Friday, November 18, 2011

Vietnamese food: Roasted chestnuts warm winter day


From September, October, around the streets of Hanoi everywhere encounter the familiar image is a deep cast iron pan with half heart in the sand was hot, steaming facilities and untouched plate "hot chestnuts" "chestnuts roasting" ...

Chestnut is your favorite snack of many people, especially teenagers in the days of winter, but many do not know that chestnuts are delicious rich nutritional value.Essential components of nuts include starch, protein, lipids, vitamins B1, B2, C, PP and the minerals Ca, P, Fe support your work, add the kidney, strengthen the body, except for cough, have be used to treat stomach pain, drew blood ... chestnuts can be eaten raw, cooked (boiled, roasted, baked, security ...) the processing of chestnut flour to make bread, porridge, cooked tea.


Previously, chestnuts roasting dish of the poor, because of a lack of it grows on trees in these forests arid, harsh.Every season ripening fruits, the children we find trees to get used to the pool is picked up every particle of gold.It does a rain storm, the children a bag full of bumps racing.The woman in the family cleverly made into discipleship tingle roasted aroma, are dull.What the cobbler does not.Food gifts that were popular during my childhood in bold and original remains intact no matter what time, anywhere.

In recent years, at the corner of Hanoi Old Quarter, along the Giang Vo, Cat Linh, Nguyen Huu Huan intersection, Hang Bac, Hang Be street corner, the end of Hang Dieu Street, First City To President ...roasted chestnuts reappeared with special flavor integrity of any childhood.Chestnuts are tasty seeds are round, taken from the right to gather fruit ripening.Chestnuts roasting technique is no different now than a few days old, especially the roast should be fine, just so ripe nuts without burning too.The shell is very hard nuts to want it cooked and tasty, we bring hard-boiled and then roasted to a turn until the aroma is up.When roasting, chestnuts are for raw shell, not roasted or roasted with sand (sand islands are hot enough and the chestnut on).

Now there is more variety to delicious and creative ways of processing.This is a way to contribute to food Hanoi more abundant and diverse.

Sitting a roadside restaurant, enjoy each dark roasted chestnuts, pineapple tingle, fleshy fleshy.Torus xao feeling, very interesting.In the cold season where the magnificent capital, Deleting, a familiar enough smoke flap heartwarming sons expatriates.

Vietnamese food: Delicious vegetable stock catfish the aggregate


Afternoon last week, she welcomed me with a hearty plate of rice was based both drive the same beam, hot vegetable bowl and drive the stock catfish fragrant knotweed.The stock catfish fragrant knotweed, there are new items that I most anticipated.

Catfish same familiar to people with delicacies like ginger sauce dotted grilled catfish, catfish catfish porridge or soup elected.But perhaps few people enjoy the same stock catfish fragrant knotweed.

Catfish fragrant knotweed but the repository in a simple process but the taste is quite delicious and colorful you.

Knowing I always loved this dish so that each time I visit home as her mother shopping in the morning, choose to buy the best catfish.According to her, catfish are more like the white catfish, catfish coconut ...and yellow catfish.Want to stock catfish dishes fragrant knotweed, they must choose the most delicious yellow catfish weighing nearly half a kilo.Yellow catfish are golden brown skin, pale yellow flesh, firm and very fragrant.

Catfish purchase of the mother drop into bowl of water, change water several times to both less sticky substance and then brought her carefully remove hooks, gut fish, remove the fins.Mother soaring bamboo leaves slime all over her fish and rinse the fish with ginger wine to remove the fishy smell of fish.

The fish are cut into thick slices, salted, fish sauce, seasoning, satay, onion, garlic, crushed fresh technology about fifteen minutes.

While waiting for your personal participation, his mother into the garden to pick a handful of fragrant knotweed, bringing in the odd young leaves, washed, so available.Non-fragrant peanut oil with Mother of hash and stir for catfish on hunting for meat and aromatic.Mother used a clay pot, lined with a layer of fragrant knotweed bottom of the pan, pour the prepared catfish on top, add boiling water intrusion close to the fish, cook low heat until the water in the pot dry completely.Finally, she added a little pepper powder and heated warehouse with ash pan fish for fish dishes are hot, aromatic meat and fish and hunt over it.

Catfish dish fragrant knotweed inventory of the very attractive mother with slices of fillet firmness, glow yellow color of peanut oil and fresh technology, up to the aroma of fragrant knotweed.But taste is not impeccable with the fat of peanut oil, dai dai and the aroma of catfish, spicy satay, and the fragrance of the fragrant knotweed.All blend together to create a real repository aromatic fish dishes, delicious, attractive and very charming.

The days away from home, the stock catfish crave fragrant knotweed, I bought in the market to find the catfish the same bunch of fresh green vegetables aggregate brought cloudy cooked green room.But no matter how much they try to fish my childhood fragrant knotweed is missing something that makes a great taste of the fish stock is cooking her hometown.And I understand there is the familiar flavors of earth, the home fields and boundless love of his mother had hidden in the warehouse catfish slices rustic fragrant knotweed, beloved hometown

Vietnamese food: Stomach fried catfish


Dishes made ​​from catfish has long been familiar to her children home I western rivers.

