Supermarket sweep
Yesterday I added one more weird thing to my 'Weird things experienced in Vietnam' list. After nearly seven years it's a fairly lengthy list. But, yesterday was different. I like taking photos, although I'm no pro. Point 'n' shoot 'n' hope is my style. And I've no interest in snapping airports, military installations, junkies, copshops, girlie bars, illegal street racing or whatever. So, I was a little surprised when I was apprehended, while cadging a crafty photo down the fish sauce aisle, by security down at Big C supermarket at 38A To Hien Thanh Street in District 10. Photography, apparently, is verbotten. Intriguing. Nice aisle though ehh?
The Big C is a decent stop off for beef, veal, chicken, pork and stock bones. There's also a half decent fish stall. Those little white chaps happily swimming around above make passable fillets in fish 'n' chips at pieman towers. On a good day, the journey from tank to pan can take as little as thirty minutes. They bash them to death and fillet them for you in Big C. Tasty. Like most other big supermarkets in Saigon, Big C also serves Com Hop (takeaway grub). It's a similar idea to the Com Trua I blogged up a while back. In fact, it's exactly the same idea. Although, with all that fresh fish swimming around you might think the fish dishes are fine and on this take they were.
I opted for the stuffed tofu, Ca saba (Saba fish - kinda like a Mackerel), rice and veggies. The saba fish is quite a firm fella, with plenty of taste. The tofu had well-spicy minced pork innards and was smothered in a tangy tomato sauce. The veggies were not good. Big C serve this with a Canh (soup). In this case it was a limp thing with chunks of carrot and potato knocking around inside. Forgettable. There are other fish dishes to choose from along with fried chicken, pork and beef, stuffed gourd etc. There's also an automated rottiserie with whole chickens grilling away. For 8,000VD it's fine filling stuff. Nothing more. Comes with chopsticks and spoon for street scoffing if you fancy.
Speaking of good and quick food. Have you tried Nhu Lan Bakery on Ham Nghi?
Posted by: Lei | July 30, 2004 at 08:22 AM
Know it, but never tried it. Very popular with Vietnamese folk and I think it has spawned the usual copycat places nearby as far as I remember.
Posted by: pieman | August 02, 2004 at 05:45 AM
Nice site man. I'm off to Hanoi for a four day Visit, your site is very enlightening. What's with the Sapa dining scene? Is Victoria resort all there is?
Posted by: J Mason | October 16, 2004 at 10:51 AM
Can't help you in Sapa. Best stuff I had was sweetcorn an 'boiled eggs' on street side grill somwhere in the mountains. Food is basic up there. Victoria was a disappointment - hope they've improved.
Have you seen the 'Get Stuffed' guide to Hanoi food? You'll need to download the pdf. Might be useful for your trip.
Posted by: pieman | October 17, 2004 at 03:55 AM