IT'S A WRAP - A Taste of Viet Nam

 IT'S A WRAP

A Taste of Viet Nam

As a foodie, I have to confess that my experience w/ Asian food is limited. Of course, as a New Yorker, I grew up eating Chinese food (well, 50's/60's Chinese sweet and sour food) but ventured into Chinese cuisine a bit further as I got older.  And, yes, I do eat Japanese food, Thai food and have been known to have Korean BBQ on occasion... but I'm clueless when it comes to food from countries such as Cambodia, Laos or even Viet Nam.

Well, to broaden by culinary horizon, the last time Richard and I were in Sacramento, my brother Bob and his wife Nguyen (yes, she's Viet Namese and I'm still Viet Namese food-challenged!!!) decided to start my Asian food education with a trip to Quan Nem - Ninh Hoa...

...a restaurant on Stockton Blvd. in "Little Saigon" (for those of you who know Sac)... 

...to have its House Special No. 1, a dish whose origins come from Ninh Hoa, a coastal region between central and south Viet Nam.

A kind of Mexican burrito-style dish (or a very pregnant spring roll) in that everything is rolled up into slim rice papers, but it's a DIY affair because you do the rolling...

...which includes 4 charbroiled pork skewers (which can be substituted w/ BBQ chicken kabob, BBQ pork kabob, or 1/2 lb. fried fish cake), 2 fermented pickled pork, 8 slim eggrolls, 8 rice papers, angel vermicelli; assorted veggies, an assortment of greens including lettuce, cilantro, mint... cucumbers, pickled carrots, daikon homemade sauce w/ roasted peanut topping... and a partridge in a pear tree (just kidding).

One $15.95 portion serves two (though there is a half portion available for $8.50).  We ordered two full portions and frankly, as full as I was when the plates were clean, I wanted more.

 
The blend of these fresh garden and charbroiled tastes made for one of the most delicious Asian meals I've ever had.  My taste buds did a happy dance, sooooooooooo...

...if you're in Sacramento, or plan to visit, don't walk, run to Quan Nem - Ninh Hoa and order House Special No. 1, and...

... Xin moi (let's eat)!!!


Quan Nem - Ninh Hoa
6450 Stockton, Calif. 95823
916-428-3748

Also on the menu is a variety of appetizers and spring rolls... noodle soups, rice plates, vermicelli, angel vermicelli, and vegetarian dishes.