American Woman Masters Vietnamese Cuisine, Gaining Popularity Online

Diamond Logan, an American woman, has gained fame on TikTok for her authentic Vietnamese cooking, drawing millions of views. Her culinary journey began with her Vietnamese boyfriend and led to extensive self-education and immersion in the cuisine. Logan’s engaging videos and dedication to mastering Vietnamese dishes are winning over audiences worldwide, showcasing the diversity and richness of this culinary tradition.

In a remarkable fusion of cultures, Diamond Logan, an American woman, has made a name for herself through her passion for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Her videos on TikTok, showcasing the preparation of dishes like bun moc, a northern Vietnamese pork meatball noodle soup, consistently draw between 500,000 and two million views. With 54,000 new followers in the last six months and over one million interactions, it’s clear folks are tuning in. Logan’s enthusiastic approach, sharing tips such as how pickled chili can enhance a dish, resonates especially well with Vietnamese audiences, earning her widespread praise for her skills and authenticity.

Logan’s culinary journey began in Chicago after she met her boyfriend Giang, originally from Hanoi, while studying data analytics in Seattle. The couple bonded over Vietnamese food, and over time, her interest blossomed. Interestingly, she recalls being instantly enchanted by her first experience with banh mi—a delightful mix of crispy baguette and savory pâté. This initial taste sparked her exploration into the broader landscape of Vietnamese dishes, guided by Giang who pointed out the differences between authentic flavors and those found at local restaurants.

Her culinary experiments took off during the Covid lockdowns in 2021. She started with simple meals before gradually diving into the complexities of dishes like banh cuon, steamed rice rolls. Despite a few hiccups—like too-thick rolls or sticking failures—Logan’s resolve grew stronger. The turning point in her appreciation came during her first visit to Vietnam in mid-2022, where she truly appreciated the depth and diversity of street food, noting that northern pho’s light and slightly sweet broth differs significantly from its southern counterpart.

During her month-long visit, she embraced culinary lessons from Giang’s family, learning to make pâté and practicing authentic cooking techniques. Logan returned to the U.S. equipped with an array of Vietnamese ingredients, like dried shiitake mushrooms and beef stew seasoning. Today, about half of her weekly meals are Vietnamese, with a particular fondness for braised pork belly with eggs, a dish she meticulously prepares with homemade caramel sauce and freshly pickled vegetables.

In late 2023, Logan found herself back in Vietnam for three months, eager to experiment with as many dishes as possible. When she requested bun rieu cua, a crab and tomato noodle soup, she was met with live crabs in the kitchen. The experience shocked her, yet it was pivotal—she soon learned to work with raw ingredients. Returning home, Logan felt her cooking had “leveled up,” moving away from pre-packaged seasonings to creating authentic flavors from scratch, despite facing challenges like sourcing the right crab for her dishes.

As her TikTok channel flourished, friends and co-workers began requesting her recipes, and even more complex dishes like banh xeo gained attention. Most of her recipes come from social media or guidance from Giang’s parents, who praise her impressive progress in mastering Vietnamese cuisine. Giang’s mother, Nguyen Ngoc Han, has been a significant supporter, remarking how Logan has proactively taken to learning, noting her impressive independence in preparing dishes they had not explicitly taught her.

As Logan continues to refine her culinary expertise, she and Giang share their experiences and inspirations. With plans to expand her repertoire further, she eyes dishes like nem chua and bun thang. Expressing confidence in her abilities, Logan embraces the belief that with the right ingredients and dedication, she can make anything. “Vietnamese cuisine deserves to be known and appreciated by many more people around the world,” she states, as she passionately navigates this rich culinary landscape.

Diamond Logan’s inspiring journey into Vietnamese cuisine exemplifies a successful cross-cultural connection through food. From her first bites of banh mi in Seattle to mastering complex dishes in Vietnam, Logan’s passion and dedication shine through in her cooking. As her online presence grows, she is poised to continue sharing the rich flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with a broader audience, ensuring its appreciation on a global scale.

Original Source: e.vnexpress.net