For the love of rice

I have always had this love for rice. I could eat it with ANYTHING! The smell alone can make me hungry. I have always wanted to cook vietnamese food but I have been so americanized that I never knew where to begin. I grew up in an american family, had all american friends and even dated american. People around me are always willing to try different food but I have never had enough courage to make it since I am the only one that had this unique love for rice.

I have made asian friends but I always felt that I could never just jump right in with them because I don't know the FIRST thing about being vietnamese. All of the food and culture is so different then what I am used to. All of these different sized bowls of different ingredients. Cooking things as you eat it, knowing when to add what....and do I even need to mention the skill of using chopsticks?! It might not sound as intimidating as I'd like to think but I never wanted to be the white girl that had to ask what I was eating...haha

The fascination of it just grew larger year after year. I finally gave in to the love of rice and started eating it by myself. My boyfriend wanted his macaroni or potatoes and I would make rice for me. I always talked about cooking the food but deep down I knew he liked his steak and potatoes and I just wasn't going to cook something no one would eat. One night we were watching t.v. and came across Anthony Bourdain - no reservations. I never could get into cooking shows because I just am not interested in all of those small portioned, fancy dishes. After about 10 seconds of watching No Reservations I realized he was in Vietnam!! I have never been so excited watching t.v! Watching the daily life and listening to the families was so amazing! I realized, at the moment how much MORE I wanted to know!

I talked it over with my boyfriend and he said that he loves asian food! He said his best friend growing up was vietnamese and he LOVED eating there for dinner! SERIOUSLY?! Where has this information been all my life?! LOL So that was enough to light the fire on my stove! I passed the show onto my sister and began doing research on vietnamese food. I was so infused with everything that I read. Notes started flowing through my notebook and bookmarks started getting saved one by one into my computer. I researched everything from ingredients, to recipes, to how to pronounce menu items! 

My favorite website that seems to have EVERYTHING I could possible need is called The Ravenous Couple. They describe Vietnam in so many aspects as well as the food and recipes that they have made themselves. Tonight I will try my first recipe called Ga Kho Gung or also know as braised ginger chicken. This recipe was inspired by The Ravenous Couple however since it is my first attempt at cooking I am going to also use this video I found by Daoliciousfoods . I will post pictures as I go and let you know how it turns out. I am so excited about this journey and I hope you will continue this with me! Thanks for listening <3