DAC BIET : AN EXTRA-SPECIAL VIETNAMESE COOKBOOK / Nini Nguyen with Sarah Zorn ; photographs by William Hereford.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A NPR BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR * A STRATEGIST BEST COOKBOOK TO GIFT THIS YEAR * A SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE BEST BOOK ABOUT FOOD OF THE YEAR A collection of contemporary, extra-special Vietnamese recipes, from beloved classics like Hanoi-Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork and three variations of phở, to dishes with a New Orleans twist, like Southeast Asian Jambalaya and Sticky Fried Shrimp Bánh Mì--from Top Chef contestant and acclaimed chef Nini Nguyen

In Vietnamese culture, to be dac biet is to be special and luxurious, or, as chef and cooking instructor Nini Nguyen puts it, it means adding something a little extra, like salty caviar on top of squid-stuffed pork, a surprise note of ginger and lime in a dipping sauce, or sautéing shaking beef in farm-fresh butter for a creamy, delectable experience. Born and raised in New Orleans by Vietnamese immigrants, here Nini gives us recipes that fuse the best of Vietnamese and New Orleans cooking and clear directions on how to prepare and arrange them, making for a flavorful, unforgettable experience that proves that being a little extra is easy and just right.

Dac Biet includes one hundred delicious and vibrant recipes that celebrate the essential flavors of Vietnam--salty, sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet--and the bright and perfectly balanced dishes they create. Here are recipes for:

*Charbroiled Oysters in Chili Butter * Viet-Cajun Seafood Boil * Phở with Everything * Crispy Fish Sauce-Caramel Chicken Wings * Broken Rice with Pork Chops and Eggs * Crispy Noodles Covered in a Saucy Stir-Fry * BBQ Pork Ribs Glazed with Roasted Nước Mắm Sauce *Coconut Crispy Rice Crepes * and many more

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (viii)
• 1 All About the Sauces/Sôt (1)
• 2 Drinking Snacks/Mó Nhâu (37)
• 3 Have You Eatern Rice Yet? An Com Chua (66)
• 4 Noodles/Bún (91)
• 5 Breads and Pasteries/Bánh (138)
• 6 Meats + Poultry/Thit (185)
• 7 Seafood?Dô Biên (218)
• 8 Pickles and Vegetables?Dô Chua + Rau (256)
• 9 "Not Too Sweet" Sweets/Mô Ngot (289)
• Acknowledgments (330)
• Index (332)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Dac Biet, meaning "special" or "distinctive," applies as much to these beautiful dishes from Vietnamese American and New Orleans--born chef Nguyen as it does to her exploration of an immigrant community in the Big Easy. Nguyen shares the deeply personal story of turning down Top Chef to tend to her brother while he battled cancer (she later competed in two seasons) alongside the history of NOLA's Vietnamese community, like the Vietnamese fishermen whose work the city relies on. Bright yellow mango slices dipped in chili sauce showcase both succulent produce and the intricate nail art of the hands holding it, a nod to the talented Vietnamese women who found jobs and community in the U.S. nail industry. Another spread features Nguyen's grandmother peeling dozens of baby white eggplants, driving home the importance of family in the author's culinary narrative. Dishes ranging from fish-sauce caramel chicken wings, rice salad with clams, fried shallots and lemongrass, and Southeast Asian jambalaya (featuring Dungeness crab, Creole seasoning, and jasmine rice) will leave readers salivating and wishing for a warm plate to appear immediately before them. Nguyen captures the attention of both palates and minds in this superb blend of food, memories, and history.