After 4 years interrupted by Covid-19 pandemic, this year, Pho Hien folk cultural festival is resumed. Joining the festival, people and tourists not only contemplate the typical cultural spaces at relic sites under Pho Hien national special relic cluster and dive into the busy atmosphere of folk games but also relish dishes imbued with rural feature of the longan land...

After 4 years interrupted by Covid-19 pandemic, this year, Pho Hien folk cultural festival is resumed. Joining the festival, people and tourists not only contemplate the typical cultural spaces at relic sites under Pho Hien national special relic cluster and dive into the busy atmosphere of folk games but also relish dishes imbued with rural feature of the longan land...

Cuisine stall of the city women's union association at Pho Hien folk cultural festival 2024 to introduce and sell special dishes

At Pho Hien folk cultural festival 2024, the Organizing committee arranges the central area to sell and introduce local specialties such as lotus seeds, dried longan seeds, honey, cassava starch, lotus seed and longan sweet soup, steamed harrow teeth cake (Banh rang bua),  Bun thang luon (rice vermicelli with shredded egg, pork, sliced pork paste and eel)

At the culinary stand of the Women's Union association of Hung Yen city, the typical dishes of ancient Pho  Hien are cooked skillfully, flavorful and arranged attractively, making a great impression on visitors. Women in traditional Ao Dai and Ao Ba Ba (the shirt of madam) rich in the North Delta's feature are busy cooking dishes, introducing Hung Yen cuisine to visitors

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nu, Chairman of the city Women's Union Association, member of the Organizing board of Pho Hien folk cultural festival 2024 said: "This year, Women's Union Association is tasked to take charge of the culinary stand. The standing committee of the city Women's Union Association thoroughly discussed, and agreed to choose special dishes of the province to introduce at the festival. In order to have tasty dishes, the city Women's Union Association mobilized officials and members to join and assigned the person in charge for each phrase, from purchasing materials to processing and introducing products.

Coming to Pho Hien Folk Cultural Festival, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, a tourist from Hanoi capital, was deeply impressed not only by the ancient relic space and solemn rituals but also by the unforgettable taste of lotus seed longan sweet soup - a dish with the quintessence of many precious products in Hung Yen such as lotus seeds, longan, cassava starch. Thanh shared: "I have had the opportunity to enjoy specialties of many regions, but for me, lotus seed longan sweet soup is still an extremely impressive and unforgettable specialty, which is not only delicious but also very nutritious".

At the food stall, the green color of the steamed harrow teeth cake on bamboo mats also attracts many visitors to enjoy. This is a famous dish of many localities in the province such as: Phung Cong ward, Van Giang town (Van Giang district); Thuan Hung ward, Dai Hung ward (Khoai Chau district). This dish is made from simple and easy-to-find ingredients such as: rice, pork, dried onions, wood ear mushrooms, Dong leaves, pepper. It is wrapped in Dong leaves, and steamed or boiled. What could be more heartwarming than tasting hot rice cakes, dipped in chili sauce or sweet and sour fish sauce, while admiring the festival scene and listening to the Ca tru singing and Trong quan singing performed by folk artists. Not only enjoy rice cakes on the spot, many visitors also choose to buy them as gifts for relatives and friends.

Bun thang (rice vermicelli with shredded egg, pork, and sliced pork paste) is another attractive dish. This is a rustic dish but elaborate in the way it is prepared. Unlike bun thang in other localities, in odder to create a standard Pho Hien bun thang luon people need to use about 20 different ingredients such as: vermicelli, eels, shredded chicken, pork paste, shredded eggs, Vietnamese coriander, and pork belly. The preparation of this dish is very elaborate, including many different stages. First, the vermicelli must be tangled and thin-striped, and  it will be blanched in boiling water to make the vermicelli softer before being put into the bowl. The pork paste is sliced ​​into thin strips; chicken eggs are thinly fried and then sliced ​​into strips. The pork belly is cut into the shape of long small rectangles and fried until crispy, and golden. Eels must be grilled before being gutted, then boiled; eel meet will be picked, marinated with turmeric and spices, and then fried until crispy. The broth has the sweetness of bone marrows and field crabs and shrimps. When eating, people usually add a little shrimp paste, served with raw vegetables including thinly sliced ​​banana flowers, Vietnamese corianders, lettuces, corianders, perillas, mints.

Rustic Banh duc (peanut rice flour cake) at Pho Hien folk culture festival 2024

Visiting Pho Hien folk culture festival, tourists can enjoy a rustic dish rich in country tastes, namely Banh duc lac. Banh duc is made through many steps. First, you have to choose good rice, then wash it, clean it and soak it in lime water for about twelve hours, then grind it into a smooth paste. The pot for cooking Banh duc is coated with a little bit of grease so that the flour does not stick to the bottom, then pour the flour in and put it on the stove to simmer, stir constantly so that the flour does not clump or burn, until the flour in the pot is thick, clear and smooth, then add the fried pork belly and wood ear mushrooms. The cake is scooped into bowls or made into square pieces, dipped in sesame or soy sauce, then, the fatty, rich taste melts in the taste buds.

Most of the dishes of the people on the longan land are created based on the harmonious combination of locally available ingredients, combined with the ingenuity to create unique traditional dishes. They are not only very eye-catching in appearance but also  attractive in flavors. It can be said that the dishes and unique flavors of the longan land's cuisine have contributed to attracting an increasing number of visitors to the festival.

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn