The charm of crunchy-skin grilled fish
Thiên Phú has been in my draft list for over 18 months. I wanted to write a post worthy of their dishes, but a proper post requires proper pictures, and either I was too hungry at the time or I just sucked at taking pictures at the time (I still suck now, but less than before) that every single picture was blurry like a blizzard. I was more concerned about food than food blogging so I didn’t snap many shots and didn’t check the clarity of the shots I took before digging in. I also didn’t know any photo editing. Basically, I was plain dumb.
At many points I thought about abandoning the post altogether, but we had a good meal that time and I even fed the birds in the parking lot while waiting for my friends to come join us. The birds were full, we were full. The restaurant was, as usual, empty except for us (because their menu is catered to large groups and wedding parties), so we got extra attention from the staff. Such memories kept me from deleting the draft that had nothing but terrible pictures. Then my parents came to the rescue when they revisited Thien Phu in the spring and took some luminous shots, like the beef and shrimp salad above and the seafood stir fry on rice below.
The salad, like most Vietnamese salads soaked in that half sweet, half tangy mixed fish sauce, was yummy. The seafood stir fry was nothing beyond expectation, they said, but at the very least, Thiên Phú brown sauce was not fattily thick like that goo in Phở Hà’s pan-fried phở. Dad’s vermicelli with stir fried beef was a good sweep, as evident from its picture.
If you’ve read my blog for long enough, you probably would notice that my dad almost never orders anything but beef, while Little Mom goes for shrimp or fish nine times out of ten. Naturally, Thien Phu ranks high in my parents’ list because their specialties are the 7 courses of beef and the whole grilled fish.
We’ve never tried all seven beef courses at once. We just choose a few that sound most savory, and for this party of 5, something shareable. Like beef that can be wrapped in rice paper and dipped in sauces. The chunky, fatty steamed beef balls (bò chả đùm) was broken into coarser bits to be scooped with a rice crackers or wrapped with lettuce. Razor-thin leaves of still red beef were dunked into heated vinegar for a simple, tender, and tangy completeness of bò nhúng dấm. Halved shrimps joined the beef in a similar fashion to make tôm nhúng dấm. Dad even dipped it in mắm nêm (ground anchovy sauce) to tighten the taste.
Then there’s the good old style of flopping beef slices on a hot black grill pan and hearing it sizzle while loading the wet rice paper with bean sprout, herbs, pickled radish and daikon. I also put a slice of unripe banana in my bò nướng vỉ roll because its cookie-like texture and clinging aftertaste are fun, although they don’t add much to the roll as a whole.
Leaving the blurry images of December 2009, we’re back to the present: grilled beef ball on rice. The marinade was sealed inside its smooth, gritty texture, each ball was so juicy it would shame a plump mango.
The seafood dishes are not subpar either. Loaded with shrimp, squid, and broccoli, mì hải sản (seafood noodle) had the sweetness of hủ tíu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh ka tieu) and the strength (and curly noodles) of ramen. The more broth we drank, the more delicious it got.
But there is one thing that everyone gets when they go to Thiên Phú: the crunchy-skin grilled fish (cá nướng da giòn). The whole catfish is enough for two by itself, grilled hiddenly in the kitchen until its skin breaks a crackling sound and glisters like topaz, then it’s brought out to you topped with crusted peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Its flesh stays white, juicy and soft. Roll up a side piece, you can savor its pristine, naturally sweet taste or dip it in nước mắm. The second grilled fish I had here this May was better than the one I had in December 2009, and so were their beef dishes. It’s good to see a good place gets better.
Just watch out for bones.
Address: Thiên Phú Restaurant
11360 Bellaire Blvd Ste 100
Houston, TX 77072
(281) 568-1448
(in the same parking lot as Giò Chả Đức Hương)
Lunch for 5: $76.03
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your web site in web explorer, would check this?K IE still is the market leader and a huge component to other people will omit your wonderful writing due to this problem.
1Hello.This article was extremely remarkable, especially since I was investigating for thoughts on this subject last Saturday.
2When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Appreciate it!
3I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours as of late, but I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s lovely value sufficient for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the net will likely be much more helpful than ever before.
4What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its helped me. Good job.
5Some genuinely marvellous work on behalf of the owner of this site, absolutely great articles.
6Some genuinely superb info , Sword lily I noticed this.
7What i don’t understood is in fact how you’re now not really a lot more smartly-appreciated than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You recognize thus significantly on the subject of this matter, produced me in my view believe it from so many various angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated except it’s something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always deal with it up!
8I simply couldn’t leave your site prior to suggesting that I actually loved the usual information an individual provide to your guests? Is going to be back steadily to check up on new posts
9Fantastic goods from you, man. I have bear in mind your stuff previous to and you’re simply extremely great. I really like what you have received here, really like what you are stating and the way in which wherein you assert it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to stay it wise. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific website.
10I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognize in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
11It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
12naturally like your web site however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I’ll surely come again again.
13Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your great writing because of this problem.
14Would you be fascinated with exchanging links?
15I have read a few just right stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create this type of fantastic informative web site.
16Hi would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a honest price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
17Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a risky determination outstanding post! .
18Good, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.
19Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a leisure account it. Look complicated to far delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we keep in touch?
20hello!,I like your writing very a lot! share we be in contact extra about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this house to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look forward to look you.
21Thanks for the good writeup. It in truth was a entertainment account it. Look advanced to more delivered agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep in touch?
22I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
23Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say superb blog!
24An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
25I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.
26whoah this blog is great i like studying your articles. Stay up the great work! You understand, a lot of individuals are searching round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
27I’d must test with you here. Which is not something I often do! I get pleasure from studying a submit that may make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
28Yay google is my world beater assisted me to find this outstanding site! .
29you’ve a fantastic blog right here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my weblog?
30I went over this site and I believe you have a lot of good information, saved to fav (:.
31Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!
32I think that is among the such a lot vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is in point of fact great :D. Just right task, cheers
33Well I truly enjoyed studying it. This information procured by you is very useful for correct planning.
34Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
35I just could not depart your website before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
36horse gelatin
37Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get one thing done.
38You got a very excellent website, Gladiola I detected it through yahoo.
39Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My blog is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my users would truly benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thank you!
40I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i am satisfied to express that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to don’t disregard this web site and give it a look regularly.
41I’m impressed, I have to say. Really rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the difficulty is one thing that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I am very comfortable that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for something relating to this.
42I think you have mentioned some very interesting details, regards for the post.
43Hi , 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.
44Somebody essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular publish extraordinary. Excellent job!
45Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is really irritating. A good web site with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
46I think this is among the most significant info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really great :D. Good job, cheers
47You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
48I think this internet site has some very wonderful information for everyone :D.
49I’ll right away clutch your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
50