The story of the Cuban President and his wife's lunch with fried spring rolls and fish cakes in Hanoi

(Dan Tri) - Knowing that First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife like fish cakes and fried spring rolls, Ms. Le Thi Bich Loc (on Cha Ca Street, Hanoi) personally prepared them to treat the two distinguished guests.

At 10am on August 31, security at Cha Ca Street ( Hanoi ) was suddenly tightened with the appearance of the police. People around were curious, predicting that a special guest was about to visit.

Two hours later, a shiny black car stopped in front of house number 14 Cha Ca Street. The car door opened, and First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife stepped out. Smiling, they slowly walked into the ancient house.

Ms. Loc took a photo with the wife of the First Secretary - President of Cuba (Photo: Provided by the character).

Mrs. Le Thi Bich Loc (born in 1949, the homeowner) and her sister and a few relatives warmly welcomed the guests. On the second floor, a dining table with fish cakes, fried spring rolls and Vietnamese fruits was set up by the family to welcome the distinguished guests.

"The lunch was a family affair, not a diplomatic party," Ms. Loc shared with Dan Tri reporter .

According to Ms. Loc, the acquaintance between her family and Mr. Miguel's family originated from the marriage of her sister's son to a Cuban girl.

Fish cakes and fried spring rolls on the banquet table to entertain Cuban guests

A month ago, Ms. Loc received information that the First Secretary and President of Cuba and his wife would come to Hanoi to attend the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2. Due to security requirements, she did not reveal it to anyone and quietly planned a menu with a strong Vietnamese flavor.

The house where Mrs. Loc lives is also a famous fish cake shop in the heart of the old town, opened in 1871. Mrs. Loc is the fourth generation, continuing the business of her husband's family.

"During my three visits to Cuba, I had the honor of making fish cakes and fried spring rolls for Mr. Miguel and his wife to enjoy. Knowing that they both love these two dishes, I decided to include them in a special lunch," said Ms. Loc.

According to her, the dishes to serve the two distinguished guests were prepared according to the traditional recipe, without any variations or expensive ingredients added.

The fish cake restaurant has existed for more than 150 years on Cha Ca Street (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).

For fried spring rolls, she bought the following ingredients: black pork, chicken eggs, onions, jicama, shiitake mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms 1 day in advance. The pork was soaked in salt water, washed, and minced. The egg whites were discarded, and the yolks were mixed with the other ingredients. The jicama and onions were chopped to create a natural sweetness. The spring roll rice paper was crispy and not too salty so that it would not break after frying.

Before the guests arrived, the aroma of spring rolls filled the small kitchen. The woman in her 70s meticulously fried 30 spring rolls in chicken fat mixed with pork fat. She carefully turned the heat down low so the spring rolls cooked from the inside out, then increased the heat to make the crust golden and crispy.

“The spring rolls must be crispy but not greasy, dipped in fish sauce and eaten with herbs to be delicious. I wash all the raw vegetables carefully, each strand. Everything is prepared neatly, displayed on a white porcelain plate, looking very attractive,” she said.

The highlight of the dining table is the fish cake dish that Mrs. Loc put all her heart into. The way of preparation is kept the same as when serving diners every day.

To have a delicious dish, Mrs. Loc chooses snakehead fish weighing 3-3.5kg, raised in ponds or lakes. After cleaning, the fish is sliced ​​into thin slices, about two fingers long, clamped with bamboo, and grilled over charcoal by hand until both sides are golden brown. When eating, each piece of fish is placed on a pan with fragrant scallion oil, served with dill, herbs, roasted peanuts and vermicelli.

"Ten years ago, when Mr. Miguel's wife came to Vietnam, she ate fish cakes with shrimp paste. This time, they chose to enjoy this dish with fish sauce," said Ms. Loc.

Preparing the food to entertain Mr. Miguel and his wife required absolute care and safety. Mrs. Loc felt happy inside, because this was the first time the small house had welcomed two special guests from Cuba.

Mrs. Loc felt the simplicity and closeness of Mr. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).

Two hours before lunch, she and three employees finished everything. In addition to fish cakes and grilled spring rolls, the family prepared dragon fruit, longan, melon, lotus jam and tea to enjoy after the main meal.

"The guards carefully check each dish after it is prepared. Since this is the principle when receiving heads of state, I fully support it. Thanks to that carefulness, I feel more secure about the food prepared by my family," said Ms. Loc.

Lunch in a friendly atmosphere

To ensure the safety of the Cuban delegation, the fish cake restaurant did not welcome guests as usual. The atmosphere was tense, everyone tried their best to make the lunch perfect.

The dining area is located on the 2nd floor, next to the glass window overlooking the quiet street.

"On the simple wooden table, there are no fresh flowers or tablecloths. The family wants to keep the space rustic, so they don't prepare too elaborate decorations," Ms. Loc confided.

