Author Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung has many in-depth research on Hanoi cuisine. (Photo: Courtesy of Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung) Hanoi (VNA) - Journalist Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung was born and raised in a Hanoi family that respects home traditions. From her young age, Nhung loved to follow her mother to the market and to the kitchen. Growing up, "Ha Thanh (Hanoi) specialties" was a scope of study that Nhung spent a lot of her time on when working at the Hanoi Radio and Television Station.
On the last days of the Year of the Rat, the book "Ha Thanh huong vi xua cu” (Hanoi’s old flavours) was published, bringing interesting experiments about Hanoi’s culinary culture of a Hanoian.
Unique taste of Hanoi’s cuisine
Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung often posts her old articles on Facebook to share her knowledge of Hanoi cuisine with everyone. Since then, her friends, colleagues, especially former teachers, have continuously encouraged her to gather and compile a book.
The book is an interesting experiment about Hanoi’s culinary culture of a Hanoian. (Photo: Vietnamplus) “So I have selected and edited my favorite articles during my 40 years of work to put them into this book with the idea of promoting the beauty of Hanoi's culinary culture,” journalist Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung said.
The book is divided into two parts: “Memories from the Old Quarters kitchen” and “Delicious pieces from the village to the street.” The first part of the book is about emotions and the second is about the author's knowledge of culinary culture.
Nhung also devoted a part to talk about the Hanoi New Year food tray, where the quintessence of Hanoi's cuisine is gathered.
“Hanoi Tet (Lunar New Year) tray is also our ancestors’ way to teach their children about patriotism and love for the homeland by preserving the beauty and delicious dishes. Any Hanoian, when far from home, will miss the Tet atmosphere and delicious dishes of Hanoi," the author noted.
Restoring lost delicacies
With "Ha Thanh old flavour", the author affirms the rich cultural content in Hanoi cuisine, which shows the ingenuity of the Hanoi women, the living spirit of the Trang An people.
Hanoi's culinary culture is nurtured and passed down from generation to generation. Many sophisticated and delicate dishes have been no longer existed through time, due to the destruction of war and difficult economic conditions. The author aspires to explore and restore those dishes. There are dishes she is trying to restore but has not been successful, such as Ve village dried cake.
The author loves food and concerns about preserving the quintessence of Hanoi cuisine. (Photo: Courtesy of Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung) Journalist Pham Thanh Ha, Editor-in-Chief of New Women's Magazine, rates this book as a collection of elaborate cultural studies that are highly commendable.
“Journalist Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung has spent many years going to every corner of the capital to find the most quintessential, famous addresses to draw a culinary map of this land. Without her articles, those names would surely have disappeared and forgotten even among Hanoians,” Ha said.
Author Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung signs books at the Ca Chep bookstore, Hanoi. (Photo: Vietnamplus) For critic Ngo Van Gia (former dean of the Faculty of Literature and Journalism, Hanoi University of Culture), reading Nhung's pages on Hanoi cuisine, he has understood more about Hanoi, and especially love Hanoi more, be kind to Hanoi from seemingly very small things.
“Nhung brings all the tearful memories of a bygone era to her writing page. She shows off the happy taste of the people who make each dish and drink. She also does not forget the hardships of people who work hard early in the morning and late at night to make exquisite and meaningful dishes,” Gia commented./.
