If you’re a fake vegetarian like me, there’s no better place to eat than Southeast Asia.
Because the people of Cambodia & Vietnam are primarily Buddhist, they’ve developed a rich cuisine around the freshest of vegetables and rice.
And because they are poor, they eat what’s readily abundant in the fields and waters that surround them.
….Meaning fish is nearly always on the menu.
Plus lotus root, morning glory stems — and all kinds of gorgeous greens.
I’m sure I’ll insult both countries by conflating their cuisines (this is my graceful segue between writing about Cambodia and Vietnam, if you haven’t guessed) but they DO have a lot of the same dishes. It’s just that the Vietnamese have an overlay of Frenchified luxe —
… and their fish sauces, dipping sauces and accoutrements are really… oooh, la la.
Needless to say, I was delighted in BOTH countries with every single meal — from soup….
…to nuts…
and everything in between.
And guess what?
They even said I was awesome with my chopsticks!
Score!!!