My Vietnamese Kitchen is a collection of recipes passed down through
Uyen Luu's family.
Uyen was born in Saigon and spent her childhood there before leaving
Vietnam in the aftermath of the war. She regularly travels back there to
visit family and pick up more classic and modern recipes for dishes
found in the homes and on the streets of Vietnam. The recipes in the
book tell a story--about Uyen's family and the culture of food in
Vietnam. In essence, the food of her country aims to strike the perfect
balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter, hot and umami, and to cater
for any occasion and time of day, every mood and ailment. Uyen describes
some of the most commonly used produce and guides you through chapters
such as Breakfast, Soups, Snacks, Noodles, Lunch & Dinner, and Sweets,
weaving in tales of etiquette, personal history and tradition and
providing evocative photos of her travels throughout. Popular recipes
include pho soup, banh mi baguettes and summer rolls.