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Dish of the Week: Banh xeo
Vietnamese food is one of the quintessential DIY cuisines. Drizzle a little of this or that sauce. Scatter some herbs. Choose some vegetables. You control the sweetness, sourness, spiciness and crunchiness. And one of the best examples is banh xeo, a golden-colored crispy rice crepe loaded with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. It is seasoned very gently with tumeric and salt to maximize personalization though some recipes include touches of coconut milk and curry powder.
Much like banh mi, banh xeo are a part of the street food culture of Vietnam. Vendors may line up a number of skillets to make more than one at a time. More than just a sight for the eyes, it also appeals to the ears when the batter sizzles as it hits the skillet; the name xeo (pronounced say-oh) is the Vietnamese onomatopoeia for the sound.
There is nothing better than breaking off a piece into your bowl and piling on the accessories - nuoc cham, sririacha, pickled carrots, cucumbers and radishes, Thai basil, perilla, and lettuce.
To get in on the flavorful deliciousness you can head to Nam Viet in Cleveland Park or any of the numerous spots in Eden Center. The banh xeo at Be Le Vietnamese Deli in Rockville was still delicious despite some of its crispness dissolving in a takeout container.
Image courtesy of: Kent Wang
Small Bites
More booze, less snooze
If booze is more your speed rather than the presidential debate, you can join the Homebrew Club for The Art of Homebrew at Studio Gallery. Next Friday, September 26 starting at 6 p.m. for a demonstration of home brewing methods.
Granville Moore is celebrating its belated first year anniversary along with Chimay's 25th on September 25 starting at 5 p.m. Along with a special anniversary menu will be Chimay tastings, food specials, and raffles.
Vintage Crystal, the Crystal City Wine Festival, will be taking place this Sunday. It will also feature musicians from the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.
Tickets are $20 and allow for a number of samples from area restaurants and wine vendors.
Beating plowshares into produce
Founding Farmers opened last night in the IMF Building. It is the sister restaurant to Agraria, and follows a philosophy of farm-to-table food, sharing ownership with a 40,000 member growers' collective.
Soul on the Hill?
Art Smith, former personal chef to Oprah and owner of TABLE fifty-two in Chicago, will be opening Art and Soul at the Affinia Hotel on Monday. The menu will focus on "food for the soul" and an emphasis on local foods. The toque in the kitchen, Chef Ryan Morgan, will bring elements of his Chesapeake Bay area upbringing and integrate components of Smith's Southern influence.
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Speaking of Vietnamese food, there is nothing that I like more than Pho King.
Really Pho King, in Alexandria.
Now I don't cross the river for nuthin, but for some Pho King, I'll cross the river anytime babycakes.
Specially if it is some of that hot and spicy Pho King stuff.
Why is there a picture of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the pho king site?
Pho King? Pho King? Worst name since Pho Shizzle and Pho Bich Nga.
Now, Mother Pho Kerr, that's the s**t.
Can anyone attend the Granville Moore Chimay 25th? Are reservations or signup required? There's nothing on their website about it.
Tasted rice crepe for the first time - seasoned with curried chicken and tiny peas - it was simply divine