In 1990, my parents became really religious after my grandfather died and started following Caodaism religiously. My dad started reading countless Cao Dai books and spent most of his days listening to Cao Dai teachings on his cassette player. My parents met some people from a Cao Dai temple and started taking us to the Cao... Continue Reading →
My girls are big fans of pork ribs. We generally smoke and BBQ our ribs, but last week I introduced them to another method for cooking ribs; braising. There are two steps in braising meat. First, you sear the meat on high heat to lock in the juices and to create the beautiful color on... Continue Reading →
When you think of popular Vietnamese noodle soups, what's the first thing that pops up in your head? Pho, right? Well, in Phu Quoc, my parents' hometown in Vietnam, Banh Canh, a.k.a. Vietnamese Udon Noodle Soup is king. This is what I remember seeing most people eat on a daily basis when I visited Phu... Continue Reading →
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 →
This post lists out the steps to quickly create your own Nuoc Mam Dipping Sauce, Scallion Oil, and Pickled Carrots and Daikon. These condiments are often served with many popular Vietnamese rice dishes, sandwiches, and vermicelli bowls. Nuoc Mam Dipping Sauce Ingredients 1/2 cup fish sauce 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup lemon juice, with pulp... Continue Reading →
Cơm Tấm, or Broken Rice, is the name of a Vietnamese dish prepared using a Jasmine rice that is crushed into finer pieces during the milling process. You can buy prepackaged broken rice at the Asian grocery store.There are quite a few fantastic Vietnamese restaurants in San Jose dedicated to serving Cơm Tấm. I always... Continue Reading →
Tết, or Lunar New Year, is the most popular and exciting Vietnamese holiday during the year. A few weeks prior to Tết, Vietnamese shopping centers are flooded with vendors selling beautiful flowers, festive decorations, illegal firecrackers, and distinct Vietnamese specialty food available only during Tết. I hate large crowds but love shopping during Tet. Trust... Continue Reading →
Every Tet, or Lunar New Year, I make a big container of Pickled Bean Sprouts to enjoy with all the Tet food specialties that are available during Tet. It is the perfect accompaniment for all the braised and savory dishes, like Thit Kho Trung, Banh Chung, and Banh Tet eaten during Tet. You can also... Continue Reading →
Over the past few weeks, Jane and I have been craving and eating steak weekly and ordered steaks prepared in various ways. Whether the steak is grilled, BBQ'ed, or pan-fried, there's nothing like devouring a big juicy medium-rare steak. YUM!Since Valentine's day is coming up, I want to share this eazy peazy Vietnamese Style Steak... Continue Reading →
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 →
No Limit Cooking 