New York Times gets its noodlepie

Writing in The New York Times Travel section, Taylor Holliday (no relation) gives noodlepie a mention, which is nice:

"And as far as virtual guides go, you could not ask for a better one than Noodlepie (www.noodlepie.typepad.com), where a British blogger who goes by the name Pieman is diligently eating and reporting his way through Ho Chi Minh City's market stalls and street food. His cheeky musings and plentiful photographs are a terrific primer on the "scoff & swill in Saigon." (For example, here's Pieman on pho: "Vietnam's national dish, a belchworthy beef broth, belongs in scuzzy shacks, floors littered with broken chopsticks and cheap napkins, and not the poncey tables of nouvelle cuisine, restaurants with chamber music or the 'ethnic' section of the Hilton breakfast buffet.") Noodlepie also has links to the local English-language food press and to helpful Web sites such as Elephantguide.com, serving expats in Vietnam."

I didn't meet Taylor in Saigon, but we did correspond before and after her trip. She tells me she particularly enjoyed the crab shack I suggested she try near Hoi An. Here what she said in the NYTimes:

We hopped in a cab for the short drive to Cua Dai Beach and the amazing crabs at Quan Nhan (9 Thanh Tay). The Russian couple who shared our taxi were heading to the dining room of a luxury beach resort and looked a bit bemused when we tumbled out at this roadside shack. I admit to a moment of doubt myself as we entered the dark, rough-hewn room with almost as many Buddhist altars as stainless-steel tables, and a rooster crowing somewhere in the back. All was well, though, when the beautiful proprietor greeted us warmly and began presenting the catch of the day for our inspection. After letting the little monsters crawl on the floor to prove their freshness, she returned them, tamed by an indefinable, sweet and earthy sauce. Our crabs, prawns and bucket of beer totaled $25 - no doubt triple the locals' price, but a bargain to us.

And here's what I wrote for another publication about the same joint:

“People from Danang travel 30km to eat here,” says Van Thi Tran, the owner of Quan Nhan, a specialty crab restaurant on the Cua Dai beach road, just outside Hoi An. “There are at least 100 restaurants here now, but we were the first,” says the 32 year old of her ramshackle roadside restaurant. She refuses to buy farmed crabs, “They are not sweet enough,” she insists, but it’s the sauce – a blend of ginger, lemongrass, sugar, salt and pepper – that has made her name in Hoi An and Danang. Every spiced bite arrests the tastebuds allowing the sea fresh morsels of soft white crab meat to melt through. Justin, the photographer, is (almost) speechless. “If she could vacuum pack this fresh and ship it to Singapore, the States or Hong Kong, she’d make a fortune,” he says, his eyes watering with pleasure.

Quan Nhan, 9 Thanh Tay, Cam Chau, Cua Dai, Hoi An. Tel: 84-511 862261

Some of the finest crabs anywhere in Vietnam, the secret is in the sauce. A no frills restaurant where food comes first and aesthetics are an afterthought.

If you're one of the several thousand newbies who got here via the NYTimes piece, may I suggest you use the Google bar top right to search the site or scour the categories in the left hand column.  There's more food blog press here. Enjoy.

Comments

[Suebob]

No, didn't get here via the NYTimes but want to be first to congratulate you on the press anyway. I found you on foodpornwatch.net.

Love your blog. Great writing!

[OMIH]

Nice on - world domination can surely only be a matter of time.

Just got back to Hanoi from the UK. Strange - it's the UK that seems surreal now rather than Vietnam. Should I be worried?

[pieman]

Thx Suebob - much appreciated. OMIH - welcome back and thanks for the timely reminder ;)

No, don't be worried. Whenever I go back to the UK I rabidly look forward to it. Within a few days, after a few decent pints, a bag of twiglets, can of irn bru, some fig rolls, fish n chips and a decent brekkie I'm a bit bored. the surreal bit takes a couple of years to vanish... IMO.

[OMIH]

Thanks for the mention again - very good of you - especially on the back of your NYT hits boom.

We'll build that new home yet.

[pieman]

Let me know if it helps, if you actually find that info out. My stats do show quite a noticeable erection since the NYT mention, which should please someone.

[Lei]

The publicity is well-deserved. Hope it brings you great wealth and riches! ;)

[josie]

Credit where credit is due! I've been enjoying your blog since the time of the Bloggies. I was one of many who voted for your blog. Keep up the wonderful reviews.