Clams Crabs and Cookery Courses

Slipping into a sexy, starched apron with a new recipe in one hand and a flute of bubbles in the other is indulgent. The olive in my Martini is attending a cookery course that rekindles my passion for food, where delicious recipes are shared, prepared, and enjoyed by the group. Good food and good company always lead to new friendships.

“There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman cooking dinner for someone she loves” ― Thomas Wolfe.

There’s nothing nicer than watching a chef at work, especially when every ingredient is treated with the utmost respect. The cherry on top is attending a cooking course where new techniques are taught, delicious recipes are shared, prepared, and then enjoyed by the class.

Cooking dinner for loved ones every evening requires commitment, passion, and enthusiasm. Learning new recipes through a cookery course can deepen your appreciation for Vietnamese culture, inspiring pride and a sense of connection.

All the participants met at the restaurant. We then boarded a boat and floated downriver to the Hoi An Fresh Food Market, where we were guided through the different sections, tasting seasonal tropical fruits and vegetables, some of which were unfamiliar to us. We were shown exotic herbs and spices used in Vietnamese cooking and saw butchers at work in the fresh meat section. I was fascinated by the fresh fish, crabs, and eels still swimming in large plastic bowls. The market is a bustling place where homemakers, chefs, and street-food cooks come to buy fresh produce every morning.

We returned to the Street Food Restaurant, where we were taken on a culinary tour, tasting the most amazing morsels like frog legs, duck embryos, sweetbreads, and snails in all forms and sizes. We saw fresh rice noodles, rice pancakes, the thinnest wraps, and delicious dim sum, painstakingly made by women who are masters at their craft. For breakfast, we could choose any of the dishes from the Vietnamese buffet. I picked my favorite Bun Chai, a Northern Vietnamese breakfast staple. Heavenly! Deliciously fresh, ice-cold limeades and other fresh fruit beverages were served throughout.

Our teacher was a very accomplished chef who told us interesting anecdotes about Vietnamese food, especially the role food plays in the Vietnamese home and the importance of impressing one’s mother-in-law. Her knife skills were astonishing, and we were mesmerized by her folding, mixing, cutting, and chopping the ingredients. She had a wicked sense of humor, and we quickly settled down and hung on to her every word.

The secret to successful Vietnamese cooking is freshness and the perfect balance of flavors. Every dish must have the following elements: sweet, bitter, tart, sour, hot, and cool. The art lies in achieving this balance. Home cooks would haggle, bargain, test, taste, and sample each ingredient, then take home only the best to please their families, fill their tummies, and feed their souls.

Our master class was hands-on, so we prepared each dish under the guidance of the chef and her assistant. The menu was as follows: Vegetable Stock, Cabbage Leaf Parcels with Shrimp Mousse in Broth, BBQ Chicken and Lime Leaf, Mango Salad, and Banh Xeo – Crispy Hoi An Pancakes. My mother-in-law would be impressed; she loved “Chinese” food!

These dishes may seem simple, but the techniques used, including folding, turning, simmering, skewering, and ultimately serving and garnishing, were executed with precision, care, and utmost respect. Afterwards, we all sat down to lunch, getting to know one another a little better, before we went our separate ways.

Not only do I recommend the Master Class, but I also urge you to take a cooking course in Vietnam. Many are on offer, but I would say the classes at The Morning Glory Cookery School are top-notch, as the owner, Ms. Vee, is passionate and committed to showcasing only the very best Vietnam has to offer. She uses the opportunity not only to teach people about food in her country but also to tell its story.

We received the recipes for all the dishes we prepared. We also received a surprise gift, a traditional Vietnamese peeler. Of course, I couldn't leave without a copy of Ms. Vee's beautiful "Taste Vietnam - The Morning Glory Cookbook." If I could, I'd sleep with it under my pillow!

To book a course, find out more, or visit the Street Food Restaurant:

106 Nguyen Thai Hoc str., Hoi An, Viet Nam