Week: Thur. March 30th
I swear I was one of those unexplainably skinny Vietnamese men in a previous life. Or at least that’s what I wake up thinking every morning when that wicked hankering for a hot bowl of pho kicks in. But pho is really nothing more than a soul-soothing Vietnamese comfort food commonly slurped up at any hour – morning, day or night. Much like cereal to us here in the States.
Here in the ATL, our vastly improving food scene is thriving with steamy high-energy pho parlors but sorely lacks in the way of Vietnamese restaurants. So, I’m wishfully thinking we’re witnessing the beginning of a new culinary trend – the Vietnamese charcoal grill. There's just something about fish sauce soaked meats and seafood that instantly enamors us. As it should, the end result is vibrant flavor with hallucinatory levels of smokiness
Who Dunit?
It was Ky Nguyen who first introduced us to this style of cooking. For those of you who don’t know, Nguyen was the original chef at popular C’om Vietnamese Grill but now does his thing as chef/owner of Grape Leaf Grill in Marietta.
I wish...
Wouldn't that be cool if we had one of these in every neighborhood? Absolutely. And while I'm wishing for the unlikely I'll just go ahead and wish for a truly free America.
But let's be realistic, we have a far better shot of seeing the charcoal grill movement invade a neighborhood near you. After all, this concept is catching on and the newly opened Chau’s Vietnamese Grill in Duluth hopes to cash in.
The menu is kept simple – you have your usual options of bun and c’om, a few chef specials and whole catfish. Unfortunately, no flat rice vermicelli offerings, no duck and no lamb stew. However, I’ve been informed they do beef 7-ways, though, not listed on the menu.
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Charcoal grilled beef stuffed grape leaves
Type of Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address/Tel:
3545 Peachtree Ind. Blvd Tel: 678-417-1511
Recommended Items: Grilled Pork Spring Roll, Bahn Mi, Beef 7-Ways, Pork Bun w/Grape Leaves
Price:
Under $15 per person
Decor:
Pleasant and simple, very clean
Hours:
Dialy: 11am - 10pm
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