All parts of catfish from the head, body, tail, to the stomach can be made into delicious dishes.The housewife can find catfish stomachs buy at the market or supermarket for food processing.In the past people often leave catfish stomach, recent years dishes made from catfish stomach was enjoyed.Currently stomach 100g catfish cost about 14,000 VND.


Stomach fried catfish is one of the dishes easy to make, by rapid processing, the material easy to find, quality not inferior to the spiritual specialties such as fish, fish the lease.

Stomach basa purchased washed in brine, rub clean.Then wash using fresh lemon juice to remove fishy smell, drain.Lean pork washed, finely minced, with seeds spicy seasoning, then put the meat into the stomach.Stir flour mixed with water into a paste, for the stomach to roll over the dough.

To pan boiling oil, for frying in the stomach, when the stomach rise and reclining yellow crispy cooked, remove and drain the oil.This dish is served hot with sweet and sour sauce, fragrant knotweed.

Vietnamese food: Tra Vinh strange sarcophagi are left


Draw a spoon into the mouth piece of the intestine sarcophagi chewing leisurely.The bitter, sweet, fat fat, crispy and crunchy grains of fragrant rice characterized by diffuse sarcophagi in taste, it's interesting ...

Once the Cau Ke (Tra Vinh province), suddenly, I came across something strange fruit sold on the roadside.Round plastic ball left the children, looks like an orange, rough skin is gray and white, but our kids often pick on old beat up white outer ring, with the fish inside to play the game, but the reality is not so.Stopping visit booths knew it was asked to try left sarcophagi, special land of Tra Vinh.


Plants are grown in many parts of the earth mounds and Cau Ke, and the Khmer here like trees around the house.Also named Guo, a place also known as Gao (probably left looks like a coconut shell).

Trees are about 7-8 meters, small leaves, like the prickly branches of trees to be promoted.Plant for about 7 years left, the tree as long as many years left.December, lunar month is season nine sarcophagi.


Like durian fruit, when ripe natural castle at night fall.Early morning host tree orchards to pick just brought to market, rather than picking someone to climb trees, and if pressed to pick a tree vinegar, ripe fruit will not taste.

Especially when the ripe fruit sarcophagi, moldy skin white and fragrant smells distinctive flavor.Break the crust out, we will see the left soft brown rice (cooked color as me), in which droplets (smaller cube), crunchy nuts.

In addition to drink soft drinks, according to folk medicine, thinly sliced ​​green coffins left to dry used to treat diarrhea, ripe fruit against constipation, helps to regulate digestion.Leaves sarcophagi bronchitis treatment ...


In contrast nine sarcophagi are only two ways of processing.They are: ice beam line, and soak liquor in which the first dish cooling effect is like most people.

To reduce road ice, just scraping into the glass hit the left colon tender.For sugar and water into ice, it will be a cooling summer dish perfect and memorable.Draw a spoon into the mouth piece of the intestine sarcophagi chewing leisurely.The bitter, sweet, fat fat, crispy and crunchy grains of fragrant rice characterized by diffuse sarcophagi in taste, it's interesting

Van Phuc Silk Village



During their stay in Hanoi, most tourists insist on a trip to Van Phuc Silk Village, the famous silk village of Hanoi to contemplate the genuine traditional silk-making industry.
Van Phuc Silk Village is situated on the banks of Nhue Thi River, Nguyen Trai Road, near Ha Dong city, 8 km southwest of Ha Noi. It takes you only 30 minutes by motorbike to go there from the centre of Hanoi. The village has been much well known for its traditional sericulture, weaving, and silk products. Tourists coming here are lured by various beautiful shirts, crafts, ties, dresses and many other things made of silk available in the village. What is special is that the silk is made by very simple looms, which is the genuinely traditional Vietnamese way of making silk.
The cradle ofVietnamese Silk
For centuries, silk has always been considered an extreme luxury, on par with rhinoceros horn, ivory and precious handworks in Vietnam. It has long been a universal byword of luxury, often worn by the richest, most powerful citizens. Most visitors somehow have heard about the significant role of this kind of material in Vietnam, yet might wonder where the cradle of Viet silk is. The mentioned Van Phuc Silk Village is proud to be the origin of best silk and silk-making industry of Vietnam, which is attached to a long-lasting history of more than two thousand years. Though passing by lots of ups and downs, during the recent years, the village’s craft has enjoyed revival due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets.
Today, the fine and lustrous cloth that originates from the cocoon of the silkworm is more affordable for "ordinary" folk. Furthermore, silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance, particularly since its many varieties can be made into a wide range of designs suitable for all facets of modern life. Should you intend to have a silk pair of formal clothes made, just come here and select your suitable materials, and professional tailors here will bring you satisfaction!
Ideal place for silk products and souvenirs
Like other visitors to the village, you will be surprised at this “silk shop town”, where almost all houses along the paths have been turned into shops selling silk products. Specifically, the village is now home to 1,280 households, 90% of whom are involved in silk production and business. The village makes more than 2 million meters of silk per year. Yet, more than that, you are offered a good chance to explore the Vietnamese traditional industry of silk-making.
No tourists here are uncontented with the glisten of various silk products. They are always confronted with an initially bewildering array of silk products, from raw materials, to garments, and a myriad of silk accessories. The local silk is known for its smooth and lightweight appearance, and qualities that enable it to be dyed more colors to suit a variety of skin tones. In order to cater for the changing demands and tastes of customers, Van Phuc silk producers are expanding their silk and garment repertoire: traditional glossy, embroidered silks, double layers, wrinkled silks, and of course, more colors, hues and weights, for which they have invented new techniques in dying and thermo-processing the threads.
If you are going to buy something from Vietnam as gifts for those at home, silk and clothes made of silk are available around in the village for your choice. Though the days when Vietnam's silk was reserved for nobility are long gone, what would never change is the sense of romance and luxury imparted by silk, a luminous cloth type. With 2000 years of history behind them, the silk weavers of Van Phuc Silk village are still busy, weaving dreams.
How to get there? With a view to reaching Van Phuc village, tourists should travel south west out of Ha Noi on Nguyen Trai Street until they reach the border of Ha Dong District. Then turn right and dive for about 3km. The village is on the left, some 8 km from central Hanoi. Motorbike, bus, or taxis are all of good use.

