Asian Sweets and Treats

My husband and I were born and raised on opposite sides of the world.  As a result, our food preference is also a world apart, especially when it comes to sweets.  He grew up eating cakes and cookies for desserts, so has a huge sweet tooth.  My sweet tooth is practically non existent.  My desserts were bananas right off the tree in our backyard after each meal.  It was one of my fondest childhood memories growing up in Vietnam, as expressed by the excitement on my face when I saw this nostalgia inducing banana stalk.

Bananas at a Hawaiian farm.

Asian desserts in general include a lot of fruits and are not very sweet by American's standard.  Many are influenced by former European colonial rulers & traders (also not as sweet).  French pastries, for example, are very popular in Vietnam.

If you're like me and don't like your desserts overly sweet or just curious about Asian desserts, here are three places in town you can check out.

JW Cafe & Bakery | Korean
2301 Terra Crossing Blvd, Suite 105
Louisville, KY 40245
(502) 907-5248

This brand new Korean bakery just opened two weeks ago in East Louisville, the first of its kind here.  My foodie buddy Mia texted me yesterday morning and I was literally there in 20 minutes.  Grab a tray and fill it with pastries displayed on a small table, then head to the counter for cakes, a croissant sandwich or salmon salad.  Pair your sweets with some coffee, tea or bubble tea.  I thoroughly enjoyed the flaky croissant, with the perfect amount of sweet glazed on top.  The owner brought us a complimentary piece of cake that's light and soft.  The mango bubble tea was good, though not the best in town.

Complimentary of the owner

Photo Source: Mia

Mango bubble tea

Those used to larger Asian bakeries in cities such as Atlanta and Houston will be disappointed by the smaller selection, but can still appreciate the delicious and beautifully made desserts.  I'm hoping once the business is more established, the selection will grow.  The cafe itself is bright and cutesy, perfect for a coffee break with your buddy.

0 Degrees Ice Cream | Thai
5000 Shelbyville Rd
Space 5820 (Inside Mall St. Matthews by Cinnabon)
Louisville, KY 40207
(646) 736-8173

If you've seen videos of rolled ice cream made in the streets of Thailand, you know what this place is all about.  If you haven't, here's a quick version.

This extremely popular ice cream trend is well established in large cities but just made its way to Louisville last year.  First, choose a suggested combo or create your own, next the ice cream is made right in front of your eyes.  What makes this different is that the finished product is rolled into smaller rolls and topped with additional goodies.  The selection here is small and is a bit pricey ($6.59), but it's fun to watch and eat.  My matcha ice cream was okay, I recommend the Pink Lady.

Matcha

Pink Lady

Menu. Source: 0 Degrees Facebook.

DaLat's Gateaux & Cafe | Vietnamese
6915 Southside Dr
Louisville, KY 40214
(502) 368-9280

For French inspired Asian pastries and Vietnamese desserts, head to DaLat's in ethnically diverse South Louisville.  The pastries are not as sweet, decently priced and plentiful.    There's also a good selection of bubble tea, coffee and smoothies. My favorite here is the bacon onion buns.  They also have a good selection of Vietnamese savory snacks, such as snail sausage, banh mi, jerky, etc.

Pastries. Photo Source: Shelley S.,  Yelp

For special occasions, you can pre-order cakes too.  Due to language barrier, be very specific with your request to avoid any confusions.

Our wedding cake from DaLat's

The picking is a bit slim here because of the smaller Asian population in Louisville, but I'm hoping that will change soon.  I also found desserts from other ethnic eateries to my liking as well, check out the paletas (ice cream bars) at Panchito's and Bosnian pastries at Jasmin's Bakery.

Great Vietnamese Food & Entertainment This Weekend at Tết

What’s your favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Louisville?...Beside Vietnam Kitchen.  I know it’s an American favorite, but you don’t see many Vietnamese eating there for a reason.  While the menu is large and the food decent, it’s not great Vietnamese food.  Here’s my analogy, it’s like going to McDonald’s for a generic burger vs. grilling your own juicy burger at home or invite yourself over to your neighbor’s house for same such delicious burger.  If you’re looking to expand your food comfort zone a bit and venture into someone else’s backyard for a juicy burger, er.. great Vietnamese food, you’re in luck.  This weekend isTết or Vietnamese New year Celebration and the perfect time to do so.

Every year, the Vietnamese Community of Louisville Inc. coordinates Tet for a community of 10,000+ people, attendance is around 400+ people.  It is the one event of the year that brings everyone in the community together to celebrate our cultural tradition and heritage.  Full disclosure, I’m on the Board so you’re getting some inside info!

Location
Iroquois High School
4615 Taylor Blvd
Louisville, KY 40215
Auditorium & Cafeteria 
(Look for the big yellow and red banner at the door)

Time
4:00 – 8 p.m.  official time
5:00 – 9 p.m.  rubber band time
We coin the term “rubber band time” to describe the tendency of Vietnamese people to show up  30 minutes or even an hour late to an event.  The program will start at 4 p.m., but usually the place will not get very crowded until 5 p.m.
    

Traditional ao dai. Photo by Nicole V.

