"vietnamese food" news and stories

While these two-bite salad-rice-paper rolls with shredded carrots, scallions, fresh mint, rice vermicelli and sunflower sprouts tucked inside -- are called spring rolls, they're technically "summer rolls." Spring rolls, or cha gio, are the deep-fried versions. The Vietnamese name for this lighter variation is goi cuon. Both spring and summer rolls can also feature pork, shrimp or crabmeat as well as pretty much any crisp vegetable you want to slice and fold in. And if you want to add even more texture, wrap your fixings in a lettuce leaf instead of the rice paper.

Blogger cproppe dips her rolls into a spicy mixture of chile, soy and hoisin sauces with lime juice, and you can see her recipe here. Or try another recipe for Vietnamese spring/summer rolls from Kitchen Daily.

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• The Big Easy is making its way to a big comeback.
• Where does Vietnamese food meet Cajun? In Atlanta, it would seem.
• Donatella's coming out with a cookbook, a TV show, and a food collection. (No, not that Donatella.)
• The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges hits the Upper East Side mark.
• Mark Bittman proves that springtime can be bitter, if you just have enough escarole.

• The family that runs Zankou Chicken, the beloved Southern California chain, serves up a cautionary tale.
• You want good Zacatecan food? You won't find it in a restaurant.
• Argentine cooking, however -- that you'll find at Carlitos Gardel, where the desserts are blessed... literally.
• Tucked away in Little Saigon is Ngu Binh, home of the rice cake that "will take your mind apart."
• Speaking of mind-bending, make this caramel creme brulee. You heard us: Make it!

"The Little Saigon Cookbook: Vietnamese Cuisine and Culture in Southern California's Little Saigon"
By Ann Lee
Photography by Julie Fay
Insiders' Guide -- 2006
Buy it on Amazon

Though exotic cuisines may be daunting endeavors for many cooks due to foreign and sometimes costly ingredients, "The Little Saigon Cookbook" is a clear, straightforward cookbook that sheds light on the culture while making its cuisine approachable and delectable.

Interspersed with interesting stories about Vietnamese culture and traditions, the book is a well-thought out tribute to Vietnamese foodways -- with delicious recipes to boot, ranging from the obvious dishes to lesser-known exciting ones like the Shaking Beef Salad with Watercress and Tomatoes or Pork Braised in Caramel Sauce.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

• Hot Southern Florida weather pairs well with fresh vegetarian and Asian fare: Malaysian restaurant Parc 28 in Weston offers "boldly spiced fare" in a cuisine that takes inspiration from Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian, Thai and European influences; "fresh and vibrant" vegan cuisine is offered at Miami's Om Garden; Lauderdale-by-the-Sea offers "light, fragrant, healthful" Vietnamese food at Basilic.
• Culinary historian Maricel E. Presilla discusses the honor of cooking a feast for Fiesta Latina at the White House and her attempts to "convey that the allure of Latin food is as irresistible as the rhythms that pulled President Obama out of his chair to dance" that night.
• The "Desperation Dinners" feature raves about infused vinegar and its ability to "excite the palate" and elevate otherwise simple dishes.
• Once incorrectly reputed to have a correlation with breast cancer, the grapefruit has been expunged -- and is even suggested as the perfect pink fruit for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
• Cabernets are the quintessential U.S. wine: "big and brash, supremely self-confident, a little loud, even rude at times."
• Recipes: Maricel Presilla's Milk Chocolate-Coffee "Cortadito" Brulées, Pink Grapefruit and Fennel Salad, a complex Vermouth Molasses Marinade, Corn Tortilla and Mixed-Bean Lasagna.
• Calendar highlights include a silent auction for painted pumpkins, $35 prix-fixe meals for Dine Out Lauderdale, Rosa Mexicano's Chocolate festival and a "Top Chef" Talent Hunt.