Vietnamese food has its own special character. Although it has been much influenced by Chinese cooking, Vietnamese culture, zealously guarded and nurtured over the same time span has given birth to a cuisine no less sophisticated. The major difference lies in the seasonings used, the techniques used and the differing emphasis on basic ingredients. Vietnamese rely on nuoc mam ... literally translated into English "fishsauce." The sauce is a remarkable blend made by packing layers of fresh fish in barrels alternating with layers of salt and allowing the fish and salt to ferment. The fermented sauce is drained off, processed and bottled. Nuoc mam is used as a flavoring in many Vietnamese dishes.
"Lemon grass" also known as citronella root is a foot-high, grasslike plant with the lower edible portion of the stem used in Vietnamese cooking. When sliced in thin rounds it is similar in shape to the white portion of a green onion though much firmer in texture and a very different, distinctive flavor.
Indian, Maylay and French cooking have also had some slight influence on Vietnamese regional recipes, and Buddhist vegetarian cookery has been well-known there for a long time. The regional areas of Vietnam reflect the cuisines, which are similarly divided, Hanoi in the North, Hue in the Center and Saigon in the South. In the North while seafood such as crab is enormously popular, fish comprise a surprisingly minor part of northern menus. Stir fried dishes are more popular in the North than Center and South.
The cuisine of the Center consists of foods that are very spicy as evidenced by the frequent use of hot chili peppers and shrimp sauce. The South, with it's hot, humid climate has a great variety of vegetables, fruits, meat and game and utilizes more curried dishes. France has its own regional kitchen and the elaborate and artful style is evident in Vietnam as well. Although each region does have its own style, the lines of distinction between them is blurred. We hope you try the many varieties of these dishes you will find within our menu. All dishes can be mild or spicy according to your taste.+