thank you so much Ceri for commenting and letting me know. Means a lot. Love to write about our personal family stories of such favourite foods such as spring rolls x
You had me at Bananarama! After traveling through Northern Vietnam for three weeks I thought I had maxed out on my spring roll intake. However, as I took a virtual seat at your carpet picnic I found myself craving them all over again. I could taste it all---the julienned veg and clipped herbs (and "freckles of garlic"), the generational love, the elegance of a simple spring roll and the community that is connected to them. Thank you, Uyen.
thank you for the beautiful comment, and your lovely message too. There are so many stories to be told with these gatherings. I feel like the Vietnamese community in London have lived a quiet existence under the covers of their housing and allotments. No one speaks of them, no one hears of them and yet they have been through incredible journeys. Always carrying a lust of good food and song. Will write more x
Carpet Picnics would be a book I'd buy without even reading the back cover! Uyen, I think you'd really love Chop Suey Nation by Ann Hui. She drove across Canada in a tiny Fiat visiting Chinese restaurants (and the families behind them) from the west coast to the eastern reaches of Fogo Island where one establishment is open 365 days a year. The journeys are profound, inspiring and heartrending---from a Chinese restaurant inside a curling rink to one owned by the mayor of an Alberta town---it will make you crave all sorts of things! https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771622226
I really enjoyed reading this Uyen, a lovely insight into your upbringing and learning about your Mum’s spring rolls.
thank you so much Ceri for commenting and letting me know. Means a lot. Love to write about our personal family stories of such favourite foods such as spring rolls x
thank you for re-stacking, this is lovely of you x
Just gorgeous to read, and you have made me lust after spring rolls!
my heartfelt thanks :) and me too, I think I might have to make them at tomorrow's supper club, craving like mad!
Such evocative writing Uyen. I can taste every bite you describe
You had me at Bananarama! After traveling through Northern Vietnam for three weeks I thought I had maxed out on my spring roll intake. However, as I took a virtual seat at your carpet picnic I found myself craving them all over again. I could taste it all---the julienned veg and clipped herbs (and "freckles of garlic"), the generational love, the elegance of a simple spring roll and the community that is connected to them. Thank you, Uyen.
thank you for the beautiful comment, and your lovely message too. There are so many stories to be told with these gatherings. I feel like the Vietnamese community in London have lived a quiet existence under the covers of their housing and allotments. No one speaks of them, no one hears of them and yet they have been through incredible journeys. Always carrying a lust of good food and song. Will write more x
Carpet Picnics would be a book I'd buy without even reading the back cover! Uyen, I think you'd really love Chop Suey Nation by Ann Hui. She drove across Canada in a tiny Fiat visiting Chinese restaurants (and the families behind them) from the west coast to the eastern reaches of Fogo Island where one establishment is open 365 days a year. The journeys are profound, inspiring and heartrending---from a Chinese restaurant inside a curling rink to one owned by the mayor of an Alberta town---it will make you crave all sorts of things! https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771622226
Thank you for the recommendation- these are the kinds of books I would love to read! Xx
I reviewed books for several years, Uyen and food + travel memoirs were my magnet. The Measure of My Powers: A Memoir of Food, Misery, and Paris by Jackie Kai Ellis was also really powerful. Both books would pair well with spring rolls! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/545640/the-measure-of-my-powers-by-jackie-kai-ellis/9780147530394
Will buy/ read and report back x