Bat Trang Ceramic Village



“I wish I could marry you/ I will buy Bat Trang bricks to build our house” are the beautiful folk words honoring Bat Trang ceramic & pottery quality, the pride of northern Vietnam
Description
Bat Trang, a small village in the north of Vietnam, is about 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, on the other side of Chuong Duong bridge. Why is its name popular to most tourists to northern Vietnam? The answer is its ever famous ceramic and pottery products of high quality. If you have known about Vietnam, you may not be surprised that Bat Trang’s vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic products have been exported worldwide. Should you would like to contemplate workers making ceramic products by hand, just come here! What’s more, you can also try it yourself!
History
Bat Trang village is said to be established in 14th or 15th century in several documents. However, according to the villagers, the village perhaps appeared earlier. There are always two stories concerning the village origin. One of these tells that under Ly dynasty, in 1100, when the nation was in its independence and initial growth period, there were 3 scholars who came back from their mission trip to China bringing the ceramic craft industry learned there back to Vietnam and taught the people of Bat Trang. In the other story, in the village history dates back to the 10th century, when King Ly Cong Uan relocated the capital in Thang Long. With the establishment and development of the capital, many businessmen, crafters from many areas come to settle down here to work and trade. In Bat Trang, there was a lot of white clay, so that many potters, among who was Nguyen Ninh Trang family, came and built the kilns here. Accordingly, Bat Trang has gradually changed from a normal ceramic and pottery village into a famous ceramic and pottery centre until now.
As time went by, the village’s products have developed and become well known for the best quality, style and glaze, both inside and outside of the nation. Many of these are now customized for aristocratic families and religious needs. Its popular foreign markets are Japan (under the brand "Kochi (Giao Chi) ware"), the Netherlands, Britain, Portugal, Southeast Asia, etc.
The famous ceramic & pottery products
Production Process
To produce a complete product, one must follow 3 steps. The first step is making the product frame. The artists select the suitable clay, treat it and start making a raw product. It must be repaired to get the best appearance. Secondly, they decorate and cover it with glazes. Last but not least, the raw products are baked in 3 days and 3 nights. There are several kinds of kiln, yet the temperature must be at 12000 or 13000. After baking, products are brought out, classified and repaired in case there are mistakes. And now we have the perfect product.
Popular product types
Bat Trang products are divided into 3 kinds based on the purpose of use.
  • Utilitarian wares: including plates, bowls, teacups, kettles, wine bottles, flowerpots, vases, jar… What differs is that they are thicker than Chinese ones.
  • Cult wares: comprise lamp stands, candle holders, incense burner, altar boxes, swords… These are valuable for collectors because of inscription of the production years, the names of the producers and the potters.
  • Decorative objects: house models, altars, statues and architectural fixtures.
The special trait is thediversified decorations on the products. Thanks to a long–lasting history and development, the village’s works have been accumulated with a lot of different special designs. One more thing that makes them distinguished is the glaze, which is of high quality and a variety of colors, such as blue, brown, white, moss green, in both breaking and melting glazes.
In fact, there have appeared a number of competitors both domestically and internationally who take advantages of high technology. Yet most customers prefer the craft products that contain historical and traditional values. Hence, it is no surprise at all that Bat Trang is still found in busy days and works. More importantly, the village is now so popular that absorbs a huge annual number of tourists to visit and buy ceramic goods.