35 replies to this topic

[Suzanne F]

I'm guessing, but I suspect the Vietnamese who came to NYC all that time ago are more likely to be ethnic Chinese, and traders rather than the farmers and fishers who were sponsored to go to Minnesota or the South. And newcomers are, too, keeping together. So the Vietnamese food we get here might be more Chinese influenced. And less likely to be grown or caught by Vietnamese people.

That said, friends of ours who adopted a Vietnamese girl and have visited numerous times (and who like to eat) have enjoyed some of the Vietnamese restaurants here, although the two I can remember them liking have both closed.

The only other Vietnamese food I've had (not counting pho) was, in fact, at a Vietnamese farmers' market in a parking lot in Gretna. It was, um, a lot less refined than the stuff I get in restaurants here.

[Orik]

In cities where there's good Vietnamese food (Montreal to a small degree, Minneapolis/St. Paul, supposedly Houston, some places in California, I guess NC if AB says so) there's an ecosystem of farms, supermarkets and restaurants that supported by a large enough community. Nyc just doesn't have that many Vietnamese and as Suzanne points out, they're often ethnic Chinese.

[Nathan]

In cities where there's good Vietnamese food (Montreal to a small degree, Minneapolis/St. Paul, supposedly Houston, some places in California, I guess NC if AB says so) there's an ecosystem of farms, supermarkets and restaurants that supported by a large enough community. Nyc just doesn't have that many Vietnamese and as Suzanne points out, they're often ethnic Chinese.

yeah Houston too. I remember Tien Ho telling me that and some trips to Houston since then have confirmed it...there's definitely a large Vietnamese community and I've found some quality food.

[Sneakeater]

St. Louis (which reportedly actively promoted itself to Vietnamese immigrants).

[SLBunge]

In cities where there's good Vietnamese food (Montreal to a small degree, Minneapolis/St. Paul, supposedly Houston, some places in California, I guess NC if AB says so) there's an ecosystem of farms, supermarkets and restaurants that supported by a large enough community. Nyc just doesn't have that many Vietnamese and as Suzanne points out, they're often ethnic Chinese.

yeah Houston too. I remember Tien Ho telling me that and some trips to Houston since then have confirmed it...there's definitely a large Vietnamese community and I've found some quality food.

Houston has great Vietnamese food but I think it is a bit harder to access than in MSP. I would not have been successful finding it if I would not have had a guide. Seems to be well below the radar of the food media and bloggers. Thankfully I have a Vietnamese colleague in Houston.

[OTB]

So the Vietnamese food we get here might be more Chinese influenced.

Ethnic Chinese make up a significant minority population in Vietnam, and the cuisine is a valid one.

The same can be said for Chinese Malaysians. Very little legit Malay exists in NYC either, a lot of it is Chinese Malaysian.

[Suzanne F]

So the Vietnamese food we get here might be more Chinese influenced.

Ethnic Chinese make up a significant minority population in Vietnam, and the cuisine is a valid one.

The same can be said for Chinese Malaysians. Very little legit Malay exists in NYC either, a lot of it is Chinese Malaysian.

Funnily enough, my favorite Vietnamese food -- or at least the one I've probably had more than any other -- is strongly influenced by the French.

[Evelyn]

Hey Daniel, not Vietnamese--but passed a place last night on Decatur just passed Iberville tha thad all you can eat crawfish for $20.

[Daniel]

That sounds great.. i can certainly eat all I can eat! And i have 20 bucks.. Too bad I am going to be getting the scraggly half dead guys when I get there.. Look forward to hearing about cool places you visited.. As of right now we have a reservation at Cochon twice and we are going to Rick Tratamonto or whatever the chef's name from Tru is, new restaurant.. after that, i am open.. Though, I may just each fried chicken and eat snoblitz's for every meal.

[Evelyn]

I don't know if you know this or not, but, R'evolution will just be opening on the 4th.

Had a very good dinner at La Petite Grocery last night. An excellent lunch at Restaurant August today. If I had to pick the best fine dining option here, it would be Restaurant August. Heading out in a bit for the roasted oysters at Cochon and then on to Root for salumi.

[Evelyn]

I don't know if you know this or not, but, R'evolution will just be opening on the 4th.

Had a very good dinner at La Petite Grocery last night. An excellent lunch at Restaurant August today. If I had to pick the best fine dining option here, it would be Restaurant August. Heading out in a bit for the roasted oysters at Cochon and then on to Root for salumi.

Ps-I saw the R'evolution menu tonight. It is interesting...it is also pricey by NOLA standards...but in line with NYC pricing.

ETA: I will be very interested to see how this goes over time. My bet would be they will have to change their approach. It is a huge space. I'd guess 175+/- And at the prices I saw...unless the hotel is subsidizing them in a very big way...it isn't going to work.

[Evelyn]

BIG FAT JUICY CRAWFISH STILL AVAILABLE AT ACME

[joiei]

Just curious-Is there no good Vietnamese in NYC?

So, I thought about things you and Miss K could do while MIss A is at the convention...aside from just roaming the Quarter and gallery hopping. A swamp tour. Yes, it sounds hokey. But, it is really pretty cool. Just be sure to go early in the morning. A tour of the WWII museum. A tour at Mardi Gras World (near the convention center--you could meet up for lunch at Cochon/Cochon Butcher or Root). A tour of the Indian Museum (get to see the beadwork/Mardi Gras costumes and the history behind them) Backstreet Cultural Museum. A tour of St. Louis Cemetery No.1.

As for food--even though you didn't ask--here are some of my current favorites--in no particular order. Sylvain, La Petite Grocery, Patois, Green Goddess, Maurepas Foods, Three Muses, Domenica, Bacchanal, Suis Generis, Root and Cochon. And, Luke for their 50 cent oysters/50% off alcohol Happy Hour. For drinks-French 75, Loa and Bar Tonique.

The swamp tour by all  means, and it is hokey but fun.   Something I have always liked to do is go to the ferry at the end of Canal, walk on and you get a free boat ride across the river to Algiers, explore a little and then ride the ferry back.  You get views of the city that only a boat ride will give you, plus it's free.  Then there is also the Southern Food and Beverage Museum to explore.

[StephanieL]

Just curious-Is there no good Vietnamese in NYC?

So, I thought about things you and Miss K could do while MIss A is at the convention...aside from just roaming the Quarter and gallery hopping. A swamp tour. Yes, it sounds hokey. But, it is really pretty cool. Just be sure to go early in the morning. A tour of the WWII museum. A tour at Mardi Gras World (near the convention center--you could meet up for lunch at Cochon/Cochon Butcher or Root). A tour of the Indian Museum (get to see the beadwork/Mardi Gras costumes and the history behind them) Backstreet Cultural Museum. A tour of St. Louis Cemetery No.1.

As for food--even though you didn't ask--here are some of my current favorites--in no particular order. Sylvain, La Petite Grocery, Patois, Green Goddess, Maurepas Foods, Three Muses, Domenica, Bacchanal, Suis Generis, Root and Cochon. And, Luke for their 50 cent oysters/50% off alcohol Happy Hour. For drinks-French 75, Loa and Bar Tonique.

Then there is also the Southern Food and Beverage Museum to explore.

This is on my "must-do" list for my fall trip to NO (the museum, not the swamp tour).

[Suzanne F]

I can't find the e-mail with the latest info, but SoFAB will be moving to a new location sometime in the future. Probably not by this November, but do check.

While we're at it, if you're interested, they have a neat newsletter called Okra, to which you can subscribe. Recipes, history, all kinds of good stuff.