Cold noodle vermicelli has long been attached to the life of the people of Ha Noi. Instead of hot, hot vermicelli bowls, cold noodle is a much more popular dish when summer comes.
Referring to vermicelli, people often think of hot vermicelli with crispy fat snails and sour broth suddenly aromas of vinegar. But Hanoi vermicelli is not only hot vermicelli, many people in Ha Thanh affirm that cold vermicelli is really delicious.
The somewhat ancient gift is simple in form but contains a delicate culinary industry.
Up to now, there are only a few staggered goods on Nha Chung, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Bui Thi Xuan, Phu Dong Thien Vuong streets … still for sale. In particular, the most special is probably the three-generation cold noodle shop on Phu Dong Thien Vuong street.
Ms. Tran Thi Hoa (67 years old) continues her mother’s tradition for 40 years now: “My mother is from Phap Van village, my whole village in the past sells cold vermicelli. My mother has been selling vermicelli since the year 14. I am also supporting my mother when I was 17. When my mother was old and weak, I have been taking over the job for more than 40 years now.
Hanoi cuisine is delicate and unique. Vu Bang in “Hanoi Delicious Food” wrote about bun snail like this: “It is a gift, can be said to have achieved the destination of delicious food art of the Hanoi people”.
Not pho, nor rice, the dish he mentioned here is … vermicelli. But it’s cold vermicelli with true Ha Thanh style.
Ms. Hoa said: “To have a delicious cold vermicelli dish, the snail must be fragrant, fatty and crunchy. The old Hanoians not only soaked the snails with water to wash the rice so that the snails let out the fishiness, but also soaked with wine.
Next is the way to boil. Just pour water over the face of the snail, sprinkle a little salt, bring it to a boil, then open the pot, lower the fire, then increase the fire to make it up. Just like that the third time, pouring out the snail, the snail is fully ripe, the snail will be crispy.
Ms. Hoa added that, especially in the first days of the new year, Ha Thanh people often invite each other to eat cold noodle soup, partly because Tet has eaten many pork rolls, so early in the year went to eat vermicelli for a cool, cool fed up. But more importantly, people think, eating vermicelli in the beginning of the new year will be lucky.
Every day, Mrs. Hoa sold about 40-50kg of snails. When the Covid-19 translation broke out, the number of buyers came in large numbers, only customers sitting at the restaurant. A set of vermicelli here costs from 40k – 50k with big, crispy snail meat.
“I am very grateful to my mother for leaving this job and proud that I am one of the few people who still retain the old culinary traits of Ha Thanh people. Now I pass the profession to my daughter”, Ms. Hoa to speak.
Cold noodle soup appeared in Hanoi for a long time. Up to now, although not as popular as before and a bit “inferior” than vermicelli and vermicelli, the dish still has a place in the hearts of gourmets. Follow Dân trí