Blogs Archive | Asia Hero Travel http://en.asiaherotravel.com/blog/ Local travel agency specialized in the creation and organization of tailor-made and "off the beaten track" private tours in Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:05:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Egg http://en.asiaherotravel.com/blog/egg/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 03:13:33 +0000 http://asiaherotravel.com/?post_type=blog&p=2020 Brooded egg – Hịt vịt lộn Brooded eggs as indicated by the name are duck eggs that contain an embryo […]

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Brooded egg – Hịt vịt lộn

Brooded eggs as indicated by the name are duck eggs that contain an embryo …
They are at your Asian merchant’s. Not to be confused with salted eggs or 100 years old. Vietnamese in Europe also get them directly on farms …
Brooded eggs are eaten accompanied by Rau Ram (Asian herbs) and a sauce made of: salt, pepper and lemon juice that you put in a small dish and pour into the open egg still in its shell..As an egg to shell. Ah, on the other hand they open on the other side: remove like a hat the top of the shell but on the widest side, point down so, because there is at this point a pocket of air which allows to open it more easily. We begin to dissect it by taking only the cap.
Rau ram: olygonum odoratum Lour, 1790; current synonym: Persicaria odorata (Lour.) Sojak, is a species of creeping plant of Indochina whose terminal leaves are used in cooking and in Asian medicine.
Its taste and fragrance evoke coriander and lemongrass, especially when eaten raw. The stem is more pungent than the leaf. Cooked, it has a peppery taste that goes well with meat.
In French, we find the names of: Vietnamese mint, Chinese basil, sweet knotweed. But it is the name of rau ram which means grass-mint in Vietnamese (pronounced “jao jam”, “zao zam”, etc.) which is used fluently, as in English.
This subtropical perennial is cultivated annually in frosty areas. It is reproduced by cuttings. Pink flowering. She loves hot swamps. In open ground in the garden, in pots on the balcony or indoors, it requires a moist soil, a rich soil and prefers partial shade.
The leaf of rau ram is simple, lanceolate, the size of peach leaves. On the side of the petiole, it bears a purple-dark mark in the shape of a V or an inverted U.
Rau ram is often confused with Persian knotweed (Persicaria maculosa, formerly Polygonum persicaria, known to gardeners as red foot or horseshoe), an often invasive native weed whose leaf of the same shape also bears dark marks.
It should not be confused with the “ngo gai” (Eryngium foetidum – panicaut fetid) or Mexican coriander with a strong smell of coriander also used as a condiment in Indochinese cuisine.
It should not be confused with the seal of fragrant Solomon (Polygonatum odoratum), perfumed but toxic.

What is a brood egg? generally it is a duck egg that is eaten hot in a small egg cup. The only difference is that in this egg is the duck embryo, an embryo less than 18 days old.
It is boiled for consumption. It is considered a delicacy and extremely nourishing dish.
It sounds disgusting, but it’s good! It does not especially look inside the egg otherwise it can cut the appetite. It is usually eaten in small street stalls.
It can be eaten as an appetizer or even as an aperitif … 2 per person or more for gourmets.
Cook the brooded eggs in water for 20 minutes before eating in an egg cup (or pour into a bowl all, but it is less “classy” anyway)
During the tasting, from time to time pour salt pepper and lemon juice into the egg … At each bite, eat at the same time a little grass Rau Ram … You can start by drinking the juice directly in the egg, it’s exquisite …
Obviously, for Westerners, there is a priori but in reality, it’s very tasty: try and ignore all this. There is a variant with chicken eggs: the taste is lighter (Hotel Gà Lôn).
In Vietnam, the brooded egg is considered a very nutritious dish, taste good and expensive. The eggs of the ducks and quails are most appreciated. The preparation is very simple, since after boiling the egg, the container is taken out of the shell, then seasoned with a little salt, pepper, a little ginger and finally “Rau ram” , a Vietnamese herb very strong to contrast the flavors.
A more “modern” version of this dish is the eggs hatched from quail fried in tamarind. Young people appreciate this dish and consume about a dozen per meal.

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Street food experiences http://en.asiaherotravel.com/blog/street-food-experiences/ Thu, 28 Jun 2018 09:00:50 +0000 http://chapivoyage.com/?post_type=blog&p=1804 The post Street food experiences appeared first on Asia Hero Travel.

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Street food is an important aspect of anyone’s travels to Asia. Not only is it widespread, locally sourced, produced and consumed, it reflects longstanding culture and culinary tradition. There are a variety of informal instructions that can be followed, or safety rules for keeping a happy tummy, however, we’ve condensed it down to 5 easy tips for your culinary adventure. So here are 5 tips for safely eating and enjoying street food in Asia!

