Cooking Class in Hoi An
Recipe Key
Hoi An is Vietnam’s most delightful town, on the river with grand heritage architecture. The Chinese temples, Japanese merchant houses and tea wharehouse provide an old world feeling. More than 800 historical buildings have been decreed by Unesco to be preserved. As a result the town looksย as it did several centuries ago.ย ย We were there during Tet, the New Years Celebration so the town was lit up with colorful, fun decorations and many people partying in the streets.
Hoi Anย is also a culinary meccaย with food from both theย north andย southย Vietnam cuisines.ย One of my favorites was the famous Morning Glory Street Food Resturant.ย This restaruant concentrates on street food and traditionally prepared Vietnamese dishesย like eggplant in a clay pot, seafood salad with banana flowers andย white rose (steamed minced-shrimp dumplings served with dipping sauce) to name a few.
I also took a cooking class here which is taught by the acclaimed Trinh Diem Vy; born and bred in Hoi An and owner of several restaurants in town.ย The day starts with a visit to the market to learn about the key Vietnamese ingredients.ย You can see the pictures of banana flowers,ย a womanย making noodles and more.
The class is taught in a professionally organized envoirnment with your own gas burner, ingredients and kitchen gear.ย We made Pho with shrimp, rice paper rolls, BBQ chicken and lime leaf with green mango salad and crispy Hoi An pancakes.ย I had so much funย cooking and eating!ย ย I will be sharing some of the recipes when I get home in a few days.
We had lots of funย justย outside the cityย as weย bicyled through the many rice fields which surround Hoi An.ย We came across the Tra Que Vegetable Garden, an impressive 500 year old organic vegetable commune. It was so serene and magical we stayed quite awhile watching as they tended the gardens.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures.ย I look forward to sharing some of the recipes with you when I return.ย ย See you soon.
Love & Hugs
Ingrid
What a wonderful adventure! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Ingrid. Have a safe trip home and look forward to trying out your new recipes.
Hi Ingrid
Txs so much for the wonderful blog and photos. We have already decided that we will be going to Vietnam in 2014 and your adventures have confirmed that. I can’t wait to try some of your new recipes. Safe travels.
It looks like you are having a fabulous trip. Looking forward to trying your Vietnamese based recipes!
Sounds wonderful Ingrid. I can’t wait to see the recipes. You look amazing!