I'm sure we all have our own little eating disorders. Mine involves sticky rice. I love it and I hate it. When I'm in the mood to eat it, no other dish will suffice. I will not be persuaded along any noodle route when the sticky rice compulsion takes hold. Though afterwards, there is a tinge of regret.
But I don't vomit.
You see I consider myself to be a healthy eater for the most part but my search for just a smidge of nutritional value in this dish is futile. Nothing green in sight. Morgan Spurlock got sick on his supersize me diet and if I were to take on a similar experiment with sticky rice, I might find myself in a spot of bother, too.
Even after one occasional serve, I'm beating myself up about it. I watch as the layers of the dish are assembled and wonder about the physiological effects on my body. The rice is the mainstay, packed into the bottom of the bowl from huge bamboo baskets covered with sheets of industrial grade plastic, cloth and other miscellaneous insulating blankets which keep it hot. This ingredient doesn't perturb me. I can burn it off. But then what looks like a big yellow ball of uncooked pastry is shaved over the rice. Actually, I think it is mung beans (dau xanh) pounded and rounded, another source of carbohydrates but also protein. All good if one is training for the Hawaiian Ironman event...
...which I'm not!
And then oil is squirted on it. Not extra virgin like Jamie glugs over his risotto! No. It comes out of a re-used la Vie bottle in a thick stream through a crude perforation in its white cap. Leaves a lovely sheen on the food as I imagine it in my arteries, all the wrong fats surging toward my heart. Deep fried shallots and chicken with the skin on are added to top things off.
I reel around, salivating one second and experiencing conniptions about what I'm about to do to my body the next.
A smorgasboard of processed meat slabs, deep fried boiled eggs and other oily treats comes into view. There are no healthy choices here. I block it out.
I will eat salad tomorrow.
Xoi Ga Pho Co
Cnr. Nguyen Huu Huan & Hang Mam
Old Quarter
Wish I knew where to get this in HCMC.
Posted by: John | 18 December 2009 at 04:43 AM
OMG just discovered your blog and am loving it :)
I love South Asian foods and try to accommodate the recipes to my ovo-lacto-pesco vegertarian diet!
cheers,
Heguiberto
weirdcombinations.com
Posted by: Heguiberto Souza | 18 December 2009 at 05:46 AM
I get sticky rice on the street in the morning. I go for xoi dau phong, sweet with peanuts and sugar and shredded coconut. By itself, I thought that sticky rice was 'sposed to be good for your stomach.
Posted by: hcmcdavid | 20 December 2009 at 01:56 PM
While the food is filling, the people is good at keeping their body slim...Magic.
Posted by: the lacquer spoon | 20 December 2009 at 05:08 PM
I have tried sticky rice with peanuts and coconut pate. It tastes amazing! Thank you for the post.
Posted by: thé vert de chine | 21 December 2009 at 12:51 PM
I love this blog! Check out mine:
http://blogs.yorkschool.com/yorkstudents/mgoldberg12/
Posted by: Maddy | 27 December 2009 at 05:44 AM
Guys - I often have stickyrice for bfast as well, though I don't think we have the same range of sweet options in Hn as you have in Sgn. An acquaintance recently told me about a 'village' around the back of West lake that specialises in bfast sticky rice...so I will have to give it a visit...can't remember what it's called though!
Posted by: Sticky | 31 December 2009 at 10:12 AM
Hey - just found the blog, and really enjoy it. I have a very similar one about food in Shanghai. Was wondering if you've been to SH, and if you have any suggestions for Southeast Asian / Vietnamese joints...
Thanks
http://www.shanghaifoodist.com
Posted by: SHFoodoist | 12 January 2010 at 09:07 AM
Really like reading your post because I am sure that I can see something new in it.
Posted by: Olympus Digital Cameras | 19 January 2010 at 08:39 PM
Another food blog. The food on the photo looks mouth watery and I would definitely want to taste it.
Posted by: Accounting Jobs | 20 January 2010 at 01:34 AM
Wow deep fry eggs!You are just amazing in recipe really!and all looks so ummyy! what say...ya..mouth watery! I just love your blogs for testy recipe and easy also so I can easy to try with it.
Posted by: cartucho r4 ds | 06 February 2010 at 04:49 PM
For Xoi Ga, I just wonder if you've tried Xoi Yen, 35B Nguyen Huu Huan. I tried few times their and it's really good !
Posted by: Minh | 16 February 2010 at 04:57 AM