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From Cub motorbikes, a bottle of fish sauce is made that is as expensive as perfume.

Việt NamViệt Nam21/11/2024


The French man surprised many people when he founded his own unique Vietnamese fish sauce brand, also known as Uncle Ben's fish sauce.

Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 1.

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau (right) and 2-Michelin-star chef David Toutain in Paris with the fish sauce recipe created by Mr. Benoit

Old Honda Cub and the "fish sauce journey"

PV: Thank you Mr. Benoit Chaigneau for taking the time to talk to Thanh Nien Newspaper. What was the opportunity that brought a French man to love and be attached to Vietnamese fish sauce, sir?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: Thank you Thanh Nien for your interest in my fish sauce story. I have spent 20 years of my life working in the television industry in France as a journalist, food critic and TV presenter. I have traveled the world to meet top chefs, experiencing more than 200 Michelin-starred restaurants.

In 2020, I had a 3-week business trip to Vietnam but ended up stuck due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I couldn't work, couldn't see my family and children for a year and a half and during this time, instead of being depressed, I decided to do something meaningful.

Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 2.

Stuck in Vietnam due to Covid-19, French man discovers Vietnamese cuisine and becomes interested in traditional Vietnamese fish sauce

I decided to explore the secrets of Vietnam’s wonderful culinary culture. One day, I went to a village in Quang Nam where more than 60 households make fish sauce. I spent a lot of time convincing a family to show me how to make this special condiment. Understanding the process of fermenting fish sauce, I found it magical.

* So that's how your own fish sauce recipe was born?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: That was just the basics for me to know about how Vietnamese fish sauce is made. You know? Then I traveled from Cao Bang to Ca Mau on my old Honda Cub 78, stopping at hundreds of fish sauce factories to understand the differences between the regions where fish sauce is produced.

From there, I started creating my own recipe from blending the best spices from the land and combining the best ingredients from the sea. Then suddenly it appeared!

Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 3.
Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 4.
Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 5.

On an old motorbike, the French man traveled to many old fish sauce making regions to explore

Making fish sauce is not easy and I do not do it alone. I am working with a family with a long tradition of making fish sauce in Quang Nam and I just add creative recipes to make it unique. My recipe cannot exist without the traditional knowledge and experience of the local people.

* How is the flavor of your fish sauce different from traditional Vietnamese fish sauce?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: The difference is that after a year, I add some spices to the fish sauce and let it marinate for another 3-6 months. The spices will bring out the smoked flavor and also the very strong umami (meaty) flavor. I don’t want to use MSG like some people do, so I need to find natural ways to achieve this flavor. It’s been a long research process. Now I’m working on some new recipes for the future, but the smoked fish sauce is still my top product.

Fish sauce is as expensive as… perfume?

* Your fish sauce spray is considered by many to be as expensive as perfume, what do you think?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: When people see fish sauce in a spray can, they are not used to it, so the first reaction is to laugh about it. When the first man said he wanted to fly, everyone laughed, but when they saw the first plane, everyone applauded… But it is true that the smell of my fish sauce is different from other products!

Currently, smoked fish sauce is the only product we sell, the price for a 100ml bottle of fish sauce is 250,000 VND. There will be many new products in the future, currently I am making fish sauce with salted plums.

Mr. Benoit's fish sauce is highly regarded by many chefs. You can find his fish sauce on Instagram @chuben.fishsauce

* What is it about Vietnamese fish sauce that attracts you so much?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: What makes Vietnamese fish sauce special is the tradition. I spend a lot of time in my lab trying to imagine many recipes with fish sauce.

I’m opening a restaurant in Hoi An entirely dedicated to fish sauce to show how many different ways you can use it. It’s opening at the end of November. I’m making fish sauce mayonnaise, fish sauce caramel sauce, fish sauce teriyaki sauce… and more.

* What are your plans for your fish sauce brand in the future?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: At the moment, my fish sauce is only sold in the domestic market. We are working to bring the product to a larger scale. I will launch it in the French market later, at the moment, my customers in France are high-end chefs, mainly Michelin-starred chefs, and they really like it. Because this product does not have the strong smell that people usually associate with fish sauce.

Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 9.

French man impressed with the friendliness and kindness of Vietnamese people

Surprised by the kindness of Vietnamese people

* Currently, it seems you spend a lot of time in Vietnam?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: I currently live in Hoi An and spend most of my time in Vietnam. I only return to France when I can be with my family and meet the chefs who make my fish sauce.

Of course, my family and children also want me to return to France more often. My children come to visit when they have holidays. However, my family has always understood and supported my decisions because they know that the journey I am pursuing in Vietnam is an ambitious project. It will be my mark in Vietnam.

Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 10.
Ông Tây bất ngờ yêu Việt Nam: Từ xe Cub làm nên chai nước mắm xịt và đắt… 'như nước hoa'- Ảnh 11.

He was impressed with Vietnamese spices and food.

* What kept you in Vietnam?

Mr. Benoit Chaigneau: I am still very impressed by the great variety of food products, spices. I first came to Vietnam 15 years ago, but I still discover new things every day. I am always surprised by the kindness of people.

* Thank you for your interesting sharing. Wish Mr. Benoit will have a memorable journey in Vietnam!

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-tay-bat-ngo-yeu-viet-nam-tu-xe-cub-lam-nen-chai-nuoc-mam-xit-va-dat-nhu-nuoc-hoa-185241105153231697.htm


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