Thursday, January 05, 2006

Heavy Snack

Fried Bánh Chưng (Square cake) is so popular now in Hanoi because of the cold and the fact that Tet (lunar New Year) is coming. You can see lots of shops along the street and many ladies hanging around with shoulders baskets, an iron tray on top of a cooker with lots of small square cakes. This is a bit heavy for a snack but it is my favorite.

You should choose the over cooked ones - they are a bit crispy which is good. Add some Soya sauce, sweet chili sauce and some herbs - wow yummy. It's only 3000Vnd, and you don't need to bargain at all :) You also sit down in the shop or on the pavement and it costs exactly the same. This is a really delicious snack but it's not good for vegetarians because there's meat, pepper and beans in the middle of the cake, which is all covered from sticky rice.

17 comments:

Preya said...

Hi Tu, mmmm...that looks good; I'm starting to feel really homesick again (as usual)--wish I had eaten more at La Lua, hahaha. You're right--next time I'm in town, we'll have to meet up for a coffee (or better yet, a beer!) :)

Anonymous said...

Love this stuff. But it's a year round snack down these parts. Can't remember seeing it year round in Hanoi. Overcooked and crispy is certainly the way to go ;)

Hasan Mubarak said...

Yum yum! you make me drool with temptation to have it at once!

FooDcrazEE said...

oooh! Tu, u r making wish I am back in HCMC......

Anonymous said...

You're making me hungry!

black feline said...

just to check with u..is that glutinous rice? it reminds me of what we have back home..the chinese dumpling..triangular in shape and wrapped with a certain kind of leaf...with meat fillings inside

Nabeel said...

nice to see you guys follow the lunar year. When is it by the way?

Chen said...

This looks good..
never eat this before :)

layered said...

My wife just made some bánh chưng last night here in San Francisco, but she made it into long cylinders instead of square cakes. Then she slices it. Did she cheat or something? I will suggest that she make some crispy next time.

Winn said...

Hungry already:( i wanna know how it tastes like. :(

hehe. but gee wat an eye opener visiting your blog. tho it makes me hungry all the time :P

shaz said...

hey tu
i had some for brekkie when i was in hanoi in dec. excellent stuff. especially with coffee on a cold winter's day. i need your help with the name of a viet dish i had. i posted the pix on my blog on the post 'hanoi grazing'. nookbistro.blogspot.com
thanks tu. shaz

Irene Arboleda said...

Looks good, sounds like tamales for me or machang, all great food!

Van Cong Tu said...

Hi,
Preya, contact me ok.
Pieman, You are right.
black feline, yes, it is.
fooDcrazEE, Hanoi,place to go!!!
Nabeel, Lunar new year usually starts from end of Jan or early of Feb for a week or more, it's from Jan 28th this year.
Winn why don't you come over here then I give you 1 for free and then you will know what its like :
Thanks all/

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Matthew Gannon said...

looks like a crazy snack I would like to try one of these!!!!

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I wonder if these heavy snacks are popular among vietnamese people