A Vietnamese Kitchen: Treasured Family Recipes (Hippocrene Cookbook Library) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: kho dishes, browning sauce, pound bean sprouts, Vietnamese Kitchen, Bác Kit, Sweet-and-Sour Fish Sauce (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The authentic family recipes included in A Vietnamese Kitchen capture the country's home cooking at its best. Steaming bowls of pho, the ever-popular beef noodle soup, spring rolls, clay pot ginger chicken, and exotic desserts such as crumpled sweet rice and banana coconut pudding are just a few of the delicacies included. The recipes are designed for the American home kitchen, and are accompanied by an introduction to Vietnamese culture and a glossary of Vietnamese culinary terms.

Vietnam is known for some of the world's most delicate and intriguing flavors. The country's diverse terrain ranges from the island mountains, which produce numerous exotic fruits and vegetables, to the rice paddies of the Mekong and Red River Deltas. The country's fascinating history has resulted in strong Chinese, Indian, and French culinary influences yielding surprisingly complex flavors. The cuisine is marked by the use of fish sauce as well as fresh herbs, chilies, and limes, which flavor everything from stir-fries to soups and noodle dishes.

About the Author

Ha Roda was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam and immigrated to Pekin, Illinois in 1978. She holds a degree in computer science from Texas A&M University and has worked as a digital artist for film and television. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 181 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books; illustrated edition edition (July 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781810817
• ISBN-13: 978-0781810814
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #276,522 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great food, April 27, 2006

By	Jennifer A. Wickes "Food Writer" - See all my reviews

"A Vietnamese Kitchen" is a tribute to the author's homeland and heritage.

Ha Roda, born in Saigon, authored this cookbook which features her native cuisine, Vietnamese. Her aunt was a chef and inspired her to cook. After living numerous years in the United States, Roda decided to pen this book and share with Americans her heritage and adapting recipes to meet the American palate!

Americans first became widely aware of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, there was a surge of Vietnamese immigrants to our country. This cookbook demonstrates the food of these people and a celebration of a wonderful culture.

The recipes in this book are tasty and easy-to-follow. Unlike a lot of Hippocrene Books (the Publisher), this cookbook does contain photographs. They are black and white photos of each recipe.

The chapters in this book are: Sauces & Condiments; Appetizers; Soups & Salads; Rice & Noodles; Stir-Fries; Kho Dishes; Meat & Seafood; Desserts; and Meal Planning. Some of my favorite recipes are: Pepper Steak, Vietnamese Vanilla Yogurt, Tofu Curry and Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup.

I really enjoyed Ha Roda's "A Vietnamese Kitchen". It showed me the similarities with other Asian cultures, as well as Vietnam's unique differences.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Vietnamese Kitchen: Treasured Family Recipes, February 28, 2008

By	Hanh Nguyen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book for a Native born Vietnamese who has been in the US for 30 years like me. I don't know how to cook Vietnamese food but love to eat Vietnamese food and this book helps my meal preparing task a lot easier. I love how the author puts in lots of research and insights on the Vietnamese cultures. It is fascinating, even for a Vietnamese like me. Great job, Mrs. Ha Roda!!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Vietnamese cook book that I found, February 26, 2008

By	H. Chau - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hi Ha,

I purchased a lot of Vietnamese Cook Books through out my years but never found one that was great, until I bought your book. I thought this book was very well written and illistruated. I really use this book a lot. I do recommend this book to everyone that wants to learn how to cook Vietnamese food. Thanks for bring me back to my root in Vietnamese cooking Ha.