Vietnamese Hot And Sour Soup @ Hoa Hong 9 (Nine Roses)
Vietnamese hot and sour soup is dramatically different from the Chinese soup of the same name. It's a translucent broth, often served in a "hot pot" with a flame in the center. Seafood is the protein--almost always shrimp, but sometimes with other fish and shellfish. It's quite peppery. But what gives it an especially good flavor is the presence of pineapple in the recipe. That provides not only a sweet-heat flavor, but the distinctive flavor of the fruit itself. Nine Roses makes a particularly good version.
