ĂN CỖ VOL. I - JULY 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. I - IMPERIAL FOOD CARVING ARTS OF THE ROYAL VIETNAMESE CITADEL

Before French colonization, Vietnam had a rich imperial culinary tradition dedicated to making food fit for the royal throne and its court. A host of culinary artisans would fashion ingredients into edible food art or table decorations before serving. In the centuries since the kingdom fell, the art form has mostly receded, and only a few today learn the painstaking carving techniques.

A VISUAL FEAST: EDIBLE ART AND INTRICATELY PREPARED REGIONAL DELICACIES FROM ACROSS VIETNAM

To highlight this vanishing tradition and bring it into a modern lens, the first event of Ăn Cỗ will feature the decorative food carving art and regional delicacies rarely spotted in restaurants abroad. Served in the height of summer in New York City, the dishes and ambiance will bring an abundant slice of the tropical colors and flavors from Vietnam.