Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving dinner 
So our first full day in Hanoi happened to be Thanksgiving. We decided to celebrate in a very non-traditional way. We started our day at Highway 4, a restaurant that has been on the travel and leisure channel as well as the discovery channel for it's unique vietnamese food. I didn't see anything unusual on the menu...just some local delights. Our cooking course began with a tour of the wet market with the manager/chef of the restaurant. We saw all sorts of foods that we would not have eaten...including snake, grubs, sand worms and all sorts of snails. The amazing thing was, there was no smell...even as they cut the animals up right there on the street.
While in the market, we picked up some banana flowers and green papaya for a salad that we would make later in the morning. Then it was off on a cyclo ride to get to the restaurant where the chef was waiting for us. Jordan was a bit nervous on the ride and was happy to get off as soon as possible. They are a bit scary since you are right there in the middle of everything...cars, motor cycles, trucks, bicycles, and cyclos all trying to get around the city!
When we arrived we dressed in our cooking attire and began to cook and eat for the next 2 hours. We made fresh imperial spring rolls, shrimps sauteed with cashew nuts and sour fish broth. Then we sat on the balcony to take in the scenery. It was certainly a moment to remember; sitting on a balcony in Hanoi, eating marigold greens, rice, sour fish broth and banana flower salad. Oh, and the marigold greens were very tasty. I personally like pumpkin flowers more but these were good.
Jordan had a really good time cooking with us and he even asked to keep the hat and coat. We bought him one and he says he has his Halloween costume for next year all sorted out.
All of us in our attire. You know there was no way they would have a coat to fit a large American man...Jordan is wearing an XL!! 
Jordan was very serious during the class. He followed her directions to a "T" and was very proud of himself for using the chopsticks to cook the food. 
The chopsticks Jordan is using were really hard to handle. But, they were the best thing we got while in Hanoi! We even looked around for some more but could not find them. Oh, and we found out how you can tell if your oil is ready for cooking! Place a chop into the oil and if it bubbles around the tip, then the oil is ready. 
Making the spring rolls. We also made the dipping sauce and he was a dipping fool!! He never tries it at home but he was dipping the rolls into the sauce and loved it! Unfortunately, it was hot and he paid for it later. 
Sitting on the balcony. I hope that he remembers these adventures when he is older. The way Vietnam and Asia is changing will make moments like these a thing of the past in just a few short years. 
Our little chef...
Ok, now for some market pictures...
Vendor with dried shrimp and other goods.
fresh quail and eggs
grubs, catfish and other misc. items...
sandworms!!! I asked how these were eaten and the chef said they are dried and used in foods. But, he admitted that he doesn't eat them! 
This vendor is selling pork pancake and steamed rice bundles. The pork pancake is sold by the slice. 
A fish vendor, they pump air into the buckets to keep the fish or shrimp alive on the street. 
Butcher. We passed streets while in the car and there were little butchers in front of residences selling to the locals. 
Veggie stall...
I am off to download more pictures...later!
