Buzz
Mrs. Ngọ's cozy family eatery (Vinh City, Nghệ An) is always bustling with customers drawn by its traditional flavors.
From humble street vendor to city sensation: The renowned eel establishment of Vinh
For ages, eel porridge or eel vermicelli has been a delicacy that captivates travelers whenever they stop by Nghệ An province. Nestled in a small alley at the beginning of Dốc Thiết street in Vinh City, Mrs. Ngọ's restaurant is renowned for its longstanding traditional cooking methods.
Mrs. Ngọ, whose real name is Đậu Thị Hiền, is over 90 years old. Her daughter-in-law, Nguyễn Thị Thủy, shared that she has been entrusted with her mother-in-law's 'brand' for nearly 20 years. 'Since she was young, my mother used to roam the streets selling food. When I became her daughter-in-law, she was already elderly, so I took over and started the restaurant at home,' Thủy recounted.
Thủy has inherited and faithfully maintains her mother-in-law's cooking secrets. She still uses the same recipe. The eels at the restaurant are sourced from Yên Thành, about 70 km away from Vinh City. 'Every day, they bring the eels here, and we start the initial preparation in the early afternoon,' Thủy explained.
After being brought in, the eels are soaked in salt until all the slime is gone. Then, the chef cleans them with warm water and squeezes them with lime before boiling them in a pot. 'The eels are briefly boiled with turmeric to reduce the fishy smell,' revealed the restaurant owner.
After sautéing the chopped onions with fragrant oil, the eels are added to the pan along with some cornstarch, chili powder, turmeric, and ground chili. The seasoning also includes turmeric and a bit of ground chili.
'I don't really have any fancy secrets. Whether the food tastes good or not depends on whether the chef skillfully blends the spices,' said Thủy.
Every day, the restaurant owner and her family wake up at 3:30 in the morning to start preparing the broth. If the soup is cooked directly with the eels, it will have a richer flavor, but preparing the broth separately is more elaborate. Thanks to simmering with pork bones, the broth has a natural sweetness.
The restaurant's menu features two main dishes: eel soup and eel porridge. Customers can order a bowl of soup with bread, rice cake, or a bowl of eel porridge for prices starting from 30,000 VND per serving. For an additional 10,000 VND, you can add a few pieces of processed eel to your bowl.
When served piping hot, the aroma of eel meat and various herbs and spices will leave you amazed. While enjoying, diners can add a bit of pickled chili or fresh chili to enhance the flavor.
Small, slender freshwater eels, with firm flesh that has been meticulously cleaned, boasting an eye-catching golden hue and a deliciously unique flavor. The porridge is creamy, fragrant with the scent of rice, and brimming with plump grains.
Despite being nestled in an alley, the restaurant still offers spacious and airy seating. There is a parking lot with attentive attendants. Guests can choose seating in two different sections of the establishment.
According to Di Vỹ/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourMay 21st, 2019
