A trip to Cabramatta and an announcement
Delicious Xoi chien gion – crispy sticky rice at Bau Truong
Cabramatta, so close to home but it seems half a world away. A recent visit (with some lovely ladies) saw us picking our way through bustling streets, down tiny alleys lined with fabric shops, pre-prepared take-away food, fruit and vegetable shops with their produce beautifully laid out, and butchers shops selling the all the parts of the beast. Oh, and there was much eating, of course.
Early lunch at Bau Truong, Cabramatta
Adventurous ordering, and not just pointing randomly at the menu, saw us order crispy sticky rice (top image) with such a satisfying chew that there was a chopstick war over the last slivers. Ca ri de or goat curry is a creamy stew, spiced with almost indian flavours and a few large chunks of tender goat. I never knew that this kind of a dish was Vietnamese, and I can’t help but drink the liquid that remains.
The food here is almost Vietnam cheap and so fresh. The advice is to eat anywhere there is a line, or just come to do some grocery shopping. That is what my travel agent recommended, anyway.
I know what you’re thinking, and the answer: No, Cabramatta may be little Vietnam but Sydney-siders don’t need the expertise of a travel agent to come and visit. Just jump on a train and soon enough you’ll be in the heart of the closest thing we’ve got to the hustle and bustle of downtown Ha Noi.
Announcement
I require a travel agent because I am actually going to Ha Noi. Not just visiting either, I’m moving there, for a time. Packing up all my worldly belongings (what an emotional rollercoaster that is), and soon enough I’ll be hopping a plane to start an amazing adventure.
What does that mean for Pikelet & Pie? Minimal interruptions, I hope. I will have access to a full kitchen that barely gets used (Hi PMum!), and this blog will continue chugging along with perhaps a slightly more Vietnamese bent. Right now I am working hard getting organised to go, and ever-so sadly packing up all my cookbooks, crockery and equipment. To be entirely honest, I’m finding this the most difficult part right now – what do you mean I have to stop cooking? I’ve got so many recipes that I want to test, ingredients to use up, but time is running short.
Before I leave I have a some special posts that I hope to produce plus I’m visiting the farm which is wonderful inspiration, but unfortunately has very limited internet (but I’m sure that an internet-less week won’t kill me, right?).
Oh and I almost forgot, I am doing a countdown on my other blog, days til I leave. I will continue writing less food related content there, so check it out!
I have some jetsetting months ahead of me, first to visit family in Australia as I only have a one way ticket so I don’t know when I’ll be back again. Then I’ve a few weeks in Malaysia, then some months in Vietnam. I am excited, terrified, and hungry, and this little excursion to Cabramatta only whet my appetite for more.
If you have any tips (dining or otherwise) for Brisbane, Malaysia or Vietnam I would love to hear them. Or, if you think I should visit a certain place in Malaysia, let me know.
Here’s to new adventures further afield!
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17 Comments
Moving to Vietnam? Oh my gosh, that’s so exciting. Congratulations and best of luck with the moving. I definitely look forward to the in-Vietnam posts.
.-= kathryn´s last blog ..Quicklinks =-.
Ahh I’ve been waiting for this post, love the shots of all the vegetables
I’m honestly in awe that you’re taking a chance and doing something exciting and scary, I wish I was braver. I’m glad we’ll get to catch up lots before you leave, I’m going to have to think of more places you should visit in Malaysia!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Mandarin & Lavender Cream Pots with Pashmak =-.
Such an exciting adventure ahead. Why go to Little Vietnam when you can do the real thing! Looking forward to catching up before you leave and yes, with all these blog posts to look forward to, surely it’ll be like you never left
.-= Helen (Grab Your Fork)´s last blog ..North Bondi Italian Food, Sydney =-.
Aww so sad to see you leave
You’re so corageous to leave everything, I definitely admire that in you! It’ll be amazing, especially all the foodie adventures 
Can’t wait to read your international blog posts and hopefully catch up with you in VN?! How awesome would that be 
Best of luck to you xx
.-= Betty´s last blog ..Uchi Lounge, Surry Hills =-.
Ugh I’m so jealous and sad that you’re going but what excitement! Ooh and have fun eating in Malaysia!
I’m also glad that your blog will be carrying on cos then it’ll feel like you haven’t fully left us
And I can’t wait to read all about your SE Asia eating! I’m planning on a Viet trip in the next few years so it’d be great to catch over pho in Hanoi.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Le Grand Cafe by Bécasse, Sydney =-.
Have a great trip!
.-= Arwen from Hoglet K´s last blog ..Chorizo Cups =-.
Oh what wonderful colours in Cabramatta! And all the best in Vietnam!
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Sticky Date Pudding =-.
good riddens I say! dibs on the cookbooks hehehehe.
.-= SydneyCider´s last blog ..Wild Blackberry and Lemon Zest Jam =-.
Congrats on the impending move–how exciting! Looking forward to what you cook up over there. And these photos are just stunning.
.-= Ricki´s last blog ..Sold on Old: My Mother’s Vegetable-Bread Kugel =-.