At nearly 12 o'clock, Mr. Miguel and his wife walked up the wooden stairs to the 2nd floor. There were 12 people for lunch, 7 from the Vietnamese side and 5 from the other side. The entire bodyguard force of more than 30 people stood on the 1st floor, constantly closely observing all the developments around.

The room where the memorable lunch took place - with the Cuban leader of Mrs. Loc's family (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).

Mrs. Loc said, sitting down at the table, after a warm greeting, Mr. Miguel and his wife skillfully picked up the noodles with chopsticks. The host sat on the opposite side, directly put the fish into the pan, added green onions and dill, stirred well, and invited the two special guests to enjoy.

Throughout the meal, the Cuban leader displayed a simple demeanor, praising the fish cakes and grilled spring rolls.

"The lunch atmosphere was very cozy, the conversation was intimate like old friends meeting again. Previously, the Cuban leader had promised to visit my family when he had the opportunity to come to Hanoi. This time, he and his wife fulfilled their promise, expressing their gratitude for the warm and thoughtful welcome," she shared.

During the meal, the First Secretary and President of Cuba's wife happily recalled the first time she ate fish cakes prepared by Ms. Loc 10 years ago.

After the main meal, Mrs. Loc placed a plate of sweet red dragon fruit, longan, and melon on the table to invite Mr. Miguel, his wife, and the guests. She personally made tea - infused with lotus flowers picked in the summer. The fragrant aroma spread throughout the space, making everyone admire.

Over a cup of warm tea, Cuban guests chatted with Mrs. Loc's family, sipping on the pure white lotus jam with a sweet taste that slowly melted on the tip of the tongue.

"Mr. Miguel especially likes dragon fruit and lotus jam, and his wife highly praised Vietnamese fruits for their fragrance and freshness. I was pleased to choose seasonal fruits, simple and rich in Vietnamese flavor to serve our guests," she shared.

Souvenir photo before the First Secretary - President of Cuba and his wife left Mrs. Loc's house (Photo: Provided by the character).

Around 2 p.m., lunch ended. The Cuban leader went downstairs and quietly looked at the time-worn objects on the wall. He carefully looked at each photo, praising the ancient beauty of the house.

Before getting in the car, Mr. Miguel and his wife took a souvenir photo with Mrs. Loc's family and said thank you for the delicious lunch. When the car left Cha Ca Street and safely arrived at the hotel, the whole family could truly breathe a sigh of relief.

"For a family lunch, I believe that preparing it with all my heart will surely satisfy the diners," said the owner of the famous fish cake restaurant.

Cuba as a second home

At the age of 76, having traveled to many countries around the world, Ms. Loc always considers Cuba as her "second homeland". The tree-lined streets and friendly people of the Caribbean island nation leave her with many beautiful memories.

In 2016, when she first set foot in Cuba, she was impressed by the ancient neighborhoods and large squares in the center of the capital, La Habana. The last time she visited the neighboring country in 2019, the woman could not forget the image of the city affected by a big storm, many roads were flooded.

Before returning to Vietnam, Mrs. Loc and her sister were invited by Mr. Miguel's family to dinner. In the context of Havana having just experienced a storm, the simple dinner with a few simple dishes but warm with family affection moved everyone present that day.

"For me, that is an unforgettable memory. Without needing a lavish feast, I was moved by the sincerity and closeness that Mr. Miguel and his wife showed to the Vietnamese people," Ms. Loc expressed.

According to Mrs. Loc, during her visits to Cuba, her family felt the special affection and deep attachment that the people of this country have for Vietnam. It is this affection that makes everyone feel the warmth even when standing in a foreign land.

The fish cake restaurant on Cha Ca Street, Hanoi, owned by Mrs. Loc's family, was opened in 1871 by Mr. Doan Xuan Phuc and his wife, Bi Thi Van.

According to Ms. Loc, Mr. Doan Van Phuc once followed the Yen The uprising movement of Mr. Hoang Hoa Tham to fight against the domination of French colonialism.

During hard times, the elderly often ate raw fish salad. To ensure hygiene, Mr. Doan Van Phuc and his wife improved the dish to grilled fish on charcoal, served with dill, onions, and shrimp paste.

In 1871, Mr. Doan Xuan Phuc and his wife decided to open a restaurant to both earn money to support their family and serve as a meeting place for patriotic scholars.

Through many ups and downs, Mrs. Loc is the daughter-in-law of the Doan family, the fourth generation to continue the family tradition of selling fish cakes.

She said she will pass on her craft to her grandson so that the next generation can keep the famous dish in the hearts of diners.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/chuyen-bua-trua-voi-nem-ran-cha-ca-cua-chu-tich-cuba-va-phu-nhan-o-ha-noi-20250904230808499.htm