This Tet festival is the largest in the state, around 60,000 people are expected to go through the gates over the three days. As I’ve mentioned in a past noodlies Sydney food blog post, Chinese and Vietnamese share the Lunar calendar, so New Year’s Day is on the same day, this year it’s 3rd February.
But the animal for the year is different. 2011 is the year of the rabbit for Chinese but cat for Vietnamese. But I don’t go to Tet festival to argue over animals, I go because you get the greatest variety of delicious Vietnamese food.
Nem nuong: Vietnamese grilled pork is a party favourite because it’s easy to cook and easy to eat. But the version I had today (tipped off by another festival punter) was nem nuong from Nha Trang, from the south-central region of Vietnam.
What’s different? As you can see by the video, it’s the sauce. No runny stuff here, the sauce contains ground sticky rice and pork meat!
Another favourite is goi: Vietnamese salad. This version contains shredded green papaya, Vietnamese mint, prawns and a very, very special ingredient, shredded pigs ears. Watch the video to see what it looks and tastes like!
Something which you won’t get in too many Vietnamese restaurants is bo la lot, beef wrapped around betel leaf. It has a distinctive strong, but not overpowering taste, similar to banana leaf which works very well with the sweetly marinated beef.
We even transform the humble corn. You’re starting to see these at mainstream festivals everywhere, it’s grilled corn, protected by regular brushing of oil and shallots. Yes, who knew shallots and corn would work… actually, who knew you could grill corn?!
And finally to quench that thirst from the hot Sydney summer’s day or acquired from eating too much fish sauce, I’d recommend a glass of sugar cane juice. It’s a pure as you can get – the cane is squeezed and you get the juice, chilled with ice and cut with a little lemon juice.
Tet festival is a hidden gem and I’d encourage you to go one year.. even if it’s to support the Buddhist Scouts by playing housie!
Vietnamese Tet New Year Festival
Fairfield Showground
4-6th February 2011
Entry $7 adults, $3 children
Win in the New Lunar Year
Start your year with good luck by winning a 5kg bag of Royal Umbrella Jasmine Rice, new crop 2011. Email thang[at]noodlies[dot]com and tell me about a favourite family dish or meal. Why is it special?
I also encourage you to also share those memories with us by putting it in the comments section of this post.
The three most creative entry wins. Winning entries will be published on noodlies on 8 January 2011.
Prizes will be sent to addresses in Australia.
A few rules:
– 50 words or less
– Entries close 11pm, 7th January 2011
– Residents of Australia only
– make sure it’s full of love
wow what a great feasting event 🙂
Oh I wish I'd known this was on this weekend, the food looks FANTASTIC!
The food was fantastic, love this festival because there's a lot of Viet food. Sometimes I get disappointed with some festivals because they just sell stuff and groceries… but I come for the food
Wow, what a great festival! Happy 'Cat' New year!
Thanks Tina… I love cats, they desserve to have a year!
OMG had that salad before and couldn't work out the crunchy bits, so it was pigs ears all along, who knew, it wasn't really that bad actually.
gonna go back and have a good taste now I know what it is
Anon, I think it adds to the salad.. I would miss it if it wasn't there
hi people, happy new year! could you guys please let me know what time the event start and end at the show ground asap please? i need to take kids to the event quickly please thanks
It's on all day until late tonight… Smithfield Rd Fairfield, not far from intersection with Canley Vale Road, good luck
I reckon you be better off going around 7pm tonight when it's cooler
Oh I was just talking to mum the other day asking her if we could make Bo La Lop 'cos the betel leaves in the garden are just so lush at the moment, oh I hope this heat hasn't ruined them! Corn grilled with shallots and oil is like THE BEST! =)
You grow la lop?! That's just like my parents.. I tried, but it died from lack of water :(.
I love Viet grilled corn.. now they're selling them at any ol' festival, but it's just not the same as you get from Tet stalls
Wow, this looks great. I'm going to put it on the agenda for next year. I love papaya salad (never had it with pig's ears as far as I know) and I'm keen to try betel leaf asap.
Yeah, it's a real best kept secret, MelbaToast and it's not far from you. Parra has it's Lunar New Year festival this coming Friday, in your neck of the woods
Wonderful!!! Our local Tet festival got canned by the council due to some kind of stuff up with who was organising what. Very disappointing.
I do love grilled corn. In the Midwest USA where my husband is from, you keep them in their husks, pull out the silk (fluffy bit on the end), soak in water for about 45 mins and then grill in the husk. The husk acts like natural foil and it steams the corn beautifully. To eat, you peel the husk down like banana skin and hold it by the stalk to protect your fingers. With lots of butter – divine!
Hello Thang,
My favourite dish is Pho beef noodles, because I can eat it in all seasons and its never boring even when you have it too much.
Its special because everyone in my family enjoys it and we have it all the time.
Thank you.
Love Pho.. true, you can eat it anytime! Thanks Andrew for the comment