Hanoi Part II

Today’s big adventure is a Vietnamese cooking class.  We called the Blue Butterfly restaurant at 9 AM, and they were able to accommodate us at 10.  Chef Tien met us at the hotel, and we tools a quick cab ride to his “Orchid restaurant” where we got to pick our menu to cook.  From there, we walked to the market, where we bought the ingredients for our meal, and got to try a few things on the way.  Bryce discovered some delicious lychee nuts, we al sampled some cinnamon pork, and I got to try a hard-boiled fertilized dick egg, made famous by Survivor.  Despite being able to see the duck’s beak, the egg was really good, as it was served in a mild sauce.  It was meatier than a normal hard-boiled egg. I’d eat it again.

Back at the restaurant, we proceeded to make our meal.  First up: deep fried spring rolls. We chopped pork, carrots, shallots, bean sprouts, and a few other things, and then formed the mixture into little rice paper burritos. We also used the chopped pork to make little pork sliders, which were combines with cut pork and barbecued.  We also had a chicken stir fry, and a black rice and coconut milk dessert.

After an hour or so of cooking, we sat down to enjoy our meal. It was delicious. and Chef Tien showed us how to present it as well.

This was a truly unforgettable way to enjoy Hanoi, and I’d recommend it to anybody.