Dac Biet: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook
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For a limited time we are pleased to offer signed bookplates with purchase of this book!
New Orleans has for decades been a focal point for Vietnamese immigrants and the families they have raised in the US. Nini Nguyen, who has a thriving online cooking school and became famous through appearances on Top Chef, showcases here the Louisiana-influenced Vietnamese cooking she is known for.
Nguyen wants us to understand how Vietnamese cooks think, including how they build their home pantry. The book starts off with a lineup of flavorful sauces; some are traditional, like nước mắm chấm, the ubiquitous sweet, fishy dipping sauce, while others are Nguyen’s own invention, like her version of nước mắm made with roasted ingredients instead of fresh.
In chapters devoted to rice, noodles, breads and pastries, meat, seafood,, pickles and vegetables, and sweet dishes, Nguyen pays tribute to to her hardworking, culinarily adventurous grandmother, as well as to other immigrants who adapted to ingredients like smoked meats and took inspiration from dishes like bananas Foster.
As one might expect from the work of an experienced teacher, Nguyen’s recipes are detailed and provide helpful clues to the cook.
Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.
