so... Continue reading Something for the barbie: A killer chicken wing marinade »

In celebration of the new year, I thought it would be suitable to look back at all of my best eats in 2009. Here, I've included some of my most frequently visited restaurants as well as a few memorable favourites.... Continue reading Top 10 list of the best I've eaten in 2009 »

Vietnamese-style coconut and pandan waffles I grew up on these waffles. I remember sitting on the kitchen bench on many after school afternoons, eagerly waiting for my parents to pour batches of batter onto our Black and Decker Sweet Hearts... Continue reading Coconut and pandan waffles »

Vincent's Noodle House has long been serving Lidcombe locals affordable Asian cuisine. While they no longer appear to be a small family-run business, having moved in to Dooleys Catholic Club, they're still bloody popular. Their pho dac biet (special beef... Continue reading Vincent's Noodle House »

I'm a big fan of Time Out. I would never visit a city without first consulting the local Time Out guide. Time Out Sydney's Food Awards 09 winners were announced this week, so let's see who made the cut: People's... Continue reading The best of Sydney, according to Time Out »

Reminder: my Taste Of Sydney double passes giveaway ends tomorrow! Get your entries in now > Tia To is my favourite oriental herb. Also known as Tiet To, Vietnamese Perilla, shiso or Vietnamese Hojiso, this aromatic herb can jazz up... Continue reading Tia To Vietnamese Restaurant, Melbourne »

Viet food is probably one of my favourite cuisines. It tastes of home... I love the herbs, the spices, all the greens and just the simplicity of its flavours. My parents always rant about how a bowl of Pho Dac Biet (beef noodle soup) or Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) can be bought for just 50 cents in Vietnam. They used to wake up to its aromas... Continue reading Dong Ba, Bankstown »