In 'Eating Viet Nam,' Graham Holliday takes readers on a culinary journey through the vibrant streets of Vietnam, where every dish tells a story steeped in tradition and flavor. From bustling street markets to hidden eateries, this memoir invites you to savor the textures and aromas of Vietnamese cuisine alongside the rich culture that inspires it. With each bite, Holliday shares his personal experiences and the tales of the people who make this food possible. As he explores the connection between food and identity, readers are left craving not only the tantalizing flavors but also a deeper understanding of Vietnam itself. Join Holliday on an adventure that promises to awaken your taste buds and ignite a passion for this enchanting country.
By Graham Holliday
Published: 2016
"In every bite of pho and every bustling market scene, the true essence of Vietnam unfolds—not just in the flavors, but in the stories and the warmth of its people."
A journalist and blogger takes us on a colorful and spicy gastronomic tour through Viet Nam in this entertaining, offbeat travel memoir, with a foreword by Anthony Bourdain. Growing up in a small town in northern England, Graham Holliday wasn’t keen on travel. But in his early twenties, a picture of Hanoi sparked a curiosity that propelled him halfway across the globe. Graham didn’t want to be a tourist in an alien land, though; he was determined to live it. An ordinary guy who liked trying interesting food, he moved to the capital city and embarked on a quest to find real Vietnamese food. In Eating Viet Nam, he chronicles his odyssey in this strange, enticing land infused with sublime smells and tastes. Traveling through the back alleys and across the boulevards of Hanoi—where home cooks set up grills and stripped-down stands serving sumptuous fare on blue plastic furniture—he risked dysentery, giardia, and diarrhea to discover a culinary treasure-load that was truly foreign and unique. Holliday shares every bite of the extraordinary fresh dishes, pungent and bursting with flavor, which he came to love in Hanoi, Saigon, and the countryside. Here, too, are the remarkable people who became a part of his new life, including his wife, Sophie. A feast for the senses, funny, charming, and always delicious, Eating Viet Nam will inspire armchair travelers, curious palates, and everyone itching for a taste of adventure.
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“In every bite of pho and every bustling market scene, the true essence of Vietnam unfolds—not just in the flavors, but in the stories and the warmth of its people.”
Eating Viet Nam
By Graham Holliday
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Graham Holliday is a renowned author and journalist known for his engaging and insightful writing style. He has gained acclaim for his notable works, which include 'Eating Vietnam', a culinary journey through the vibrant and diverse food culture of Vietnam, and 'The Last Pirate of New York', a fascinating exploration of a bygone era. Holliday's writing often blends personal narrative with rich observations and cultural commentary, making his works both informative and captivating.
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