Just one more week and Hai and I will travel back to Vietnam. Saigon to be exact.
Before we head back to Vietnam however, we feel obliged to let you know exactly what we’ve been up to recently.
Hai enjoying the Smithsonian museum (with dignity)
First, you might recall our blog post of a few months back about Hai and my amazing visit to the USA East Coast. If you missed it, please take a peek – it was truly fun for us and we love to share it 🙂 .
Well, our USA visit continued after that East Coast report (which, by the way, explains some recent long periods of silence here at Eating Saigon! ) I should say right here that we do apologize for those periods of silence. But, I assure you that Hai and I continued eating good food and enjoying amazing eating adventures on your behalf so that we could report them back to you, our loyal readers 🙂 . With that said, let me share:
Actually … rather than being long-winded, and recognizing that a picture is worth a thousand words, and since photos work, and rambling doesn’t (see what I mean about being long-winded), please indulge us and allow me to present the rest of our USA travels and eating adventures in a dazzling pictorial:
Well … It started out being pretty labor-intensive (Hai had some doubts about California living).
Farmer Hai discover’s “hard work” in America (in our Comptche garden)
But then, Joe and friends started the “hard sell” and pouring on the California charm!
Our good friend Dung invited us to enjoy some Japanese sashimi together … YUM!
Our great friend Jan grilled us some home grown Padron Peppers – HOT & YUMMY!
Even Joe tried convincing Hai with his homemade pizza 🙂
… and after a half-dozen home-baked apple/rasberry cobblers, Joe got it right and captured Hai’s attention!
Our friend Lisa tried the down-home welcome approach: Hai sharing a cowgirl moment
Finally, Hai started to fit in and feel like an American!
COWBOY HAI heading off for a day at the ranch!
Still, Saigon and Vietnam were never quite out-of-mind. “When do we head back to Vietnam?”
Hai’s homemade Vietnamese creations were never far away, including this Canh Chua
Just a quick snack .. “same-same” Vietnam
… and Hai occasionally prepared his soon-to-be-famous ROSEMARY CHICKEN
We missed Saigon’s Mì Vịt. HOWEVER, Oakland Chinatown’s was pretty amazing!
But, we continued to fight back in defense of American food!
… Please, enjoy some AMERICAN FOOD – Jan’s meatloaf
… together with his roasted potatoes
… and with our daily fresh vegetable harvest from the Comptche garden
We were beginning to convince Hai of the merits of Eating USA! But, to be sure, it was time to pull out all the stops! Bring on the California’s Autumn!
The Autumn leaves began to fall in Comptche
And HALLOWEEN arrived. Hai and I went for evening walks in Oakland … SCARY!!
IT WORKED! HAI APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED HIS USA “GREEN CARD”. HURRAY!
Hai celebrating with friends – I GOT MY “GREEN CARD”!
And now it was time to relax and enjoy the Holiday Season! Off to San Diego to enjoy Thanksgiving with our friend Pat.
Pat & Hai enjoyed Thanksgiving Day … such a tough life in San Diego!
As did Joe & Hai …. so much to be thankful for! (and thank you Pat for a great visit)
Hai and I and Pat enjoyed Thanksgiving Day with a Chinese friend at the San Diego Zoo
and then the Holiday eating continued.
We encountered and consumed this “strange” and amazingly delicious ITALIAN APPETIZER in San Diego.
We found the best PHƠ ̉ in America (so far) in San Diego!
What better dessert after a bowl of phở than a yummy CANNOLI … OMG, now we want to go back to Rome!
But, it was soon time to return to northern California for the Christmas and New Years Holidays.
Hai and I had several fun evenings enjoying Christmas shopping in San Francisco’s Union Square
… and some good friends joined us as we shopped 🙂
Then, there was our New Year’s Eve feast at Comptche with Jan & Antonio & our clawed friends
and finally, a few more of Hai’s Vietnamese treats to help ease the transition Back to Vietnam next week!
Hai’s “simple” homemade countryside vegetable soup
Is it art? Is it food? It’s Hai’s MANGO-BLACK STICKY RICE-ICE CREAM dessert combo
A truly wonderful trip to the USA. But, we’re certainly looking forward to seeing you all very soon and being back in Saigon to enjoy the TET Holiday.
AND TO CONTINUE EATING SAIGON!
This is a wonderful blog you have here! Gosh, makes me hanker for a visit back to VN, but alas we won’t be able to do so for some time yet as the kiddos are just too young. Too bad you were not able to travel a little further up north from San Diego to Garden Grove where the Vietnamese food rivals if not bests some of what I’ve had in our trips to VN (may also be taste preference though since I grew up here). Maybe next time then….
In the mean time, keep up the great work! I will not doubt be referencing your blog when it comes time for a visit back ^_^
Thanks Anh – so glad you like Eating Saigon! Next time I’m in Cali, for sure I’ll take a visit to Garden Grove!