ĂN CỖ VOL. II - NOVEMBER, 2023

WHAT IS ĂN CỖ?

A passion project by Thu Buser, Ăn Cỗ is a limited event series that spotlights lesser-known regional Vietnamese dishes and traditional food art with a new menu each time.
Every event includes rare ingredients and materials flown in from our friends & family in Vietnam and is served as a sit-down meal to be enjoyed in an intimate setting.
To bring out these rare flavors, we pair key dishes with wine and a little storytelling about the dish.
Ăn Cỗ means “attending a banquet” in Vietnamese, and signifies our invitation for you to experience our food and culture across the entire series.

ĂN CỖ VOL. II - THE LEGEND OF THE DRAGON KING & THE 100 CHILDREN OF ANCIENT VIETNAM

Modern-day Vietnamese trace their heritage back to a mythological founding by an ancient dragon king. In the legend, he fathered one hundred children with a fairy goddess – fifty of these children moved to the fertile coastal regions, while fifty ascended to the shrouded jungle hills. When most people think of Vietnamese cuisine, they think of the Kinh, the people of the rice fields and cities of the lowlands, but few know that they are but one of 54 ethnicities that call Vietnam home. Today, Vietnam’s mountainous regions are still peopled by these many tribes.

AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE CUISINE OF THE HIGHLAND TRIBES

The Highlands cuisine is rooted in the earthy flavors of forest spices, grilled meats, and young bamboo, and makes up an important part of Vietnamese culinary tradition. Set in November in the middle of autumn in New York, the event transports us to the cool, muted colors of the Vietnamese highlands, featuring a modern take on the unique flavors of Vietnam’s mountain regions alongside thoughtful wine pairing to showcase these little-known culinary delights.