The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam (Plume) [Paperback]

Bach Ngo (Author), Gloria Zimmerman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plume | Publication Date: April 1, 1986

150 authentic recipes from the three distinctive culary regions of Vietnam. "The best book on the subject I've seen." -- Jay Jacobs, Gourment Magazine With Technique Drawings and a Glossary of Ingredients Colorful, distinctive, exhilarating, Vietnamese food will delight everyone in search of new tastes and textures. Craig Claiborne places it among the four finest cuisines in the world. And for years, the French have flocked to Vietnamese restaurants in Paris, where this strinkingly different cuisine surpasses Chinese in popularity. With its reliance on uncooked vegetables, fresh salads, and delicate seafood dishers, combined in a dazzling aromatic balance of sparkling flavors, no wonder Vietnamese cooking won the title of "The Nouvelle Cuisine of the Orient." This superb collection of 150 recipes reflects all three of Vietnam's gastronomic regions: The Red River Delta in the north with its emphasis on light, airy stir-fried foods; the central Highlands, ancestral home of kings, with its spicy dishes decoratively arranged to please royal tastes; and the Mekong River Delta in the south with its abundant variety of vegetables and fruits, deliciously influenced by traditional French cooking. Now Western cooks can discover the secrets of Vietnamese cruisine, an exciting variety of tastes that form unforgettable meals. Surprisingly easy to prepare, these dishes require no special equipment or skill, and most use ingredients that are readily available. The results are spectacular.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Plume (April 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452258332
• ISBN-13: 978-0452258334
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Asian > Vietnamese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, Authentic Vietnamese recipes, April 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam (Hardcover)

When I left home for college, what I missed most was my mother's Vietnamese cuisine. This book was a lifesaver! The recipes are all familiar, from the fancier noodle soups, Pho and Bun Bo Hue, to the basics, such as omlettes and picked mustard greens. Each of the dishes come with an introduction accompanying their Vietnamese name. The region of the dish is sometimes discussed as well as when the dish is enjoyed and with what. The recipes are very easy to follow. I recommend this book for anyone who wants an AUTHENTIC Vietnamese cookbook. I am just sorry to see that it's out of print.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless book., August 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam (Plume) (Paperback)

This book has the most authentic Vietnamese recipes, even pickled pig's ears! Whoa! I couldn't believe it when I saw it because I've eaten it before. I'm Vietnamese, after all. This book is a treasure because it authentically writes down many Vietnamese recipes for future Vietnamese generations to enjoy. With so many changes in the world, I'm afraid that future Vietnamese generations will not know how authentic Vietnamese foods are prepared. I had to buy a used copy from Amazon.com because this book is out of print. I hope this book will be re-printed one day. The author, Bach Ngo, does not try to show how creative and inventive she is, rather she simply writes down valuable authentic recipes. If you are Vietnamese and you want an authentic Vietnamese cookbook, this is the one you should buy. It's an heirloom, for sure. Personally, I do not buy Vietnamese cookbooks that do not have authentic Vietnamese recipes.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, August 8, 2000

By 

"christine509" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam (Plume) (Paperback)

I am Vietnamese and have grown up in a home with authentic Vietnamese cooking. Most all of the recipes in this book are great and easy to follow. My only recommendation would be to add pictures. But it is a great book nonetheless. I especially like how it contains the Vietnamese name of each dish so I can better identify it (since I only know what the dishes are called in Vietnamese).