Week 4: Food for thought

Food is a wonderful thing and this week I found myself appreciating it more than ever.

In the west we have a saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, this week I learnt the Vietnamese equivalent to this. Rather than cooking for someone and them loving you back, it is the act of cooking itself which shows the affection. I thought it was very sweet and also made complete sense given how important food is to the Vietnamese people.

I currently live in a home-stay with a beautiful host couple. While living here dinner has become a very important time for us to bond together. It is so interesting for me because with every traditional dish they introduce me to they tell me the story of why they eat it. This week I learnt three lessons.

1. You can boil jack-fruit seeds and they become a delicious treat.

The origins of this came from the postwar period where food was scarce. According to my host mum "nothing was wasted".

2. When eating with Vietnamese people, finish your rice.

I mean really finish your rice, your bowl better be as empty as the space between atoms. This comes from a belief that if you take for granted even the smallest grain of rice, in your next life you will be poor.

3. Pork and Duck Eggs = Vietnamese Christmas roast turkey.

The Lunar new year or Tet is the biggest holiday of the year in Vietnam. Imagine your birthday, Christmas and new year all combined into a week long holiday. During this time the country completely shuts down and so all food must be bought in advance. Eggs and pork are favored for their longevity and are eaten with family during this time.

Banh Xeo 46a. An instution of Saigonese pancakes.

I found myself reflecting this week on the way food unites everyone in every culture. Well besides serial food Nazis, ahem apologies to my German readers, I mean vegans. This weekend the final Australian students arrived in Ho chi minh city and to celebrate we all went out to dinner. And although we were nearly complete strangers brought together only by our studying circumstances, that night as we shared Banh Xeo it felt no different to eating back home with your best friends.

Food is also such a great entry point to begin learning and understanding someone elses culture. Everyone has a delicious meal from home, with so many stories connected to it which they want to share with the world. Luckily I met a South Korean who wanted to do just that

I think I love food so much that the dopamine rush makes me become great friends with anyone who eats with me. Honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. Ok now after 3 paragraphs of self indulgent food blogging I need to relate this post to the making media course somehow. This week our objective was to serve up a rough cut of our podcast to Simon for a taste testing if you will.

The result... largely positive. A good, fulfilling base, just needs a spoonful of flavor and some final garnishes before plating up. I'm feeling a strong 7 out of 10.

'Till next time,

-T