  1. Be Smart

When walking around a city or town for some street food, don’t be nervous about making a judgement and tapping into your common sense, especially in terms of what you eat where. All over Asia, regions with specialities will advertise them locally, so keep an eye out for signs and where’s busy in town. Pay attention to the times of day stalls are busy, because if you eat with the rush you’ll be sure to get a fresh serving. Use your nose too; sniffing is a great way to tell when somethings gone bad or been out too long. Keep your nostrils open and your eyes peeled and you’re bound to find something that’s locally sourced, delicious and safe to eat.

  1. Bad Hygiene Isn’t Always Where You’d Think

Food poisoning is always a risk with street food, and personally, my stomach will revolt at the slightest possible attack. However, it is far more common to get food poisoning from water than the food itself. For example, as tempting as the fresh lettuce with pork balls under the overpass in Bangkok may be, there may be harmful bacteria in those greens. Lettuce rinsed in tap water has a higher chance of being a disaster for your belly. Despite street food often being very rich, it’s probably a safer alternative to fresh vegetables and pre-cut fruit. Also, a poorly washed cup is guiltier of making you sick than those freshly grilled BBQ pork skewers, so be aware.

  1. Ice Ice Baby

Expanding on street side hygiene, ice is key. Travelling through balmy and humid Southeast Asia where temperatures rocket and the sun takes no prisoners is a challenge. Add avoiding ice to be on the safe side, and you’ll be fuming. You can still have ice in steamy Asia, and many cafes, even ones set up on the curb with plastic stools, have treated and clean ice. Keep in mind, if you see someone smashing your ice with a mallet, there’s a good chance it isn’t clean. Generally though, the rule of thumb with ice, is to check for holes, usually purified ice is cylindrical with holes down the centre.

  1. Do as the Locals Do

See what’s on the table and how people use it. In Thailand, you’ll have peanuts, sugar, fish sauce and limes laid out on the side. In Northern Vietnam, pickled garlic, limes and hot sauce are standing by to garnish almost anything. Don’t be afraid to add something extra as it’s completely normal and encouraged to customize your plate. Just make sure you taste the dish as is first. Furthermore, you may notice no bin under your table, and locals throwing their trash on the curb.  As unappealing as this seems, street side business need to keep their service fast and efficient and it’s often easier for them to sweep up the mess under the table and give it a wipe before the next hungry customer pulls up a stool. So don’t be afraid to throw your napkin to the curb! Finally, if you’re eating rice or noodles, don’t ever leave your chopsticks sticking up in it. Throughout most regions of Asia, a bowl of rice with chopsticks stuck in it, is an offering to dead ancestors.

  1. Variety is the Spice of Life

Wherever you’re headed in Asia, street food offers an adventure in every bite. It’s fast, fresh, cheap and most importantly local. However, keep in mind regulations throughout the region change. For example, Vietnam and Thailand have recently seen a surge in governmental efforts to clear out street food, however for the time being it remains a cultural staple. Singapore is no longer a heaven of the pavement, yet offers colourful hawker centres bursting with various cheap and flavourful grub. China has seen a push indoors, yet many tucked away markets in Xi’an, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu offer delightful grub on the go. There’s even a small street snack scene in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, as well as offerings at morning markets throughout the country. Markets are always a good bet for food in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, as they are bursting with street food options. So foodies rest assured, wherever you go in Asia, there’s a street food stall that awaits you.

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Diane Lee http://en.asiaherotravel.com/blog/diane-lee/ Mon, 18 Jun 2018 03:18:29 +0000 http://chapivoyage.com/?post_type=blog&p=1289 I travelled to Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge with a bunch of Vietnamese friends (I’m Australian) for the weekend. It was […]

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I travelled to Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge with a bunch of Vietnamese friends (I’m Australian) for the weekend. It was an easy drive (quite long, but we had ample stops) through stunning scenery, up into the mountain areas north-west of Hanoi. The Ecolodge is set in a sheltered valley among rice paddies and farms and within walking distance to the local village. The accommodation is delightful: rooms are well appointed, clean and charming and built from sustainably sourced wood. The landscaped gardens are gorgeous and worth a stroll and a picture. And of course, there’s the view! It’s stunning. And the air is so clean! Meals are regional delicacies, cooked fresh by local staff and there are vegetarian options for non-meat eaters. I especially loved the coffee and banana pancakes in the morning! Dzung, the owner, is a charming and generous host – nothing was too much trouble. For those worried about the language barrier, don’t be. Dzung speaks fluent English and French. Dzung (and his sister, who is a part-owner) will take care of you and make you feel like you are part of their family. You’ll feel both relaxed an rejuvenated after your stay at Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge – can highly recommend.

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