What to Expect 
A little bit of chaos.  Our community is growing.  We’re the second fastest growing minority population (after Hispanics) so expect to see a lot of tight jeans wearing teens and wailing babies.  It’s high energy, crowded and lots of people moving about, just like any public event you go too.   You’ll just feel hyper aware of it because you’ll be one of the few brave culturally curious souls there that’s non-Vietnamese.  You might think everyone is talking about you, but I guaranteed only ½ of them are.  Kidding! We applaud and welcome you for getting out of your comfort zone.   

People will talk during performances in the auditorium, groups will congregate in the cafeteria and hallways.  But that’s because this is one of the few events where people get to see each other.

The Louisville Lion Dance Team.  Feed the lions money as they dance for good luck!
Photo by: Frank B.

Entertainment
The entertainment lineup consist of a traditional ceremony, local singers crooning new year melodies, traditional and hip hop dances by youth groups, a raffle for a free tv, etc. Special to this year is the Mrs. Vietnamese Kentucky Pageant, its aim is to honor the role of the Vietnamese women in the family and society.  Having worked closely with the group, I’m excited to see these courageous, talented and fun loving women on stage.  Also, special to this year’s entertainment is a dance retelling one of the most epic revenge stories in the world by two Vietnamese sisters, think elephants and an epic battle to the death.

Friendly faces selling foods.  Photo by Uyen N.

What to eat
My favorite part!  This is the place to try delicious (cheap) food beyond the Vietnam Kitchen’s menu.  You’ll find homemade favorites like banh mi sandwiches, soups (usually pho or bun bo hue), rice crepes, roasted pork, grilled meat and vermicelli noodles, papaya salads, egg rolls, snacks, desserts and drinks.  Items vary from year to year.  Most of the items are pre-made and on display, so if it looks good, grab it. Not sure what it is? Ask someone, they’ll be happy to help you out.  The foods are made by individuals and nonprofit organizations looking to raise money.  Cash only.     

The food vendors will be set up in the cafeteria.  After you entered the main entrance, go straight and take a right down the hall way at the end.  Cafeteria is on your left.  Cafeteria opens at 4:30 p.m.

If you venture out, look for me.  I’ll be happy to give you a tour!  Hope to see you there!

Vietnamese Foods in Louisville - Something for Everyone

*Updated: 1/13/2018*

A conversation between myself and someone I just met often goes like this:

New Friend: So where are you from Thao?
Me: Vietnam….
NF: Oh, I love Vietnam Kitchen! (A South Louisville restaurant) or
NF: So where is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Louisville?

I love food too, thus this usually leads to an epic conversation about Vietnamese eateries and foods in general.  So new friends, let's get this Vietnamese food conversation out of the way. I love lists but I’m hesitant to make a list of “Best Vietnamese Foods in Louisville” because everyone’s taste buds are different.  Instead, here is a list of Vietnamese foods for different types of personalities.


For the Authentic Vietnamese: If you’ve grown up eating Vietnamese food or enjoy the weirder side of Vietnamese food, this is for you.  Service at these places is usually sparse.

Pork & Rice fro. Thuy Van (pic. by Uyen)

• Thuy Van Café $ | 5600 National Turnpike #3, Louisville, KY 40214, (502) 366-6959.  This place has the best and most authentic Vietnamese food in town, 90% of patrons at this restaurant are Vietnamese.  The menu is smaller but the pho, soups and other traditional dishes are prepared as they would be in Vietnam, with lots of flavor and authentic ingredients.  You’ll find pork feet and blood sausage in your Banh Canh Gio Heo, tripe with your Pho or a side of fermented shrimp paste with your Bun Rieu.  For the less adventurous, the Vietnamese sandwich, Grilled pork with rice or noodles, are delicious alternatives.
  
• A-Chau Restaurant $ | 5103 S Third Street, Louisville, KY 40214, (502) 364-4262.  A Chau is the newest addition to the Vientnamese food scene in Louisville and worth a trip to south Louisville to check out.  I do have a personal connection here but trying to be as fair as possible.  I wasn't wild about the food initially, but after a few recent changes I can honestly say that I am enjoying the food a lot!  My husband's favorite is the banh mi thit nuong (grill pork sandwich), it's crunchy and crusty on the outside loaded inside with grill meat, picked daikon and carrots, and the usual toppings.  My new favorite is the grilled lemongrass pork vermicelli bowl, the meat is savory and flavorful there's lots of it!  My sister says the pho is just like mom's, so check it out. 
  

  

  Grill pork banh mi. A Chau Restaurant

  
  

  

  Lemongrass pork and vermicelli. A Chau Restaurant

• Da Lat's Gateaux and Bakery | 6915 Southside Dr, Louisville, KY 40214, (502) 368-9280. This is a bakery so there are many French influenced baked goods and sweets, Vietnamese snacks and drinks. You’ll get decent banh mi and smoothies here.  My favorites: the bacon buns, pate chaud and cha oc (snail sausage).  

