10 summers ago, I went to Vietnam to visit my grandma and relatives and attend my brother's wedding. DANG! I can't believe it has almost been 10 years. The trip was super memorable. I learned so much about Vietnamese culture, explored several cities in Southern Vietnam,... Continue Reading →
Grilled Fish Tacos
My kids are huge fans of fish tacos. It's fun to place all the fish taco ingredients and garnishes in front of them and watch them customize their own fish taco. Emily got the taco creation process down and is becoming quite the taco making professional.... Continue Reading →
Oven Roasted Salmon Spring Roll Party
I follow many foodie accounts on Instagram and about a year ago, a few ladies prepared this baked salmon dish and made spring rolls with their family and friends. The pictures looked super mouth-watering and were ridiculously easy to make. The dish also includes some of my favorite toppings on fish. I think that the... Continue Reading →
Vietnamese Hot Pot
Hot Pot parties are fun and filling. As a host, it's s a great way to spend quality time with family and friends without being stuck in the kitchen cooking while people are eating. All tedious prep work is done before the guests arrive and cooking will be done directly in the hot pot at... Continue Reading →
Sushi Bake
Over the past few years, Sushi Bake has become one of the most popular pot luck/party food among friends and family. It is requested at every party and always the first dish to be devoured. Sushi Bake is essentially a deconstructed sushi roll, baked like a casserole. It's the perfect food to bring to parties... Continue Reading →
Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
One of my all time favorite things to eat when traveling to Oahu is the plump, succulent, and fresh Shrimp. These jumbo shrimp are caught fresh and smothered in a rich buttery and garlicky sauce. I've noticed that each place prepares this dish slightly different all over the island. For example, Ted's Bakery, in North... Continue Reading →
Stir Fried Beef and Shrimp with Vermicelli Noodles (Bun Bo va Tom Xao)
After the Bò Nướng Vĩ/ Bò Nhúng Dấm Spring Roll Party, there were tons of extra uncooked beef, shrimp, and veggies. I don't mind the left overs because there are so many things you can do with it for subsequent meals. Simply bring a pot water to a boil, cook the Vermicelli Noodles according to the... Continue Reading →
Vietnamese Beef Spring Roll Party (Bo Nuong Vi / Bo Nhung Dam)
For Thanksgiving, instead of the traditional American Thanksgiving meal, Jane and I hosted a Bò Nướng Vĩ/ Bò Nhúng Dấm Spring Roll Party for her family and her Aunt's family. This type of Spring Roll Party is perfect for family lunch/dinner because everyone will hang-out with each other, cook the food in the hotpot or... Continue Reading →
Tamarind Shrimp
Helllllllllo Holiday Season! This year, I have already participated in 4 Thanksgiving gatherings over a span of 3 days. I will have one more later this week. I can't wait. These gatherings provide me many opportunities to try new exciting recipes or simply work on perfecting dishes I've created before. With this Tamarind Shrimp recipe,... Continue Reading →
Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon)
Gỏi Cuốn, directly translated to English as Salad Roll, is one of the freshest, simple, delicious, and popular appetizers ordered at Vietnamese restaurants. However, at my house, Gỏi Cuốn is commonly served as a full meal, family-style. All the fresh ingredients are prepared in advance and placed on the dinner table. When it's time to... Continue Reading →
