A steaming bowl of bun bo Hue with rich, fragrant broth, tender pork hock and soft cubes of blood pudding prepared by his Vietnamese neighbors completely won over an American man and sparked a lasting passion for Vietnamese cuisine.
Visitors to the kitchen of Richie Crider, 55, in Washington, US, are often surprised to find shelves packed with Vietnamese ingredients such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, ginger, lemongrass and bo kho seasoning.
“For many years now, Vietnamese flavors have naturally become part of my family’s daily meals. If I make beef stew, I lean toward the flavors of Vietnamese bo kho. When grilling ribs, I love the lemongrass aroma and scallion oil style found in Vietnamese com tam,” Richie shared.
“My wife and I also start many mornings with Vietnamese iced milk coffee. We were never coffee addicts before, but that changed once we discovered Vietnamese coffee,” he added.
Richie Crider is a writer, editor and former catering business owner in the US. He now runs a TikTok channel with nearly 200,000 followers, where he regularly shares reviews of Vietnamese dishes and restaurants in America.
Surprisingly, Richie has never visited Vietnam and has no Vietnamese relatives. His love for Vietnamese food began entirely through his Vietnamese neighbors.
Richie Crider frequently shares his love for Vietnamese cuisine. Photos: Courtesy of the family
‘I never imagined Vietnamese food could taste this good’
In 2012, after his father passed away, Richie moved to Maryland to live with his mother. The neighborhood was home to many Vietnamese families who warmly welcomed him.
One evening, a Vietnamese couple, Mr. Dung and Mrs. Tina, invited Richie for dinner featuring dishes such as cha gio and bun bo Hue.
“The flavor was completely different from pho - richer, bolder and deeply aromatic. I especially loved the lemongrass broth, the soft cubes of blood pudding and the fatty pork hock,” Richie recalled.
Over time, the Vietnamese and American families became especially close. Whenever they prepared dishes such as bun, pho, roast duck or nem ran, Mr. Dung would often bring portions over for Richie and his wife.
“When we had free time, we watched videos about Vietnamese food and travel on YouTube together. Every time I mentioned a dish I liked, they would make that exact dish for me to try,” Richie said.
As time passed, he was introduced to even more dishes including bun rieu, bun oc and sour fish soup, helping him better understand Vietnam’s culinary culture.
The dish that impressed Richie the most was banh xeo. He was fascinated watching his neighbors pour batter into a hot pan, add pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, then skillfully fold the crispy pancake in half.
He also learned how to wrap banh xeo with herbs and dip it into sweet-and-sour fish sauce.
“When I bit into the crispy pancake, with all the fresh herbs and flavors combined, it felt like an explosion in my mouth. I simply couldn’t stop eating,” Richie shared.
Many times, Richie, his wife and daughter asked the Vietnamese family to prepare pho, hu tieu and bun dishes for coworkers.
“Whenever someone complimented the food, I felt happy because I was able to introduce people to the appeal of Vietnamese cuisine,” he said.
Richie and his kind Vietnamese neighbor known for excellent cooking. Photo: Courtesy of the family
Richie and his wife have both become devoted fans of Vietnamese food. Photo: Courtesy of the family
Proud to introduce Vietnamese cuisine
Later, Mr. Dung and his wife moved to Houston, nearly a 22-hour drive away, leaving Richie heartbroken. Before they left, he rushed to learn basic Vietnamese recipes from them.
His neighbors guided him through small Vietnamese grocery stores to find the right ingredients.
“They showed me which fish sauce brands they preferred, the herbs they used and even special cuts of meat that are hard to find in American supermarkets. We even found duck blood and snails to cook bun bo Hue and bun oc,” Richie recalled.
Even after the family moved away, the two households remained close through regular phone calls, with Mr. Dung and his wife continuing to teach Richie recipes remotely.
Richie followed everything he learned, prioritizing fresh ingredients and slow cooking techniques. He said pho broth, for example, must simmer for hours over low heat.
“That process taught me patience,” Richie shared.
Richie enjoys learning how to cook Vietnamese dishes. Photos: Courtesy of the family
He also became more involved with Vietnamese communities, visited Vietnamese restaurants and attended Southeast Asian cultural events. Richie proudly said he can now roll “10 spring rolls that all look identical” and confidently cook dishes such as bo sot vang, fried rice and bun cha.
A few years ago, Richie launched a TikTok channel called “Chu Giau” - a playful nickname inspired by the word “Rich” in his English name. Through the channel, he shares stories about kind Vietnamese people in the US, their love for their homeland and the way they spread that affection to those around them.
“I was surprised by how warmly people welcomed the channel. Many viewers even enthusiastically taught me better ways to enjoy and cook Vietnamese food,” Richie said.
“But perhaps the greatest thing I learned from my Vietnamese friends is their love for family, community and country,” he reflected.
Richie is now planning a trip to Vietnam. He hopes to enjoy a bowl of bun bo Hue in the city where the dish originated, meet friendly locals and explore the country’s beautiful landscapes.
Vietnamnet.vn
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