Michal Ansky and Ruthie Rousso are not only excellent cuisine experts in Israel but also speakers, food writers and judges of competitive cooking reality show such as Master Chef and Iron Chef. In the visit to Vietnam on the occasion of 20th anniversary of diplomatic relation establishment between Israel-Vietnam (1993-20013), Michal Ansky and Ruthie Rousso have chance to experience Vietnamese cuisine through traditional dishes. The following is a record of their feeling about Vietnamese cuisine.
What Vietnamese cuisine impresses you by?
The world is getting smaller and smaller and people are easy to move from this place to another. Thus, nothing more interesting than to enjoy dishes right in their own country. I am very glad about this visit to Vietnam which brings me interesting cuisine experience. I tried some Vietnamese traditional dishes such as rice flour steamed rolls, spring rolls…. their flavor is very special and you can not taste the same flavor in food of any other countries or even in any Vietnamese restaurants abroad. Cuisine is the best way to explore people and culture of a country. Just watch they cook and enjoy their food, you will see who they are!
What do you think about “street food culture” which is very popular in Vietnam?
I made use of my time to enjoy Vietnamese street food such as chicken noodles, bread, mixed fruits, roasted chesnuts, floating cakes…..and especially steamed beer, a really special beer. Everything is great! Your street food attracts me by its decoration, service quality and atmosphere. Everyone discusses and talks while eating. Vietnamese meals are full of emotion, very interesting and exciting.
In your opinion, what is connection between cuisine and tourism?
Being as cuisine expert, I think cuisine and tourism have close relation. Nowadays, tourism is becoming an enjoyable and popular activity. People have more and more chances to travel, explore different cultures and cuisines. Due to cuisine marketing, tourism will be also promoted and thereby attracts tourists.
After the trip, do you intend to introduce Vietnamese cuisine to Israel as well as other countries?
I will write down my feelings on your country, people and cuisine in particular. I have chance to taste amazing food and I will share my emotion to readers in Israel and over the world so that they could feel the attractions of Vietnam and Vietnamese cuisine as well.
We greatly appreciate your talk today!