Vietnamese cookbook?

[Kelli Kerrigan]

I feel the need to buy a new cookbook for myself, that is if I can find a bookstore in Dubuque!
I really love Vietnamese food. I did a search and Emilycat had once suggested The Best of Vietnamese and Thai Cooking, although she did not list the author. Does anyone else have this cookbook or another Vietnamese cookbook they would like to suggest?

Thanks!

[Nancy171]

I was hoping that Santa would bring me Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia . Cook's Illustrated loved it, and it won some big "best cookbook of the year" award last year.

[emilycat]

Kelli,
I'm not sure when I recommended that book, but now that I've made nearly half of the recipes, I can whole-heartedly recommend it again! :p
The author is Mai Pham -- I love the voice of her writing, and the recipes are all simply wonderful (and not impossible to follow). It's perfect if you'd like a sampling of Thai and Vietnamese.
She also has a new book out which I bought recently, called The Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table. I shamefully haven't made anything from it yet, but it looks wonderful, just like the first one.
Good luck searching!

[kima]

Hi Emilycat- hope you had a wonderful Christmas- now tell me did you run on Christmas Day??
I have The Pleasures of the Vietnamese table on hold at the library. Can't wait to get it- it looks wonderful. I have never cooked Vietnamese food (she says with head bowed) but want to give it a try. Any must make dishes Emily?

[beacooker]

I have that same cookbook that emilycat is talking about. I confess I have yet to cook from it (DH not into Thai or Vietnamese food), but I love reading it!!

[Grace]

Hey there, Miss Kelli! Don't know anything about the book, but wanted to say hello and see how you're doing in DuPuke (oops, I mean Dubuque!)!! Ha ha, just kidding! How's the job? How's the new town? How's the GROCERY SHOPPING!???!!

And as far as the new cookbook goes, there's always half.com, amazon.com, b&n.com. etc., etc.!! Oh, and to get the INGREDIENTS you'll need for that really cool Vietnamese food, there's ethnicgrocer.com, and....... (:D I'm mean, aren't I?!!) Perhaps I'm just mad that you moved away and left us....

Hope you had a GREAT Christmas!! Drop me a note when you have a chance and let me know how/what you're doing!

[emilycat]

kima,
He*#, yeah, I ran on Christmas Day! What kind of a holiday would it be without a run?? :p I did have a wonderful Christmas; I hope you did, as well. :)

I must confess that I'm no Vietnamese food expert -- that's why I bought the book and keep meaning to visit some more restaurants -- we have some really great ones here!
From what I do know, though -- pho (pronounced "fa") is a must to have. It's the most delicious, brothy noodle soup -- traditionally it's made with beef broth (I think?) but there are vegetarian versions, as well.
Now you've inspired me to cook from my book this week -- I'll be sure to report!

[Kelli Kerrigan]

Why Grace, I have found a Walden Bookstore at the Kennedy Mall and as for the food.....I was going to come shop in your basement this weekend! (HA!) I think I'll look at a grocery store tonight to see what I'm in for......

I found a charming house and will close 1/18. The CL Supper Club will need to come visit me after that. I miss you all.

Now off to the mall to find these great sounding cookbooks! Thanks Emilycat!!!!!!!!

[kima]

Grace- sounds like you have quite the basement store,. Do you ever have sales?? Do you deliver? To Victoria???:D
And Emily- I knew you would run on Xmas Day- so did I!! Of course not nearly as far as you went- but hey is the thoght that counts right! Look forward to your report on Vitanemese food. And now over to our Atlanta correspondent for her report....;)

[heatherfeather]

I was also going to recommend the book by Mai Pham. She was recently on the Food Network and I tried a few recipes from her book - excellent and easy to prepare. The Spicy Lemongrass Tofu recipe she prepared on Cooking Live was excellent. The recipe may still be avialble at foodtv.com.

Another excellent Vietnamese cookbook is by Paula Tran called Living and Cooking Vietnamese. It is a really good cookbook with recipes from her family. While Mai Pham's recipes have a bit more "gourmet" feel, Paula Tran's recipes are more homestyle. Her book is out of print and can sometimes be found used - I got my cpy at half.com a few months ago.