SAIGON, VIETNAM
Balut
Papaya salad
Ốc hương (Babylonia Areolata)
Nghêu hấp (Steamed Clams)
Ốc mỡ (Common Periwinkle)
Ốc tỏi (Sea Snails)
My Uncle and Aunt took us out for a lunch feast of sea snails (or ốc in Vietnamese) one lazy afternoon. The place they brought us to was a little pop-up street vendor in a small alley a short walk from their home. Sitting roadside on tiny plastic stools and eating our food off a knee-high table was so much fun. While our food was being prepared, we had some refreshing green papaya salad with prawns and a plate of balut, which are fertilised duck eggs, boiled and eaten in the shell. Mum and my Uncle had one each, while the rest of us chose not to try it. It's pretty creepy looking as you can see the baby duck inside, face and all, but apparently, if you can get passed this, it supposedly tastes quite nice. Didn't have the guts to try it then, and still don't think I'll be able to try it now, so I guess I'll never really know. There's a bunch of different sea snails to choose from, and steaming them with lemongrass was our preparation of choice. The sea snails have a chewy and bouncy texture to them, and take on the flavours it was cooked in. With it, we were also given a fish sauce dip and another dip made with lemon, pepper and lime. Both these sauces really enhance and livens up the food. If you are adventurous enough, do give these a go in Vietnam. They are delicious!
Sea Snails Street Stall
270/20A
Hoa Hao - P4 - Q.10
No comments:
Post a Comment