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.
Hello.This article was extremely remarkable, especially since I was browsing for thoughts on this issue last Saturday.
1Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
2Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
3Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!
4But wanna tell that this is very helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
5I really enjoy looking through on this website , it holds great posts. “He who sees the truth, let him proclaim it, without asking who is for it or who is against it.” by Henry George.
6Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
7Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my website something like that. Can I include a fragment of your post to my blog?
8With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any techniques to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
9It’s truly a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
10I will right away seize your rss feed as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
11Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your great writing due to this problem.
12Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
13Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
14I don’t ordinarily comment but I gotta admit thankyou for the post on this great one :D.
15It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
16Hi 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!
17Rattling nice pattern and good articles, nothing else we want :D.
18Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What an ideal website.
19Lovely blog! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am taking your feeds also
20Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
21Thank you for any other fantastic article. Where else may just anybody get that type of info in such a perfect manner of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
22Hello.This article was really remarkable, especially since I was browsing for thoughts on this issue last Thursday.
23I like this web site very much, Its a very nice billet to read and obtain information.
24I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again
25Really excellent info can be found on site. “Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.” by Donald Robert Perry Marquis.
26What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Great job.
27I really enjoy studying on this internet site, it has excellent posts. “When a man’s willing and eager, the gods join in.” by Aeschylus.
28Somebody essentially assist to make significantly posts I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to create this actual put up incredible. Great activity!
29Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal web-site.
30I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
31I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
32Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my site . Thanks =)
33Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your magnificent writing due to this problem.
34Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this website wants way more consideration. I’ll in all probability be once more to read rather more, thanks for that info.
35Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance is very much appreciated.
36I like this blog very much, Its a really nice post to read and receive info .
37I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
38I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
39Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
40Its great as your other articles : D, thanks for putting up. “Talent does what it can genius does what it must.” by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton.
41I think this site has got very wonderful indited written content posts.
42This web site is my inhalation, rattling great style and design and perfect articles.
43Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
44I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting. “Money is a poor man’s credit card.” by Herbert Marshall McLuhan.
45There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
46Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design and style.
47Perfectly pent subject matter, Really enjoyed examining.
48Lovely site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
49Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to give something back and help others such as you helped me.
50