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Field notes

Vietnamese coffee and food, explained.

Five short reads on what we pour and what we ladle, from the phin filter on the counter to the broth on the stove. Ten minutes with these and the menu will feel like an old friend.

  1. 01CoffeeThe phinA small metal filter, a slow drip, and a bean most of the world overlooks. This is how Vietnam drinks coffee, and why it tastes the way it does.2 min
  2. 02CoffeeThree coffees you have not had yetEgg, salt and coconut. Three coffees that each began as a clever fix in one Vietnamese city, and each earn their place on our board.2 min
  3. 03KitchenPhở, properlyPhở is Vietnam's noodle soup: a clear beef broth that takes a day, a bowl that takes ten minutes, and a few habits that make it right.2 min
  4. 04KitchenBánh mì, oh so briefBánh mì is the Vietnamese baguette: a light, crackling loaf packed with pâté, pickles and herbs. Here is what goes in it and why it has to crunch.2 min
  5. 05First visitHow to order like you have been beforeA few words to say, one sauce to understand, and a country in three lines. Nobody minds if you point. This is for anyone who would rather not.2 min