Cua Lo: "variations" with seafood specialties

(Baonghean) - Every summer, when the scorching sun heats up the crowded streets, I think of Cua Lo. As someone from Ha Giang - the northernmost land of the country, Cua Lo has become so familiar to me. That is, the blue beaches, the fine sand, especially the "heavy" dialect of the local people "ca co cuong, ca co song" which I could not understand at first. But Cua Lo is different from other coastal areas that I have been to, that is the dishes with a strong "Nghe" flavor, rich, typical...

KWhen I was still in school, I once wished to return to Nghe An, the land of revolutionary movements, the homeland of beloved President Ho Chi Minh and the landscape was affirmed by poetry as "beautiful as a painting". Later, as soon as I had the opportunity, I realized my childhood dream. Indeed, the first time I came to Nghe An was a very interesting experience for me. After visiting the relics, sightseeing at the temples and pagodas, we went down to Cua Lo. Before our eyes, Cua Lo beach appeared with a beautiful landscape, clear blue water, the wind blowing through the rustling rows of casuarinas. All the fatigue of the long trip in the hot summer with the burning southwest wind quickly passed, replaced by the feeling of eagerness to immerse myself in that blue water. Before, when I heard my friends praising the beauty of the beaches of Lan Chau, Xuan Huong, Song Ngu, Cua Hoi... I thought that those were just "marketing words". Only when setting foot on the sea, stretching out one's eyes to the vastness of the sea, one realizes that such praise is still far inferior to the beauty of the sea: "Lan Chau afternoon, the waves rustle/The green space of the dreamy sea"...

Internet photo

But the most impressive, most exciting and most awaited is enjoying Cua Lo seafood specialties. Having enjoyed seafood in many places, at many famous beaches: Nha Trang, Da Nang, Vung Tau... but the seafood in Cua Lo is different: more delicious, fresher, more attractive and very unique. First of all, Cua Lo seafood is very fresh, not soaked in urea, not frozen. Freshly caught squids sparkle; freshly unhooked shrimps snapping; freshly caught crabs still blinking; mackerel still wagging their tails... whatever you like, choose and ask the restaurant to prepare it.

Fresh seafood, under the hands of talented chefs, plus a little "secret" of the typical spices of Nghe An will bring you a strange feeling. You have to stretch all your visual, taste, and olfactory organs to enjoy it. For example, clam soup, a very simple dish. When cooking, you need to choose fresh clams that have just been raked by fishermen, wash them, boil them to get the water, separate the clam meat, the water is cooked with "snacks" but the difference here is that the "snacks" must have betel leaves. Indeed, I have eaten clam soup many times, but here the flavor is completely different, not only because the clams are still fresh, but in my opinion, the difference lies in the betel leaves, which add to the irresistible appeal of this dish. With the same fresh shrimp, crab, and oysters, when grilled, the chefs cleverly added some shallots and spicy chili peppers to increase the richness and attractiveness. With the same stir-fried squid, but adding some lemongrass leaves, the dish has a difference. Or simply it is just steamed crab, but adding lemongrass leaves, the dish has a variation...

Indeed, Cua Lo has given me one interesting surprise after another. As soon as the waiter brought the dishes we ordered, the excitement, the flavors, the colors... made it impossible for us to resist our cravings. I have enjoyed these dishes in many places, but I have never had this feeling, a feeling that I will never forget. Although I do not understand much about culinary arts, I can also secretly guess that the dishes here have reached the level of art in the way they are prepared.

The attraction of the culinary art here has made me, every time I intend to travel to the sea, the first place I "mark" is Cua Lo. With golden sunshine, blue sea, white sand, convenience, seafood markets and unique cuisine have created a rare attraction for Cua Lo, captivating tourists from near and far...

South Scene(take note)