Baby Mustard Cooking Class

Today we took a private cooking class which was an absolutely wonderful experience and a highlight of our trip!

We spend a half day with Nguyet, our local guide and chef/owner of Baby Mustard Restaurant. This morning she met us at our hotel and we head to the local market in Hoi An where we picked out some of our ingredients. Nguyet showed us what she looks for when buying produce and meat and taught us about all of the different foods available. 

The market was quite fascinating.  Nguyet said some people arrive at their stalls as early as 3am. The fish is caught daily and most of the meat was butchered that morning, making everything fresh. Of course I didn't like seeing ten live chickens stuffed into one cage or fish still flopping around but what can ya do. 

Those poor chickens! 😕

Poor crabs with their legs tied 

Fish heads 😣

After the market we went back to Nguyet's family restaurant where we visited the Tra Que vegetable village and got to taste the herbs in the garden, some of which would be used in our dishes. Truly a farm to table experience.

We had already picked out what dishes we wanted to make from a list of about 50 items the night before. Now we were ready to cook!

On the menu:
Cao Lau: Hoi An special noodles with pork belly
Goi Ngu Sac: a mix salad with papaya, green mango, banana blossom and lotus stem
Bo Nu'ong La Lot: marinated beef with minced lemongrass, char grilled in a la lot leaf.

All of the meat and ingredients we bought at the market.

Nguyet was a great teacher, instructing us what to do for each step. Kiel and I were busy chopping and cutting away and cooked each dish ourselves. It was a lot of work, yet very rewarding and delicious in the end!

It was such a pleasure listening to Nguyet's stories and learning about her family, culture, and future goals. We hope to see her cookbook on the shelves one day!