Better

whole chicken (preferably a hen for more meat and better flavor) • small bowl mung beans • small bowl white rice • small bowl glutinous rice • turmeric powder • small amount of julienned ginger • Green onions, perilla leaves, or fresh herbs to taste • Seasoning powder (or salt), ground black pepper

freshwater fish (this time I used grass carp) • Pork belly (the fattier, the better) • Seasonings: galangal, ginger, turmeric, shallots, sugar, fish sauce, chicken bouillon powder

beef sirloin, thinly sliced (200 grams) • medium yellow onion • lemongrass, use the tender white part • garlic • small shallot • Beef marinade: oyster sauce, black pepper, chicken bouillon powder or MSG • Thin rice vermicelli noodles, enough for serving • medium carrot • cucumber • little red radish and yellow radish (optional, I had extra so I added them) • Mung bean sprouts • Lettuce and fresh herbs (basil, fish mint, mint—use whatever you have) •

whole fish (any kind you like) • turmeric powder (fresh turmeric is even better) • cooking oil • lemongrass, thinly sliced • small chili pepper, thinly sliced • garlic, minced • small shallot, minced • water (about 480 ml) • Seasonings: salt, sugar, MSG (optional)

ripe bananas (the riper with brown spots, the better) • banana cake steaming flour • coconut milk (about 400 grams) • tapioca pearls • sugar (about 150 grams) • sesame seeds

fish (about 300 grams) • Pork fat or, even better, pork belly • Ginger, green peppercorns, chili, caramel sauce, and seasonings

pork leg bones (beef bones are even better) (about 700 grams) • beef brisket (about 800 grams) • onions • ginger • garlic • Green onions and fresh cilantro • sugar • Fish sauce, salt • star anise pods • black cardamom pods • cinnamon stick • coriander seeds •

plain baguette rolls (bánh mì) • chili satay sauce • Some fresh green onions, to taste • cooked sausages • Shredded chicken or pork floss, as desired (pork floss is recommended for better flavor) • chili sauce • mayonnaise

chicken (any type, but free-range chicken will taste better than regular broiler chicken) • Cilantro / Shallots / Red onions / Yellow onion / Scallions / Ginger • Seasonings: Chicken bouillon powder / Black pepper / Fish sauce • Pork paste (uncooked pork sausage) / Ground pork shoulder • Wood ear mushrooms / Shiitake mushrooms

fresh thin rice vermicelli noodles (about 1 kg, or as desired) • fried tofu • Pork loin (pork belly is even better) • Soy sauce • Minced garlic • Chili pepper • Sugar • Salt • Seasoning powder • Fresh herbs and vegetables (lettuce, cucumber, mixed herbs, cilantro)

broken rice (about 300 grams) • pork chops (about 500 grams, choose cuts with some fat for better flavor) • char siu seasoning mix • tomato sauce • large eggs • Green onions, cilantro • Chili garlic fish sauce • Seasonings

pork shoulder or loin, thinly sliced (choose cuts with a little fat for better flavor when grilled) (about 500 grams) • minced garlic • minced shallots • lemongrass, minced • toasted sesame seeds • fish sauce and sugar • soy sauce and vegetable oil • oyster sauce • honey

White or yellow Mì Quảng noodles (I prefer the yellow ones) • Free-range chicken, pork ribs or pork shoulder, quail eggs, shrimp • Shallots, small garlic (or pearl onions), green onions, seasoning: chicken bouillon powder, salt, sugar, fish sauce, black pepper • Annatto oil, turmeric powder • Vegetable oil (peanut oil is even better) • Crispy rice crackers • Fresh herbs: young mustard greens, Vietnamese balm, banana blossom • Hoi An chili sauce (store-bought or homemade) • Pickled shallots • Onion • Roasted peanuts

Cao Lau noodles (serves about 5-6 people) • pork belly – choose a cut with a bit more lean meat for better flavor and less greasiness • Fresh herbs: Use the classic herbs typically served with cao lau, such as baby mustard greens, Thai basil, Vietnamese balm, white basil, bitter herbs, and bean sprouts • Seasonings: garlic, shallots, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, chili, five-spice powder, lime, green chili

Plain yogurt (Greek yogurt is even better) • strawberries • Chia seeds • honey (optional, even better without) • unsweetened milk

chicken breast • soy sauce • honey (adjust to taste) • water (rice bowl size) • salt, pepper • cornstarch or arrowroot starch if available • chili powder, fresh chili, or sriracha sauce • bit of green onion (if available) • onion • bit of toasted sesame seeds (if available) • pan, personally I find it tastes better than using a pot

ground beef, the finer the better • medium tomatoes • onion, diced • medium carrot, diced

beef (choose cuts with tendons for better flavor) • Salt, seasoning powder, sugar, ground pepper • fish sauce • soy sauce • cinnamon powder • star anise, lightly roasted • cardamom pod, lightly roasted • onion, diced • unsalted butter • (3-4) fresh tomatoes • ketchup • tomato paste •

pork front hock • crab meat (fresh crab, pounded, is even better) • shrimp (about 200 grams) • pork blood cake • firm tofu • clear banh canh noodles (about 900 grams) • Chinese crullers (youtiao) • Lime, chili • Green onion, cilantro, seasonings