This little nuclear reactor of a creme caramel blew my socks off today. Before it slid down, I admired it for a full five minutes, from every angle, its shape and sheen, the buildings opposite reflected in its glassy brown, the ridges on the red plastic like ripples on a still lake. This truncated cone of custard had me mesmerized. It had me re-writing my personal definition of perfection. It had me thinking I was stoned! I almost couldn't eat it.
And then I stabbed it with the spoon, it bled caramel and was remorselessly spaded in.
A cold, clinical end, no doubt, but OH MY GOD that wobbly dessert thing was the finest of its ilk to ever pass my lips. Served at room temperature (how does that work when you're seated outside?), the silky texture and subtle burnt caramel flavour had me seduced. So, too, did the pavement position, backs to the wall of an old temple and across from a row of cake shops of a different kind.
The cake cabinet in front of this creme caramel cave was being delved into with regularity, bags being filled with iced sponges, log jam rolls and little eclair-like imposters. A cup of fresh yoghurt could be had, too. I'm not sure how the creme caramel got to be so good in Hanoi but it possibly had something to do with the French. As for this place, I'm pretty sure it isn't the schoolboy helpers who concoct this fine example, yet they can be sure that I'll be back for more.
The Drum
Three creme caramels (2000VND each), one yoghurt (3000VND) - 9000VND (USD55c, AUD75c)
Duong Hoa Kem Caramen
29 Hang Than St
Dear Sticky, after a period of lurking, I've decided to come out of the closet, as your most fervent admirer -- in a purely heterosexual way of course! I love all your posts, the pictures you take, your comments, your tastes in food that match mine, etc.. I don't know how many people post under your banner, but I am hereby kowtowing and presenting virtual fragrant tea to all of you. What a great blog you have!
Posted by: Buddhist with an attitude | 15 March 2006 at 06:42 AM
That custard is making my stomache growl. I not eating sweets again until tomorrow (just trying to dry out a little, I have a major sweet tooth) That is the best looking desert i've seen in a long time.
Posted by: Heather | 15 March 2006 at 06:46 AM
Creme caramel is hands down my favorite dessert! Funny because I was just about to post my recipe and some pictures (I probably won't get around to it for another month though, haha). The caramel sauce on the one above looks nice and dark. It's always tough to judge when to remove the sugar from the heat; a little too early and you don't get that rich caramel flavor; a little too late and its inedible!
Posted by: Preya | 15 March 2006 at 06:58 AM
this is one of my favorite desert,
but i found out, its very big in mexico, portugal, and spain too
they call it flan. am i right on this
Posted by: anonymous | 15 March 2006 at 09:10 AM
I really don't like flan. I don't know if it's the texture or what but to me it tastes like spongy soap.
Although I do appreciate all those cakes below.
Posted by: Suburbia in the City | 15 March 2006 at 11:56 PM
Hi - I've just discovered your blog and have spent a happy hour enjoying this fantastic food and travel porn. If I weren't on a diet I'd be booking my ticket to Vietnam right now! Which leads me onto my questions: Have you gained huge amounts of weight since living in Hanoi, eating all of this delicious street food? Secondly, have you ever got sick as a result of the delicious street food? Many thanks
Posted by: curiousbutton | 16 March 2006 at 10:26 AM
omg that flan looks sooo goood
Posted by: hikaru | 17 March 2006 at 02:31 AM
Yup, love this dessert. It's delish! We call it Leche Flan here in the Philippines. Leche in spanish means milk. They make it with A LOT of eggyolks and condensed milk, with sugar and a bit of lemon zest to add some zing to it. Brown sugar is used to make that caramel sauce, line the cups with the caramel and then the custard mixture and cook it using a steamer. Yumyum!
Posted by: Gen | 17 March 2006 at 10:44 AM
BWAA - Glad you're out of the closet. Also glad that we are on the same page! There's two of us, BTW.
Curiousbutton - Have maintained the same weight and haven't been sick apart from the odd dose of the Tom Tits! I wouldn't necessarily blame the street food for that, though.
This flan, creme caramel, whatever you want to call was a real find. Love finds like that!
Posted by: Sticky | 17 March 2006 at 11:41 PM
I love creme caramel...Yummyyyyy.... Really nice pictures!!!
Posted by: Thao Khuc | 08 November 2006 at 06:31 AM
Very good site! I like it! Thanks!N
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Posted by: http://kakogo.net | 15 December 2007 at 06:39 AM
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Posted by: Cassie | 14 May 2009 at 03:14 AM
Wow! That's yummy!
Posted by: Buy Fioricet Online | 23 October 2009 at 02:49 PM
I really really like this dessert and usually go to this shop to enjoy some (the shop is quite near my office ^_^)
Posted by: Tuyet Mai | 11 August 2011 at 10:33 PM