Wondering Where to Eat in Hanoi?

WELCOME TO EATING HANOI!

When we’re not cooking, we’re eating.

When we’re not eating, we’re cooking.

And we love to share our eating adventures with everyone else who loves to eat great food!

Be warned, however, we may take you to some off-the-track places.  But, we promise you we’ll show you some great Places to Eat in Hanoi !!

CHUC AN NGON   (ENJOY !)

JOE & HAI

JOE …

It’s almost midnight, November 22, 2011.  I’m sitting in southern New Jersey (USA) – it’s cold and raining heavily.

The day after tomorrow is Thanksgiving and tomorrow I’m planning to chop up lots of fruit and soak them in Apricot Brandy to begin the turkey stuffing. I’m certain it will be a wonderful meal together with my two sisters and their families whom I haven’t seen in almost a year.  (OK – So now you’re wondering – Did I click the wrong Google search?  Or is there a crazy guy in South Jersey blogging about where to eat in Hanoi?  NO – YOU’RE OK – so far.)

Even here in the Pinelands of New Jersey, all I can think about tonight is Vietnam!  I miss my partner, Hai.  And I miss jumping on the motorbike each day and exploring Hanoi with him  – scouting out the best places to eat in Hanoi, and enjoying together our favorite Vietnam dishes. But I’m only away from Vietnam for a few weeks.  I’ll be back soon to relax at one of my favorite Vietnamese coffee shops and enjoy some early morning or late night Pho – Hanoi style with Hai.  And to launch our Blog – EATING HANOI !!

HAI …

I LOVE TO COOK (and EAT) !!  I’ve been eating in Saigon for the past 34 years … so I know where to go 🙂

It’s 05:30 am Monday morning …  I’m about to head off to work at my restaurant, Dong Hoa Xuan.  If it’s a normal day, we’ll have a rush of folk between 06:00 – 09:00 for breakfast on their way to work.  The locals will want cơm tấm (broken rice) topped with either bao tử  (pork stomach), Sườn Nướng (BBQ pork chop), or Cá Kho Tộ (spicy caramelized fish). There will be no westerners or tourists. Things will get quiet after 09:00 until the lunch rush begins about 11:30 until 14:00 closing time.  For lunch, I might see one Westerner drift in each week.  (I wonder how they found me?)  After lunch, it’s off to the market for me to select fresh vegetables, fish, pork, beef and chicken, and rice for tomorrow’s menu.  Then there is an afternoon of food preparation together with my staff – including hours of  chopping, dicing, marinating, and cooking vegetables and meats – all in preparation for tomorrow morning’s 06:00 rush ~ when it all begins again!

My grandmother made my restaurant, Dong Hoa Xuan, famous 50+ years ago – all the locals loved her bao tử !  I watched my mom in the kitchen.  None of my other 11 brothers and sisters cared or were allowed to help – I was the lucky one!  Later, I learned more at the Saigon Tourist Cooking School and at a cooking internship at The Majestic Hotel, one of Saigon’ premier 5-Star hotels. But, mostly, my grandmother’s recipes and secrets have guided me.

When I’m not cooking, Joe and I spend our time seeking out the best authentic Vietnamese food in Saigon’s hidden restaurants and street food tucked away on small streets and alleys here in Saigon.  I’m not sure whether I prefer to cook or to eat great Vietnamese food – I’m still trying to decide 🙂

[as translated by Joe]