Claypot fish is now upscale
You know how some dishes just instantly come up when you think of certain places? Those are the dishes that always get served when you go on tours to the region they’re associated with, like barbecue in Texas, crawfish in Louisiana, crab in Maryland, clam in the little island Nantucket of Massachusetts. Well, in the deep south Mekong delta of Vietnam, where there are more rivers and canals than Venice, freshwater fish multiply like crazy and the countryside inhabitants make fish dishes like crazy. But for some reason, the name “Mekong Delta” is always linked with “cá kho tộ” (fish simmered in claypot). Why?
The fish (usually catfish) is cut up into thick sections across the body, skin and bone intact (scales off, though), simmered in fish sauce and caramel sauce until it turns beautifully brown inside and out. The mixed sauce is thick and savory, it’s sweet, it’s salty, it can spike up your senses if you add a fillip of chili pepper. Some might argue that fish can taste good by themselves, but this sauce alone would make every mouth water. I’d take the sauce and the sauce-soaked skin anytime over the flesh.
Then again, I had never thought about eating it when I was in Vietnam. Footless animals don’t appeal to me, footless animals with stinky needle bones ready to get stuck in my esophagus appeal to me even less. Footless animals with stinky needle bones were also too abundant, too cheap, and too easy to get when I was there, that boredom won over appreciation of taste. Pick any little food shack for workers on the streets of Saigon, any family-owned eatery by the side of the highway, any book about Southern Vietnamese cuisine, you’re bound to find two things: cá kho tộ and canh chua. It became trite. Little did I know that one day I’d only find it again in an expensive restaurant in Berkeley.
A few restaurants in Bellaire advertise claypot fish in their menus, but usually say they’re out when you order. It could just be because the dish takes quite some time to make, and scrubbing away those little clay pots with caramelized sauce and fish isn’t really a desirable job. So I was ecstatic when they actually had it at Le Regal (just one good meal after another). The pot came out hot and sizzling, two slabs of fish steaks snuggled in the bubbling golden brown addiction. Fish had never smelled so good. The order does not come with rice, but plain white rice is a must, unless you want to slowly take in nibbles and licks overpacked with flavors. Be sure to save a bit of rice to clean the pot after all the fish is gone.
Price: about $12-13. (This menu is completely out of date on the price, and does not have all the dishes currently served, but nonetheless it can give you an idea of what they have.)
Address: Le Regal
2126 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 845-4020
Click here to read Holy Basil‘s recipe of ca kho to.
Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome blog!
1I have learn some excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you put to make such a fantastic informative website.
2Hello there! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thanks!
3Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
4When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thank you!
5I like this site so much, saved to my bookmarks. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.
6This really answered my problem, thanks!
7Simply wanna remark on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the subject material is real great : D.
8Thanks – Enjoyed this update, can I set it up so I receive an alert email every time you publish a fresh post?
9It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
10Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up.
11Superb post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
12Definitely, what a great site and revealing posts, I will bookmark your site.All the Best!
13I have been browsing online more than three hours these days, but I by no means discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made just right content material as you did, the web shall be much more useful than ever before.
14I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
15Simply want to say your article is as astounding. The clearness to your put up is just great and i can assume you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Fine together with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to stay updated with drawing close post. Thank you one million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
16Thanks for some other informative website. Where else may I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect means? I have a challenge that I am just now running on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.
17It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
18This is really interesting, You’re an excessively skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for looking for more of your excellent post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks!
19Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
20We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
21Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
22Some truly nice stuff on this internet site, I love it.
23You made some clear points there. I looked on the internet for the topic and found most people will go along with with your site.
24Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, thanks.
25Perfectly written content material, regards for entropy. “No human thing is of serious importance.” by Plato.
26Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
27Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
28I believe that is one of the such a lot vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. However should statement on few basic things, The site taste is great, the articles is actually great :D. Excellent process, cheers
29This really answered my problem, thank you!
30Some really good info , Sword lily I discovered this. “Things we not hope for often come to pass than things we wish.” by Titus Maccius Plautus.
31I consider something truly special in this site.
32Great post, you have pointed out some great points, I also think this s a very good website.
33I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
34Unquestionably imagine that that you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the internet the simplest thing to have in mind of. I say to you, I certainly get irked even as people think about issues that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the whole thing without having side effect , other people can take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thank you
35Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
36Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been running a blog for? you made blogging look easy. The entire glance of your site is fantastic, as smartly as the content material!
37I was studying some of your posts on this internet site and I conceive this website is real instructive! Keep putting up.
38An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
39Hey very cool site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
40Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!
41Absolutely composed content material, regards for entropy.
42Can I simply say what a aid to search out somebody who really is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know methods to bring a problem to mild and make it important. Extra people must read this and understand this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more well-liked because you positively have the gift.
43Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. Nevertheless just imagine if you added some great graphics or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could certainly be one of the greatest in its niche. Superb blog!
44Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out much. I hope to give one thing again and aid others such as you helped me.
45Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
46The crux of your writing whilst sounding agreeable at first, did not work very well with me personally after some time. Somewhere throughout the sentences you actually were able to make me a believer but just for a while. I still have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and you might do nicely to help fill in all those gaps. If you actually can accomplish that, I would surely end up being fascinated.
47Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
48Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great, let alone the content!
49I’m impressed, I need to say. Actually rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the problem is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very joyful that I stumbled across this in my seek for one thing relating to this.
50