Beef wrap n’ roll
It took me six years eating steaks and potatoes and one evening of eating beef sausages rolled with greens and rice paper to realize that perhaps the best way to eat meat is to eat it with vegetables. No hard feelings, dear steak, you are like pure chocolate, and bulgogi in lettuce wrap is like orange flavored chocolate. Then you add pickled carrots and daikon, minty herbs, rice paper, sweet and sour nước mắm, and the beef is bound to take off just like the Apollo 11.
Such revelation dawned on me when I took the first bite of a bò lá lốt roll at Ánh Hồng in Berkeley. Ánh Hồng was famous in the old Saigon for their creation of the seven courses of beef, a menu that other Vietnamese restaurants quickly imitated to serve big parties. Despite knowing the menu’s popularity, I rarely thought of its main items as desirable, simply because, for instance, I wasn’t a fan of the wild betel leaf (lá lốt in Vietnamese and cha phloo in Thai) that wraps outside the ground beef. It’s usually a little bitter, and it overshadows the meat flavor. But Ánh Hồng really proves that their popularity (4 locations in North California and another 2 in the southern part) is backed up by some solid tasty goods. Somehow, unlike any I’ve tried before, their bò lá lốt is not at all bitter.
Their bánh tráng (rice paper) is also perfect for making fresh spring rolls, thin enough so that you can taste every ingredient, yet elastic enough to stretch and wrap up the sharp corner of lettuce stems without rupturing. The traditionalcondiment to dip the rolls is mắm nêm (fermented fish paste), but to accommodate foreigners (and Vietnamese like me :-P) who aren’t familiar with the sauce’s pungency, Ánh Hồng serves things up with sweet and sour nước mắm (salty fish extract mixed with lime, chili pepper and sugar). It’s amazing how nước mắm works with everything. But, because the meat is already so well seasoned, you don’t have to dip the rolls into any sauce to make the flavors shine.
The pickled carrot and daikon can be a little too sour, but their texture blends better with the ground meat than fresh bean sprouts’ does.
As much as the bò lá lốt turns out far better than expected, I would still say that it’s not the best course in the set. Bò nướng sả (lemongrass grilled beef slices) rolled up with sauteed sweet onion in the core raises the bar by a slight amount, and the succulent sausages of bò mỡ chài (ground beef wrapped in a thin, lacey layer of pig’s omental fat) definitely takes first place. Of course, all taste best when wrapped in greens.
What’s even better is the joy of legitimate playing with your food: you pick , you wrap, you roll, you dip. It’s a feast whether you go alone or with company. It’s feasting South Vietnam style.
Address: Ánh Hồng Restaurant – 7 Courses of Beef
2067 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-1789
Sample plate – 3 courses of beef (bò lá lốt, bò nướng sả, bò mỡ chài): 9 rolls for $12
*Why would I walk half a mile to feast alone on a Friday evening? Because this post is to celebrate my “uncle” turning 23. He likes Vietnamese, meat, and Southerners’ dishes. Happy Birthday, Nguyên! 🙂
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a great example of it.
1Really informative and excellent structure of content material, now that’s user friendly (:.
2Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
3Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s web site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
4I adore foregathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .
5You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart.
6Thanks for another informative web site. Where else could I get that type of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
7Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
8Some really nice and utilitarian information on this site, as well I think the style has got wonderful features.
9You really make it seem really easy together with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be really something that I believe I would by no means understand. It seems too complex and very vast for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent submit, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
10I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up. “Money is a poor man’s credit card.” by Herbert Marshall McLuhan.
11I truly enjoy reading on this website , it has got wonderful blog posts.
12Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic, as well as the content!
13Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
14Would you be serious about exchanging links?
15Outstanding post, you have pointed out some fantastic details , I likewise conceive this s a very excellent website.
16I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
17Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any points or suggestions? Thanks
18Some truly quality content on this web site, saved to favorites.
19I was looking through some of your posts on this website and I conceive this web site is rattling informative ! Keep on posting.
20The very core of your writing whilst sounding agreeable in the beginning, did not really work perfectly with me after some time. Somewhere within the sentences you actually were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a very short while. I still have a problem with your leaps in logic and one would do well to help fill in those breaks. In the event that you can accomplish that, I will definitely end up being amazed.
21I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were very useful very helpful
22I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
23As soon as I observed this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
24Some genuinely excellent information, Glad I observed this. “Ready tears are a sign of treachery, not of grief.” by Publilius Syrus.
25I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really great :D. Good job, cheers
26Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
27Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this internet site, likewise I conceive the pattern contains wonderful features.
28Saya selalu peduli dengan topik ini dan tetap masih demikian, terima kasih telah memposting.
29Thanks, I have recently been searching for information approximately this subject for a while and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. But, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?
30Hey there, You have done a great job. I’ll certainly digg it and individually suggest to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
31I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog readers have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?
32Have you ever thought about publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
33Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
34When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
35Good post. I be taught one thing more difficult on totally different blogs everyday. It should at all times be stimulating to learn content material from other writers and follow a little bit one thing from their store. I’d favor to make use of some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a hyperlink on your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.
36you have a fantastic weblog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
37Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for beginner blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
38I conceive this website has some real wonderful info for everyone :D.
39I simply couldn’t depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info an individual supply on your guests? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts.
40whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are hunting around for this information, you could help them greatly.
41Great site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am taking your feeds also
42I real happy to find this internet site on bing, just what I was looking for : D as well saved to fav.
43I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
44I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, but I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s beautiful worth sufficient for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content material as you probably did, the internet shall be much more useful than ever before.
45I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of fantastic info , bookmarked (:.
46Some really superb blog posts on this internet site, appreciate it for contribution. “Once, power was considered a masculine attribute. In fact, power has no sex.” by Katharine Graham.
47I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Great work!
48Hi! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
49There are some attention-grabbing closing dates in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There’s some validity however I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as nicely
50