Claypot fish is now upscale
You know how some dishes just instantly come up when you think of certain places? Those are the dishes that always get served when you go on tours to the region they’re associated with, like barbecue in Texas, crawfish in Louisiana, crab in Maryland, clam in the little island Nantucket of Massachusetts. Well, in the deep south Mekong delta of Vietnam, where there are more rivers and canals than Venice, freshwater fish multiply like crazy and the countryside inhabitants make fish dishes like crazy. But for some reason, the name “Mekong Delta” is always linked with “cá kho tộ” (fish simmered in claypot). Why?
The fish (usually catfish) is cut up into thick sections across the body, skin and bone intact (scales off, though), simmered in fish sauce and caramel sauce until it turns beautifully brown inside and out. The mixed sauce is thick and savory, it’s sweet, it’s salty, it can spike up your senses if you add a fillip of chili pepper. Some might argue that fish can taste good by themselves, but this sauce alone would make every mouth water. I’d take the sauce and the sauce-soaked skin anytime over the flesh.
Then again, I had never thought about eating it when I was in Vietnam. Footless animals don’t appeal to me, footless animals with stinky needle bones ready to get stuck in my esophagus appeal to me even less. Footless animals with stinky needle bones were also too abundant, too cheap, and too easy to get when I was there, that boredom won over appreciation of taste. Pick any little food shack for workers on the streets of Saigon, any family-owned eatery by the side of the highway, any book about Southern Vietnamese cuisine, you’re bound to find two things: cá kho tộ and canh chua. It became trite. Little did I know that one day I’d only find it again in an expensive restaurant in Berkeley.
A few restaurants in Bellaire advertise claypot fish in their menus, but usually say they’re out when you order. It could just be because the dish takes quite some time to make, and scrubbing away those little clay pots with caramelized sauce and fish isn’t really a desirable job. So I was ecstatic when they actually had it at Le Regal (just one good meal after another). The pot came out hot and sizzling, two slabs of fish steaks snuggled in the bubbling golden brown addiction. Fish had never smelled so good. The order does not come with rice, but plain white rice is a must, unless you want to slowly take in nibbles and licks overpacked with flavors. Be sure to save a bit of rice to clean the pot after all the fish is gone.
Price: about $12-13. (This menu is completely out of date on the price, and does not have all the dishes currently served, but nonetheless it can give you an idea of what they have.)
Address: Le Regal
2126 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 845-4020
Click here to read Holy Basil‘s recipe of ca kho to.
Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.
1I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i’m glad to convey that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I most unquestionably will make sure to do not forget this site and give it a glance regularly.
2Perfectly composed content, thank you for selective information. “The earth was made round so we would not see too far down the road.” by Karen Blixen.
3Howdy! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the nice data you’ve gotten here on this post. I will probably be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.
4Helpful info. Lucky me I found your web site unintentionally, and I am shocked why this twist of fate didn’t came about earlier! I bookmarked it.
5Fantastic post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thank you!
6I do accept as true with all of the ideas you have presented to your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too quick for novices. May you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
7Some truly rattling work on behalf of the owner of this website , dead outstanding content material.
8Some truly interesting info , well written and broadly speaking user genial.
9You are my inhalation, I own few blogs and rarely run out from to brand : (.
10Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too excellent. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific web site.
11Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested. Kudos!
12