Chả cá Lã Vọng facts for kids
 |
|
| Course | Entree |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Vietnam |
| Region or state | Hanoi |
| Created by | Doan family |
| Invented | c. 1800s |
| Main ingredients | Hemibagrus fish |
| Ingredients generally used | Turmeric-based sauce (inc. shrimp paste or fish sauce, ginger, and chili peppers) and herbs (e.g., dill, scallions or basil) |
Cha ca La Vong (Chả cá Lã Vọng in Vietnamese) is a super famous grilled fish dish from Hanoi, Vietnam. It's not just any fish dish; it's a special meal often enjoyed in restaurants. This tasty dish is made with a type of catfish called ca lang. The fish is cut into pieces and soaked in a yummy sauce made with turmeric, ginger, and sometimes chili peppers. Sometimes, a spice called saffron is used instead of turmeric. After marinating, it's lightly grilled over charcoal.
When it's served, it comes in a hot pan with more sauce and fresh herbs like dill and scallions. You eat it with thin vermicelli rice noodles (called bún in Vietnamese) and crunchy peanuts. Cha ca La Vong is considered a special treat in Vietnam because you usually find it in restaurants, not as street food.
Contents
History of Cha ca La Vong
The history of Cha ca La Vong is quite interesting. It all started in the 1800s.
How the Dish Became Popular
In the 19th century, a family named Doan was known for making delicious grilled fish for their neighbors. This dish became so popular that people in their community helped the Doan family open a restaurant. They opened it in 1871 and named it Cha Ca La Vong.
What Does the Name Mean?
The words "Cha ca" simply mean "grilled fish" in Vietnamese. The "La Vong" part came from a local statue. This statue was of a famous person named Jiang Ziya, also known as Lu Wang. He was a fisherman who later became an important politician. He showed that patient and talented people can achieve great things.
The Original Restaurant
The first Cha Ca La Vong restaurant opened at 14 Hang Son Street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. This was the same street where the Doan family lived. Doan Phuc and his wife Bi Van managed the restaurant.
In its early days, the restaurant was a secret meeting spot for people who wanted Vietnam to be free from other countries controlling it. Later, it became very popular with important local people and soldiers from French Indochina (when France ruled Vietnam).
The Street Renamed
Because the restaurant was so famous, other restaurants on the street tried to copy it. Some even used the exact same name! Because of this, Hang Son Street was officially renamed Cha Ca Street.
The original Cha Ca La Vong restaurant is still open in Hanoi today. It only serves its special grilled fish dish. Guests sit at communal tables and cook the fish on charcoal burners right at their table.
