Com, the special gift endowed by Autumn -- Eating

Com - special food in for Hanoi's Autumn

View Photos (3) Image © 2010 Allison Dinh

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http://vietnamhotels.net/travelguide/detail/com-the-special-gift-endowed-by-autumn/

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Inexpensive

Description:

Every autumn, when the cool north-westerly wind brings cold dew, the sticky rice ears bend themselves into arches waiting for ripe grains because these rice grains are at their fullest and the rice-milk is already concentrated in the grains, and the local farmers will know it is time to make "Com" – a specialty made from young green sticky rice.


"Com" is often eaten by hand, directly from the lotus leaves, a pinch at a time. When eating "Com", you must enjoy slowly and chew very deliberately in order to appreciate all the scents, tastes, and plasticity of the young rice which is sweet, nutty and buttery.

Green sticky rice cakes are sold on Hang Than Street. Sticky cakes stuffed with green rice are sold on Hang Dieu Street and Quoc Huong green rice paste is sold on Hang Bong Street. Restaurants also offer dishes involving "Com", such as chicken stewed with herbs and green rice, or green rice served with fried shrimp.

Published on 10/5/10