I'm taking my parents out for Vietnamese tonight.

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I've always stuck to pretty basic Vietnamese, but I'd like to try something new tonight.

Suggestions from Vietnamese food fans?

[malmapus]

1. I think my favorite dish would have to be

stone pot fish, I think that's what it's called. My ex would make it as well, man that was some good eating!

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5. I will keep "stone pot fish" in mind tonight.

"Stone" and "pot" mnemonically go together, so it shouldn't be hard. :silly:

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16. OK, I ordered what most likely was stone pot fish.

It wasn't called that on the menu, but it was seafood served in a clay pot. Lots of stuff -- fish, shrimp, octopus, oysters -- plus plenty of veggies and an awesome traditional sauce, a little spicy a little sweet. And plenty of rice.

Damn, that was good. I don't know if it was exactly what you were thinking of, but it was your description that inspired me. Thanks.

[grace0418]

2. What have you tried already?

Vietnamese food ROCKS!

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4. I always lean toward noodle bowls, and mainly pork and chicken.

Call me a coward so far, but when faced with pages of unintelligble words, I drift toward the translations for "noodles" and "chicken."

I'm sort of wondering what kind of seafood dishes would be worth a try.

And I was raised on Chinese, not Vietnamese, so the subtleties of the cuisine are still mysteries to me.

[grace0418]

9. Try Bo La Lot, which is marinated beef wrapped in leaves (shiso, I think)

with a dipping sauce. Yum! There are actually tons of different dishes that come with rice paper crepes and tons of different ingredients and dipping sauces. You make them yourself with whatever combination of ingredients you want. They are so delicious.

There is also lotus root salad and papaya salad. I'm sure you've had pho, but there are also plenty of hot pots with various meats and vegetables.

Vietnamese food is very fresh and flavorful, it's really hard to go wrong.

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12. Bo La Lot

OK, I'm going to keep those words in mind. They'll have transformed themselves into something different by the time I get to dinner, but I know what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the idea. I'll give it a try -- if not this time, then next. (It's already been suggested I try stone pot fish, so I'll be browsing for it as well.)

[Love Bug]

3. Have you tried Vietnamese coffee?

It's strong with lots of sweetened condensed milk in it. Yum....

I love Vietnamese egg rolls and the sauce you dip them in.

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7. I haven't tried Vietnamese coffee yet.

I will remember to ask when dinner's nearly done. :hi:

[Blue-Jay]

6. I love Vietnamese

long time!

[trof]

8. Larb.

No, not LARD, LARB.
It's a minced chicken salad, kinda.
Some recipes are screaming hot.
That's the kind I like.

[grace0418]

10. That's Thai, but it is really delicious.

I like it when it has lots of fresh ginger in it.

[trof]

11. Woops. Wrong country.

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14. This restaurant bleeds into surrounding cuisines.

So larb might be on the menu as well.

And a good larb to you tonight, as well.

:hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

13. I know what most Vietnamese food consists of...

And I always recommend people stay away from it. It's not at all appetizing. Most of it is rotten or fermented.
Duckie

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15. Com Tay Cam (fried rice in earthen pot) has great flavors. Also,

Com Tay Cam - Fried rice with chicken, mushrooms, onions, garlic, lotus flower (and sometimes corn, carrots, green beans) and always with a unique blend of spices is an exotic and delicious dish. Served in a clay bowl.

Spring Rolls - (not the fried ones, these are served cold) with hoisin sauce with chopped peanuts mixed into the sauce. Be sure to ask for the peanuts if the hoisin sauce arrives at your table without the peanuts - they don't always add them.

Banh Xeo - sort of like an omelet, with julienned vegetables mixed in.

Goi Ga - Light, refreshing salad with shredded carrots, cabbage and mint.

Any chicken curry (Ca Ri Ga) - that has all the bones removed is good. Ask if it has the bones in it - if they say yes, skip it.

Iced vietnamese coffee with condensed milk - they serve it in a drip container, and you have to wait for it to all drip down, then stir the coffee and condensed milk together, then pour in a glass of ice. Heavenly. Order it early, so that you have time to let it drip all the way.

Avoid the "Hot Pot" where you have to cook your own food. It's ridiculous to pay those prices and then have to cook it yourself.