Comments on: Savoring the Tastes of Vietnam http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/ A Guide to Noshing North of Boston Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:40:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Aaron http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Aaron Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:32:27 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-274 Glad you liked it! Glad you liked it!

]]> By: JR http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-237 JR Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:28:02 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-237 Aaron, I went back to Sugar Cane for lunch on Saturday. Had the pan fried dumplings and the vermicelli bowl with beef. Really, really good. Thanks for the recommendation! Aaron, I went back to Sugar Cane for lunch on Saturday. Had the pan fried dumplings and the vermicelli bowl with beef. Really, really good. Thanks for the recommendation!

]]> By: JR http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-225 JR Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:25:52 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-225 Hi Galleygirl! Thanks for stopping by. We freely admit we are no experts when it comes to Vietnamese food. But we are quite willing to learn! I'm wondering if you'd be up for meeting us for a meal at Mittaheap. We'd love to try it, and since it's North Shore, we could share the experience with our readers. You could advise us on what to order and help us identify the flavors in the dishes. You can reply here and/or e-mail me at jill at northshoredish.com Hi Galleygirl! Thanks for stopping by. We freely admit we are no experts when it comes to Vietnamese food. But we are quite willing to learn! I’m wondering if you’d be up for meeting us for a meal at Mittaheap. We’d love to try it, and since it’s North Shore, we could share the experience with our readers. You could advise us on what to order and help us identify the flavors in the dishes. You can reply here and/or e-mail me at jill at northshoredish.com

]]> By: galleygirl http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-224 galleygirl Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:42:29 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-224 Gottah say, as a hard-core Vietnamese fan, I find Sugarcane pretty mediocre. I've had one decent meal; the bun, and I did get the grilled shrimp which I thought were great on it, as well as the grilled vegetable, which aren't authentic, but lovely. The Can Chua is one dimensional, without all the lovely veggies and depth of flavor this usually has. I'd say the same about the pho...If you're going to stay on the North Shore for Vietnamese, try going to Mittapheap in Lynn, which, although Cambodian, has some good versions of Vietnamese dishes. If not, come into town, and I'll show you around... Gottah say, as a hard-core Vietnamese fan, I find Sugarcane pretty mediocre. I’ve had one decent meal; the bun, and I did get the grilled shrimp which I thought were great on it, as well as the grilled vegetable, which aren’t authentic, but lovely.

The Can Chua is one dimensional, without all the lovely veggies and depth of flavor this usually has. I’d say the same about the pho…If you’re going to stay on the North Shore for Vietnamese, try going to Mittapheap in Lynn, which, although Cambodian, has some good versions of Vietnamese dishes. If not, come into town, and I’ll show you around…

]]> By: JR http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-218 JR Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:15:50 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-218 Okay--good to know. I promise to destroy order vigorously when eating the vermicelli bowl! Jill Okay–good to know. I promise to destroy order vigorously when eating the vermicelli bowl!

Jill

]]> By: Aaron http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Aaron Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:16:16 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-216 Hi JR. I haven't tried the lemongrass chicken but my wife has. If I remember correctly she enjoyed it but she doesn't order it regularly. She usually opts for the pho or a stir-fry with chicken, baby bok choy and garlic sauce. When you get the vermicelli bowl the ingredients are arranged in sections (like bibimbap or a cobb salad) and it looks lovely. However, for me to really enjoy this dish, this order must be destroyed. The fish sauce, which is the primary flavoring agent, is thin like water, and so even when poured over the whole dish it tends to shed from the ingredients and accumulate at the bottom of the bowl. To allay this, I find that stirring the ingredients after every few bites renews this dish's flavor. I'm not sure if it's intended to be eaten that way. For all I know there could be a cultural taboo against it. But that wouldn't make it any less delicious. Hi JR.
I haven’t tried the lemongrass chicken but my wife has. If I remember correctly she enjoyed it but she doesn’t order it regularly. She usually opts for the pho or a stir-fry with chicken, baby bok choy and garlic sauce.

When you get the vermicelli bowl the ingredients are arranged in sections (like bibimbap or a cobb salad) and it looks lovely. However, for me to really enjoy this dish, this order must be destroyed. The fish sauce, which is the primary flavoring agent, is thin like water, and so even when poured over the whole dish it tends to shed from the ingredients and accumulate at the bottom of the bowl. To allay this, I find that stirring the ingredients after every few bites renews this dish’s flavor. I’m not sure if it’s intended to be eaten that way. For all I know there could be a cultural taboo against it. But that wouldn’t make it any less delicious.

]]> By: JR http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-211 JR Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:54:22 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-211 Hi Aaron, Thank you so much for all of this great information! I'm thrilled to have your recommendations because I plan to go back to Sugar Cane as soon as possible. The soup sounds wonderful, will definitely give it a try. It's funny you mention the vermicelli bowl because I almost ordered it (got the Shanghai noodles instead). Have you tried the lemongrass chicken? I thought it was outstanding. Hi Aaron,

Thank you so much for all of this great information! I’m thrilled to have your recommendations because I plan to go back to Sugar Cane as soon as possible. The soup sounds wonderful, will definitely give it a try. It’s funny you mention the vermicelli bowl because I almost ordered it (got the Shanghai noodles instead). Have you tried the lemongrass chicken? I thought it was outstanding.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/08/13/savoring-the-tastes-of-vietnam/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Aaron Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:44:30 +0000 http://www.northshoredish.com/?p=987#comment-209 My wife and I have been going to Sugar Cane regularly since it opened. You've mentioned some great dishes there. Here are a few more that I recommend trying. Canh Chua Vietnamese hot and sour soup is an intensely and brightly flavored soup containing pineapple, tomato, bean sprouts, mint and either chicken or shrimp. It is spicy, but the intensity comes more from the sour tamarind broth. It's normally served for two, but you can request a single serving. I think the Canh Chua is their best dish. Their Vermicelli Bowl is also excellent. It's served as a bed of rice (stick) noodles with bean sprouts, lettuce, mint, cucumber, ground peanuts, and seasoned with fish sauce. It has a very light and summery taste. There are several choices of meats and vegetables with which to top them. My favorite is the grilled beef which is marinated and very thinly sliced. I'd recommend against the grilled shrimp for this. They tend to be over-salty in this application. My wife and I have been going to Sugar Cane regularly since it opened. You’ve mentioned some great dishes there. Here are a few more that I recommend trying. Canh Chua Vietnamese hot and sour soup is an intensely and brightly flavored soup containing pineapple, tomato, bean sprouts, mint and either chicken or shrimp. It is spicy, but the intensity comes more from the sour tamarind broth. It’s normally served for two, but you can request a single serving. I think the Canh Chua is their best dish.

Their Vermicelli Bowl is also excellent. It’s served as a bed of rice (stick) noodles with bean sprouts, lettuce, mint, cucumber, ground peanuts, and seasoned with fish sauce. It has a very light and summery taste. There are several choices of meats and vegetables with which to top them. My favorite is the grilled beef which is marinated and very thinly sliced. I’d recommend against the grilled shrimp for this. They tend to be over-salty in this application.

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