The folk cake festival with the theme “Homeland Flavor” took place in Bac Lieu City, an opportunity for locals and tourists to find their childhood memories through each rustic country cake. The event not only introduced traditional cakes typical of the West, when visiting, people could also directly witness the cake making process on the spot.
Reminiscing old memories
For a long time, traditional Southern cakes have been associated with the kitchens of families in the West, where the hard-working hands of grandmothers and mothers knead simple gifts from the countryside. Each cake carries the flavor of memories, from the days of Tet reunion to the rainy afternoons by the red fire.
This festival brings together more than 200 booths, including a separate area for traditional cakes of the Southwest region. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy familiar cakes such as banh da lon, banh bo thot not, banh khot, banh chuoi steamed, banh la mo, banh duc tendon... Each type of cake is not only a dish but also contains a part of the soul of the countryside, evoking childhood memories of many generations.
As one of the artisans participating in the Traditional Cake Festival - Taste of the Homeland, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Vy from Ben Tre province shared: "This is an opportunity for us to introduce the flavors of cakes with a strong Southern flavor to many people, helping diners better understand the sophistication and uniqueness of hometown cakes."
In addition to tasting traditional flavors, visitors can also see the process of making cakes here. Skilled artisans will demonstrate how to make banh bo and banh cuon, from mixing the flour, steaming the cakes until they are cooked and fragrant. This will definitely be an interesting experience, especially for those who have been attached to the image of their mother working hard by the fire to make cakes for the whole family.
Baker Nguyen Thi Thuy Vy introduces cakes at her booth to customers.
Preserving the taste of homeland
In the past, traditional cakes were mainly made in families during family gatherings and free time, from ingredients available in the home garden such as rice, sticky rice, coconut, banana leaves, pandan leaves... The cakes contained family affection, passed down from generation to generation. However, as modern life becomes busier and imported snacks take over, traditional cakes gradually become quieter. Only on holidays, Tet or special days do traditional cakes appear more on family trays. Therefore, this event is not simply a culinary festival but also an opportunity to preserve and promote traditional cultural values.
Participating in the festival, everyone feels like they are returning to a part of their childhood. Whether they are children far from home or tourists experiencing the culinary culture of the West for the first time, everyone will surely find a bit of familiarity, a bit of nostalgia in each cake, each aroma, each story that reminds them of the old days. Nguyen Minh Tuan - a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City shared: "Participating in the festival, I have the opportunity to enjoy many types of cakes that I had only known through the stories of adults. The delicious, rustic flavor of palm-shaped cakes, the fatty taste of green bean cakes or the crunchiness of banh khot made a great impression on me."
In addition to preserving the flavor of the homeland, the festival also plays an important role in creating an attractive tourism product for visitors to Bac Lieu. However, to increase interaction, there should be more activities for visitors to experience with the bakers, from choosing ingredients, mixing dough to completing the product. This not only helps visitors understand more deeply about the local culture but also creates unforgettable memories during their trip.
The Traditional Cake Festival in Bac Lieu City is not only a culinary event but also a journey back to the old days, where familiar flavors awaken memories and connect people with precious traditional values.
Article and photos: Thanh Mai
Source: https://www.baobaclieu.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/ngay-hoi-banh-dan-gian-huong-vi-ky-uc-quay-ve-99381.html
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