On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's monarchy, 70 British embassies around the world have compiled recipes for the dishes served during visits by the British royal family.
The Bun cha Hanoi used to be voted by CNN readers as the best dish of summer. Photo: Ha Vu
Vietnamese bun cha or rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs, with the recipe of Chef Do Thi Hai Ly of the Hanoi-based British Embassy, has been included in this culinary collection.
To introduce the dish, British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward, wrote in the book: “Bun cha is the pride of Hanoian cuisine. Neither locals nor visitors can resist the smell of the grill as they walk past the street food stalls. While it tastes best sitting on a low stool on the pavement, this dish is also a regular at the Residence in Hanoi, to set an informal atmosphere for guests, or to give visitors an authentic flavour of the city.”
Bun cha is also the first dish that the ambassador enjoyed when officially began his tenure in Vietnam in 2018.
Hai Ly is a native Hanoian who has been working as a chef for 25 years, including the past three years in the British Embassy. She shared that Ambassador Gareth Ward loves bun cha, so this dish is often served at the embassy office. In addition to the usually known cooking method, Ly and the chefs can also prepare bun cha in the form of a cocktail party.
The inexpensive dish of Bun cha Hanoi is featured in a famous book that many people around the world will consult and follow, Photo: Amazon.com
When learning that bun cha was included in the cookbook in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, along with many specialties from other countries around the world, Ly was very proud. “It’s amazing that one of the most common, inexpensive dishes is featured in a famous book that many people around the world will consult and follow,” she said.
According to plan, Ly will also include another Hanoian specialty, La Vong grilled fish, on the menu for special occasions of the British Embassy in Vietnam. In addition, she also wishes to open cooking classes for young people, especially students and those desiring to learn how to make the most typical dishes of Hanoi.
Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Cookbook is now available on Amazon e-commerce site for £30 (about US$36.8). According to the British Embassy in Hanoi, all proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to two charities, the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund (PWCF), the latter of which has associations with Prince Charles.
Jenna Duong