About me

Hello! I’m Hương (Cielle), the passionate food blogger behind Savour the Pho. From Vietnam and now in Germany, I’ve launched this blog to spread my love for Vietnamese food as well as Asian cuisines.

I love cooking, travelling, practicing yoga, reading manga, listening to Korean & Japanese music, and learning new languages. I’m also a true history and culture nerd. That’s why you’ll find that I write a lot about the origins and stories behind the cultural recipes.

My goal with Savour the Pho? Bringing authentic Vietnamese and Asian food to a wider audience 😉.

What you could find on my blog?

I grew up in Nha Trang, a coastal city in South Central Vietnam, with parents from the North, and spent my college years in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). I also traveled a lot, exploring my motherland from the northern highlands to the southern beaches and Mekong Delta, as well as other parts of Asia, before moving to Germany for my studies.

This journey has given me a profound insight into how Vietnamese cuisine varies across different regions of Vietnam and how it differs from Vietnamese food in other parts of the world.

Even when Vietnamese food is prepared by Vietnamese people abroad, it often tastes quite different from what you’d find in Vietnam. These differences usually arise from adaptations to local tastes or ingredient substitutions.

In my recipes, I’ll provide insights into how the foods are traditionally prepared in Vietnam and offer suggestions for adapting them to your own kitchen. Whether you prefer to stick to the authentic recipe or put your own spin on it, the choice is yours!

Not only do I provide authentic recipes, but I also share regional dishes and Vietnamese aunties’ cooking tips that you can’t find elsewhere, along with local advice for dining and traveling in my homeland.

I hope that my blog can become your trusted source for information and demystification of Vietnamese and Asian cooking.

Articles on Vietnamese Cuisine:

My Favorite Vietnamese Recipes:

These lifesavers are perfect for lazy cooks (like me sometimes) who still want to enjoy amazing food.

Recreating the authentic flavors from my travel memories can be quite challenging. However, I love to experiment and recreate those cherished dishes in my own kitchen, where the results are often satisfying.

As for what’s cooking? My recipes are a blend of authentic and fusion flavors.

I enjoy baking but don’t have a strong sweet tooth, so my creations tend to be less sugary.

For these recipes, I use precise measurements in grams, ounces, or pounds rather than relying on cups. This is because in baking and dessert making, accuracy in measurement is essential for achieving optimal results.

So, that’s the scoop on me and Savour the Pho. If you’ve got some time to spare, roll on down and get to know the story behind Savourthepho. It’s a tasty tale 😆.

FROM VIETNAM TO GERMANY

Growing up in Vietnam, I was surrounded by a rich culinary culture filled with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Cooking was a cherished tradition in my family, bringing us together to share nourishing meals and stories around the table.

Vietnamese cuisine is incredibly diverse, encompassing not only Phở, Cà Phê Sữa Đá and Bánh Mì. From North to South, every region in Vietnam boasts its own specialty delicacies.

Upon moving to Germany for my studies, I deeply missed the familiar tastes of my homeland. This longing led me to experiment in the kitchen, recreating the beloved dishes I craved. It was during this period that I recognized a market gap for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

I found that many people primarily associate Vietnamese cuisine with popular dishes like “Phở,” “Bánh Mì,” and “Vietnamese coffee.” However, our cuisine encompasses much more than these well-known favorites.

During this time, my dear Chinese friend Annie asked me for my Nước Chấm (Vietnamese dipping fish sauce), and another German friend successfully made Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese spring rolls) with my guide.

These experiences further fueled my passion to share my recipes and cooking adventures with others.

I realized that cooking is not just about food – it’s a way to bring people together and share my culture and traditions with others.

This blog would become my cooking diary during my time in Germany. It also provided a convenient platform for sharing my recipes—with plenty of notes for foolproof results—with my international friends who may not be familiar with Asian cuisines.

MY BIG LOVE FOR ASIAN FOOD

In addition to my love for Vietnamese cuisine, I have a profound passion for Asian cuisines.

This interest began in my childhood when I developed a deep admiration for Japanese culture through manga and anime (which is why you’ll find my recipe for Dorayaki – Doraemon’s favorite dish!).

Japan holds a special place in my heart as my second cultural passion (I majored in Japanese economics). That’s why you’ll discover Japanese dishes on my blog such as Teriyaki Chicken and Chicken Karaage.

I’m also a big fan of Korean culture and Korean cuisine. My all-time favorite K-Drama is “Crash Landing on You,” which ignited my love for Chimaek—a delightful pairing of Korean fried chicken and beer.

Sometimes, I make Yangnyeom (spicy Korean fried chicken) and Dakgangjeong (soy garlic fried chicken) just for myself to enjoy.

Lastly, my love for Chinese cuisine was inspired by my dear friend Annie and my time living in Saigon. Living in Saigon’s China Town exposed me to the rich flavors of Cantonese, Teochew, and Hakka-style Chinese food.

Recent trips to Yunnan and Taiwan have further broadened my appreciation for the diverse range of Chinese culinary traditions.

Additionally, Annie from Beijing has played a significant role in nurturing my passion for Chinese cuisine, introducing me to numerous delectable northern-style Chinese delicacies.

Some dummy stuff about me:

• I’ve been a Kpop fan for 15 years, and I’m a proud Cassiopeia, the fandom of DBSK (Dong Bang Shin Ki/Tohoshinki). Their music has played a big role in my love for Korean and Japanese cultures (They are a Korean boygroup mostly active in Japan now).
• Not a vegan or vegetarian but I love eating veggies. I enjoy incorporating veggies into my recipes to make them more nutritious. Moreover, Vietnamese vegan food is just amazing, and my all-time favorite is Bun Bo Hue Chay (vegan Bun Bo Hue).

• Even though I now reside in Europe, I always seek out Vietnamese and Asian food during my travels, particularly in cities with vibrant Asian communities like Berlin, Paris, Prague, or Düsseldorf.

Stay Connected

Feel free to reach out to me via email at savourthepho@gmail.com for any Vietnamese or Asian recipe inquiries. As a new food blogger, your comments and feedback mean a lot and provide me with valuable encouragement 🥰.

Savour the Pho is written in both English and German. As neither English nor German is my native language and writing is not my strong suit, I often worry if my posts are well-written enough.

However, I strive to offer a detailed description of the cooking process and the flavor profile of each dish in every post. Despite any challenges, my goal is to share my passion for cooking through my writing and inspire others to try new recipes in their own kitchens.

Thank you so much for stopping by and joining me on this culinary journey! Cám ơn rất nhiều!!

Cielle