For the Newbies: If you’ve never had Vietnamese foods before or are new to Vietnamese foods, these are safe bets.  I compare them to burgers at McDonald’s versus burgers at your local restaurants, still good burgers with all the basic ingredients but lacks authenticity and oomph.

Rice vermicelli bowl from Vietnam Kitchen.

•  Vietnam Kitchen $:  5339 Mitscher Ave, Louisville, KY 4021, (502) 363-7535.
  The most well known and most popular among Americans, VK is a great introduction to Vietnamese food.  The foods taste good and a bit Americanized as to not overwhelm newcomers with an influx of exotic flavors.   They have the most extensive menu ranging from traditional dishes, curries, appetizers, and vegetarian choices.  I’m not a big fan of the soups here (Pho, Bun Bo Hue etc.) but I like the appetizers (beef/shrimp salad, bot chien, etc.)
• Annie’s Café $: 308 W Woodlawn Ave, Louisville, KY 40214, (502) 363-4847.
  A smaller version of Vietnam Kitchen but Annie’s has some Chinese dishes on the menu.  Annie is the friendliest owner, always full of smiles and conversations.  The menu slightly smaller but the food is good.  I like her soups better thank VK's.
• Mimosa Café $$: 1543 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204, (502) 459-1259.
  Conveniently located on Bardstown Road, Mimosa is the largest in size but provides a feeble introduction to Vietnamese food.  They have a large Chinese menu as well (I think the owner is Chinese).  The food is just okay and not my go to place when I crave Vietnamese Food.
• La Que $: 1019 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204, (502) 238-3981.
  Also by the same family that runs Lemongrass.  The menu includes a good number of Thai dishes.  The food is decent and worth a try.
  
• Pho Ba Luu $$: 119 East Main Street, Louisville, KY 4020, (502) 384-6822.  If you are Vietnamese or are used to eating authentic Vietnamese food, you won't like this place. If you've had Vietnamese food casually, chances are you would like that they have to offer.  This is my least favorite in town, the pho is bland and the meat in the banh mi has little flavor.  The restaurant itself is beautiful and the staff is friend.  But expect to pay more for the food because of the Nulu location.
• Pho Cafe $$: 1704 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205, (502) 916-2129.  This is another new addition to the Louisville scene, conveniently located on lively Bardstown Road, right next door to popular Sapporo's.  I haven't been here yet so can't report, but friends say it's not as good and expensive for what it is.

For East Enders (St. Matthews, Middletown Areas): The prices are steeper, the food are more Americanized but conveniently located so you don’t have to trek across town to South Louisville.  To be fair, I’ve never been to these three places so can’t write too much about them.  From what I’ve heard and saw on Yelp, Vietnamese don’t like them but American visitors enjoy them.

• NamNam Café $$: 318 Wallace Ave, Louisville, KY 40207, (502) 891-8859
• Lemongrass Café $: 11606 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY, (502) 244-7110
• Saigon Café$$: 106 Fairfax Ave, Louisville, KY 40207, (502) 893-7757

For Funky Fusion Fanatics | Health Nuts.  These restaurants take a basic Vietnamese dish and reinventing it or adding their own flares.  The result is a tasty version of something that’s inherently Vietnamese, but not really dishes you’ll see in the streets of Vietnam.

Crepes from Four Sisters

• Ngon Appétit $$:  1991 Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, KY 40206, (502)-822-3377.  Former Four Sisters closed up shop on Frankfort Ave and moved here to Ngon Appétit offering their usually favorites such as coffee, crepes, banh mi and now with the addition of Northern style pho (no hoison sauce, bean sprout or herbs).  I haven't been yet but since it's still the same owners, I can venture to guess that their crepes and banh mi's are still delicious, though on the pricey side because of the neighborhood.
  
• Heart and Soy | Roots $$:  1216 Bardstown Road, 502-452-6688.  The focus here is more on healthy vegetarian eating, so some dishes came from a Vietnamese idea, but the ingredients make it into something different.   

  

  Sizzling rice and vegetables. Roots
• Zen Garden$$: 2240 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, 502-895-9114.
  My favorite Vegetarian restaurant in town. There are many vegetarian versions of traditional Vietnamese dishes as well as Chinese dishes.  The Fried Shiatake is my favorite.
• Basa Modern Vietnamese$$$$: 2244 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY, 40206(502) 896-1016.  Basa is a fine dining experience, so expect beautiful plates/atmosphere, small portions and steep prices.  The chefs reinvented and fused elements of French/American cooking into traditional Vietnamese dishes.  *CLOSED*

Shrimp salad from Basa

• Banh Mi Hero$$: 2245 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY, 502-456-2022.  Banh Mi Hero is run by a very young entrepreneur in his early 20s (His family owns Annie’s Café).  The place offers large and filling Vietnamese sandwiches and tacos. *CLOSED*

Banh Mi Hero

**A little bit about the Vietnamese community here.  There are more than 10,000 Vietnamese living area, concentrated around 3rd Street + Southside Drive (South End of Louisville).  We are currently the second fastest minority group in Louisville, after Hispanics.  Check out this website to learn more about the stories of Vietnamese living in Louisville and here for the Vietnamese Community of Louisville Facebook Page.