Hope you have wonderfully tasty adventures ahead!!! We will most definitely miss you though X(! But glad to hear that the posts will still be chugging along
How wonderful! I was just in Hanoi in July and loved it! I can imagine it’s going to be quite an amazing experience to live there for a few months.
If you like bun cha, you must go to the best place in the old quater for this; Bun Cha Dac Kim, #1 Hang Menh St (photos here: http://formerchef.com/2009/07/10/food-in-hanoi-vietnam-day-2/ ). Out of our 12 days in Vietnam, this was probably our favorite meal.
I have a bunch more recommendations for places listed on my food blog and even more travel related stuff on my travel blog (www.wired2theworld.com) if you are interested.
Have a wonderful time!
.-= Kristina´s last blog ..Easy Tuesday Dinner; Pasta with Pancetta, Arugula and Pecorino =-.
I still can’t believe Cabrramata is just a half hour drive, and you get all these authenticity of asian cultures!
Good luck with your move to Ha Noi! You’ll be greatly missed by Sydney bloggers, but looking forward to reading your exciting adventure from there!
.-= Yas @ hungry.digital.elf.´s last blog ..Behind the scene at Yas’ Meat house. =-.
Is it still going to be called Pikelet and Pie when you start doing the Vietnam-based posts? How about… Flan and Chè?
Congratulations!
We went to Vietnam in 2006, and had an amazing time. We especially loved the old town in Ha Noi, and Ha Long Bay. And if you get to go a bit further afield, Whale Island near Nha Trang is very beautiful.
You can see all our adventures on my blog, starting in January 2007.
Bon Voyage!
.-= Lara´s last blog ..Why Nestle Sucks =-.
kathryn: Yes, I’m terribly excited! Thank you
Steph: Thanks for your kind words, would love some tips!
Helen (Grab Your Fork): Totally, I don’t like to do things by half!
Betty: Yes yes yes! Thank you, would LOVE to catch up in VN, would be hilarious
Karen: Catch up of Pho in Hanoi? I’d prefer to catch up over fresh beer and random weird snacks, how does that sound?
Arwen from Hoglet K : Thanks Arwen, I most definitely will
Trisha: Even better colours in Vietnam! Thank you.
SydneyCider: Bwahaha, you got more than you bargained for with those cookbooks huh?
Ricki: Thank you!
FFichiban: Totally, they’ll be full of random delights too, much more interesting
Kristina: Ha! That is my favourite bun cha (http://www.pikeletandpie.com/2009/01/i-love-bun-cha/), best meal ever
Thanks for the tips, Ill have a look through – I know you’ve got good taste if you like Bun Cha Dac Kim!
Yas @ hungry.digital.elf.: I’ll be back! I hope you all remember me
James Foster: Haha how about pancake and fritter?
Lara: Thank you! I never got to Whale Island, maybe next time
You should contact a flicker friend CY Phang that lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can send her a note through her blog at http://cookingheals.wordpress.com/. I think you two would get along really well and you share very similar interests from what I can see. I’ll also check to see if I know anyone living in Ha Noi and get back with you.
Gary
.-= Gary´s last blog ..Big Eye Tuna, Watermelon, and Cucumber Tartare =-.
I’ve only discovered your blog in the last couple of weeks, look forward to seeing your foodie posts from Vietnam. There are so many great places to eat and wonderful ingredients to cook with in both Malaysia and Vietnam. I’ve only been to KL but it was an incredible place. I think in my time there I found a favourite place to eat Malay, Chinese, and Indian food. The Restoran Yusoof dan Zakhir (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/restaurants/390929) was far and away my favourite Indian place, the staff were like so many of the people I met in Malaysia made me feel at home. The tandoori chicken and naan bread were incredible and both made me sad that I wasn’t going to India for the summer as planned (I was in transit in KL Airport to Mumbai when the latest attack there happened) but also happy to have found a little corner of southern India here. There is a great Claypot Chicken place on Jalan Sultan in Chinatown, it is almost opposite the Swiss Inn near Jalan Hang Lekir. They’re one of the night market stalls that pop up seemingly out of no where but make such memorable food. The Old China Cafe at 11 Jalan Balai Polis, again in Chinatown did great nonya style food in an interesting venue. I had lots of different Laksa while I was in KL but I think the one here was possibly the best. I’m going back to Malaysia next year on a slightly more planned trip and can’t wait to visit these places and so many others again.
Vietnam is a little harder because so many of the memorable places were little places that didn’t really have names. The Pho was good everywhere that I went in VN but Pho 2000 in Saigon (near the Ben Thanh Market) was worth a look for far more than the fact that Bill Clinton once ate there. The fresh seafood in Na Trang was amazing, it is all laid out on ice in front of the different places and you pick what you want cooked and how.
Hope you enjoy your travels, good luck.
.-= Darren´s last blog ..Australia =-.
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[...] We took the kids down to Picton to experience Rosh Hashana and it only seemed fitting to take something appropriate. Honey cake is The Cake of Jewish New Year. This recipe is from Pikelet & Pie, who is about to embark on quite the life adventure. [...]