ĐẶC BIỆT
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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 đặc biệt 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.
Đặc Biệt 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
“Nini Nguyen fills this debut cookbook with her signature exuberance and soul, shining light on her New Orleans community and delicious Vietnamese American experiences.” — Andrea Nguyen, James Beard Award-winning author of The Pho Cookbook and Ever-Green Vietnamese
“The love shines brightly in all aspects of Nini Nguyen’s Dac Biet: from the heartfelt stories of her Asian American upbringing, to the detailed explanations behind each ingredient choice to the delicious and easy to follow recipes themselves. This is a must-have cookbook for any serious home or professional cook!” — Anita Lo, James Beard Award-nominated chef and author of Solo
“Having Nini share with me her perspective on cooking has been one of the great privileges of my cooking career. She’s taught me some of the coolest stuff I know! Her food is grandma-inspired Vietnamese food dialed up to ten, from the perspective of a true New Orleans original. A book with all her recipes in one place just may be the greatest thing that has ever happened.” — Mason Hereford, chef and New York Times bestselling author of Turkey and the Wolf
“This brilliant, beautiful book celebrates Vietnamese culture through food and showcases Nini’s compelling story, from her upbringing in New Orleans to her career in New York City. But most importantly for home cooks, Nini—who is one of the best teachers I know—has produced an invaluable guide to the fundamentals of Vietnamese cooking.”— Chef Mei Lin
PRESS
Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars alum Nini Nguyen won our hearts with her enthusiasm and innovative dishes pairing her Vietnamese heritage with hometown New Orleans flavors. In her debut cookbook, she does as the title suggests: gives us something special. Dishes Nguyen prepared with her grandmother bring traditional flavors to our home kitchens, and I love her witty anecdotes and notes—if it’s a recipe that’s going to take extra time, but is totally worth it, she lets you know. Inspired by the gorgeous photographs and clear directions, I’m definitely going to host my own spring roll party after adding this beauty of a cookbook to my shelf. — Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
The importance of Vietnamese cuisine to the identity of New Orleans food is undeniable. That’s why we love hometown hero and Top Chef alum Nini Nguyen’s recently released Đặc Biệt: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook, which contains a “recipe for every occasion,” says Nguyen. All of those recipes include a touch of đặc biệt, or something special — a way to elevate, to make a dish more distinguished. For instance, steam eggs to a jammy consistency instead of hard-boiling them for her version of bắp cải luộc chấm nước mắm trứng (steamed cabbage with fish sauce egg), or top pork-stuffed squid with a dollop of caviar. — Clair Lorell, Editor
I have been cooking my way through Dac Biet—a beautifully textured cookbook from chef Nini Nguyen. The recipes are Vietnamese often with a New Orleans spin, like Southeast Asian Jambalaya, Curry-Blackened Fish, and Vietnamese-Style Beignets. I started with the Sticky Fried Shrimp Bánh Mì, a brilliant crossover between po’boys and bánh mì. Cornmeal-fried shrimp are topped with fish-sauce caramel. I stuffed (okay, overstuffed) my spicy mayo-smeared baguette with pickled carrots and daikon, planks of cucumber, cilantro, and the lacquered shrimp. My only regret is not having napkins at the ready. — Nina Moskowitz, editorial assistant
Don’t skip this book’s introduction, because the key to making home-cooked meals dăc biêt (that is, something special) is revealed right off the bat. Fans of Nguyen from her Top Chef appearances will immediately recognize her vibrant personality in the narrative and recipes, as well as her cuisine rooted in her Vietnamese heritage and New Orleans upbringing. Bright and enjoyable, the colorful photography reflects the layout, which cleverly uses hot pink to highlight the ingredients for quick shopping lists and recipe review. Guides, tips, and pairings are everywhere and make readers feel as though Nguyen is standing next to them, giving a helping hand. Traditional dishes such as bánh mì and pho are covered at length, but Nguyen also surprises with her Viet Cajun Seafood Boil and other innovative fusion dishes. Recipes run the gamut from easy-to-execute weeknight dishes to more elaborate fare. The phrase “less is more” needs to be thrown out the window with this collection that covers recipes for all occasions, cooking skills, and appetites—all with delicious results.VERDICT Nguyen’s delicious efforts to bring her unique cuisine and personal style to print will be a hit with fans and newbies alike. — Reviewed by Sarah Tansley, Jul 01, 2024
According to New Orleans-based chef and teacher Nini Nguyen, “Đặc Biệt” translates loosely to “extra special,” a term that could also be applied to her first cookbook. In addition to the classics (pho, bánh cuón) Nguyen freely riffs on French and Vietnamese techniques and ingredients, as in the succulent and acidic Shaking Beef with Watercress Salad, or mouth-puckering, juicy Shrimp Caramelized with Tamarind. When you feel unadventurous, simple dishes like ginger-braised chicken and cabbage charred with garlic will do nicely. But chances are Nguyen will convince you, like me, to finally venture into shrimp paste territory. Don’t fear the fermented! — T. Susan Chang, food writer
Learn to cook three variations of pho with all the trimmings, a Viet Cajun seafood boil and an addictive ginger scallion sauce you’ll want on just about anything, all in this cookbook by two-time “Top Chef” contestant Nini Nguyen. Dac biet means “special” in Vietnamese, and Nguyen, born and raised in New Orleans by Vietnamese immigrants, uses the title to highlight her special twists on classic Vietnamese and Cajun dishes in the 100 recipes inside the book. Her distinctive point of view shines in culinary inventions like coconut crispy rice crepes and a banh mi-po’ boy mash-up. — Devorah Lev-Tov